Static caravan- right to keep it on land its on

[sharon60]

Hi, my friend has a field that she lets people stay on in their caravans, she has a static on there. She has had her static there for 8 years, but never gained permission when she first put it on, not knowing she needed it. Anyway, someone that lives at the side of the caravan field is trying to get her off the field by getting her static removed. They have contacted the council, who have contacted her to say she must remove it. I just wandered, as she has been there for 8 years is there anything that anyone knows of, some law, that she can stay, not squatters rights, but something like that??. She has full permission for the field to be used as a caravan park. I would be grateful for any help or info as this is causing her alot of upset and stress. thankyou

[boxtops]

Do people live in her static caravan?

[Jemisa]

Is it her land? Can she prove that it is?

jem

[NOX]

it's not going to be the caravan itself that is the issue, it's what it's used for that will be the crux of it. what EXACTLY does she have permisison for and what does she use it for and how often?

[EDDIE51]

The field may have permission for storage of caravans only, in other words not to be lived in . Is the static van lived in even if only for holidays ? If so she needs permission for that .

[boxtops]

If thie field is licensed as a caravan park, either other people bring their caravans then drive off afterwards. Hers is fixed - there are strict rules about living in caravans, you say she didn't know she needed permission, why can't she apply for it now, retrospectively?

[boxtops]

.. and PS is the neighbour who reported it adversely affected by her caravan, why would he report it?

[EDDIE51]

Permission for a permanent residential van is not likedly to be granted. Granting that would mean that a permanent house could be built on the land in place of the caravan. This would mean that the land had planning permission and increase it's value up to ten times the present price. The person at the side of the field probably does not want planning permission to be granted as they see it as the start of full development.

[NOX]

There are certain loopholes which enable the siting of a static caravan but not residency in it. We need to know exactly what the situation with planning anf what she does with it before anyone can make a judgement about what she needs to do next.

[sharon60]

Hi, thanks for the answers so far, she doesnt live in the static. she just goes and stay most of the summer at busy times to look after the caravans. She has a house that she lives in, away from the park, so she sometimes pops home at weekend through the summer. The man that lives at the side is where she used to live, but she sold the house and kept the land where the caravans go and where her static is. The man at the side has got annoyed because when he bought the house he wanted the caravan park aswell, but as he has seen her family tending to the park he feels that he will not be in with an option of buying it when or if she sells. so he has reported her for having a static on there, just to cause trouble and be spiteful. The static has been there for 8 years now, but as this man has got the council involved they are saying she must remove it, but it is used as the caravan office. The only people that live around the field are the man and wife in the house, and they are the only people that can see the static, so its not as if its blocking anyones view or an eye sore etc. hope this helps a little more?, thanks p.s if ive missed anything out please just ask me for more info, thanks for all your help.

[buildersmate]

It sounds like the council planning department are maintaining that the static caravan is a business-use office associated with the caravan park. It would be the same if it was a house, a portakabin - it isn't a mobile van. If that is so, it needs planning consent for the 'change of use'.

If a landowner has unlawfully operated in a way regarding planning for a minimum of ten years (for a change of use), the landowner can apply for a certificate of lawfulness to regularise the position. That is the legal position that you wanted to know, but unfortunately the van hasn't been there long enough.

[ladybirder]

What a strange way for the neighbour to act, to shop somebody who he might want to do business with. Not a clever move.