Crosswords6 mins ago
Living in a Caravan on my own land
I have recently sold my house and have taken a touring caravan to a field I own that has been in my family for many years. On the land are farm buildings where I have been storing some furniture etc for many years.
I intend to obtain planning permisson for the farm building to be converted into a house whilst I live in the Caravan.
The council have now advised me to leave the land within 28 days and remove all of my possessions from the buildings.
The buildings are my own and so is the land.
The caravan is out of sight of any other building so cannot cause an eyesore and is also a touring caravan not a static version.
Is there anything I can do to stop or avoid this unfair action. Thanks in advance.
I intend to obtain planning permisson for the farm building to be converted into a house whilst I live in the Caravan.
The council have now advised me to leave the land within 28 days and remove all of my possessions from the buildings.
The buildings are my own and so is the land.
The caravan is out of sight of any other building so cannot cause an eyesore and is also a touring caravan not a static version.
Is there anything I can do to stop or avoid this unfair action. Thanks in advance.
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Well, I've read all the post. Unfortunately.
I bought a piece of land in Oxfordshire a few months ago - not big, just big enough to put a converted horsebox motorhome onto it. BEFORE I bought it I called the local council and explained that I wanted to park it there and sleep in it now and again and would that be ok.
Their response was, and I quote: "Well it's your land so you can pretty much do anything you like on it, within reason. As long as it's not a fixed dwelling." to which I replied asking if it was ok to sleep in my horsebox and he replied with the same answer. Great! I thought, so I bought the land and I'm nearing completion on converting my horsebox and have handed in my notice on this house - I move out on the 12th of December 2013.
Since then - in the last week in fact - I've had numerous people ask me "Don't you need planning permission to live in a truck on your land?". I have always relied with that I called the local council to check and they said "no, as long as it's not a fixed dwelling". Now, because so many people have asked me this same thing in the last week I came online to do some research and found this thread - as it was bugging me, even though in my mind I had done the right thing and called the local council to check first.
Well, you can imagine my surprise at finding out this 28-day rule and wotnot. If I'd have known about this before hand I wouldn't have bought the land! However, it's bought now and I can only assume that the local council person I spoke with is a) an idiot, or b) having a laugh.
So, I have no option BUT to move out on the 12th as I can no longer afford to live here (oh, and I've handed in my notice, obviously) and see what happens.
Having read all the thread though, I now understand the 28-day rule of sleeping in a vehicle on your land, but what I DON'T understand is how the council can put an eviction notice on that vehicle on your own land unless they've first set up some surveillance to check that you've slept there for more than 28 days in a 12 month period. Surely that can be appealed against and you ask for the surveillance evidence?
My idea (after reading this post) is to now erect a tent next to the truck and say that I sleep in the tent. I mean, isn't it their job to prove that I don't?
This has all left a very sour taste in my mouth for something which I was looking forward to doing.
I'll keep you all posted on my progress.
I bought a piece of land in Oxfordshire a few months ago - not big, just big enough to put a converted horsebox motorhome onto it. BEFORE I bought it I called the local council and explained that I wanted to park it there and sleep in it now and again and would that be ok.
Their response was, and I quote: "Well it's your land so you can pretty much do anything you like on it, within reason. As long as it's not a fixed dwelling." to which I replied asking if it was ok to sleep in my horsebox and he replied with the same answer. Great! I thought, so I bought the land and I'm nearing completion on converting my horsebox and have handed in my notice on this house - I move out on the 12th of December 2013.
Since then - in the last week in fact - I've had numerous people ask me "Don't you need planning permission to live in a truck on your land?". I have always relied with that I called the local council to check and they said "no, as long as it's not a fixed dwelling". Now, because so many people have asked me this same thing in the last week I came online to do some research and found this thread - as it was bugging me, even though in my mind I had done the right thing and called the local council to check first.
Well, you can imagine my surprise at finding out this 28-day rule and wotnot. If I'd have known about this before hand I wouldn't have bought the land! However, it's bought now and I can only assume that the local council person I spoke with is a) an idiot, or b) having a laugh.
So, I have no option BUT to move out on the 12th as I can no longer afford to live here (oh, and I've handed in my notice, obviously) and see what happens.
Having read all the thread though, I now understand the 28-day rule of sleeping in a vehicle on your land, but what I DON'T understand is how the council can put an eviction notice on that vehicle on your own land unless they've first set up some surveillance to check that you've slept there for more than 28 days in a 12 month period. Surely that can be appealed against and you ask for the surveillance evidence?
My idea (after reading this post) is to now erect a tent next to the truck and say that I sleep in the tent. I mean, isn't it their job to prove that I don't?
This has all left a very sour taste in my mouth for something which I was looking forward to doing.
I'll keep you all posted on my progress.
Well, I've read all the post. Unfortunately.
I bought a piece of land in Oxfordshire a few months ago - not big, just big enough to put a converted horsebox motorhome onto it. BEFORE I bought it I called the local council and explained that I wanted to park it there and sleep in it now and again and would that be ok.
Their response was, and I quote: "Well it's your land so you can pretty much do anything you like on it, within reason. As long as it's not a fixed dwelling." to which I replied asking if it was ok to sleep in my horsebox and he replied with the same answer. Great! I thought, so I bought the land and I'm nearing completion on converting my horsebox and have handed in my notice on this house - I move out on the 12th of December 2013.
Since then - in the last week in fact - I've had numerous people ask me "Don't you need planning permission to live in a truck on your land?". I have always relied with that I called the local council to check and they said "no, as long as it's not a fixed dwelling". Now, because so many people have asked me this same thing in the last week I came online to do some research and found this thread - as it was bugging me, even though in my mind I had done the right thing and called the local council to check first.
Well, you can imagine my surprise at finding out this 28-day rule and wotnot. If I'd have known about this before hand I wouldn't have bought the land! However, it's bought now and I can only assume that the local council person I spoke with is a) an idiot, or b) having a laugh.
So, I have no option BUT to move out on the 12th as I can no longer afford to live here (oh, and I've handed in my notice, obviously) and see what happens.
Having read all the thread though, I now understand the 28-day rule of sleeping in a vehicle on your land, but what I DON'T understand is how the council can put an eviction notice on that vehicle on your own land unless they've first set up some surveillance to check that you've slept there for more than 28 days in a 12 month period. Surely that can be appealed against and you ask for the surveillance evidence?
My idea (after reading this post) is to now erect a tent next to the truck and say that I sleep in the tent. I mean, isn't it their job to prove that I don't?
This has all left a very sour taste in my mouth for something which I was looking forward to doing.
I'll keep you all posted on my progress.
I bought a piece of land in Oxfordshire a few months ago - not big, just big enough to put a converted horsebox motorhome onto it. BEFORE I bought it I called the local council and explained that I wanted to park it there and sleep in it now and again and would that be ok.
Their response was, and I quote: "Well it's your land so you can pretty much do anything you like on it, within reason. As long as it's not a fixed dwelling." to which I replied asking if it was ok to sleep in my horsebox and he replied with the same answer. Great! I thought, so I bought the land and I'm nearing completion on converting my horsebox and have handed in my notice on this house - I move out on the 12th of December 2013.
Since then - in the last week in fact - I've had numerous people ask me "Don't you need planning permission to live in a truck on your land?". I have always relied with that I called the local council to check and they said "no, as long as it's not a fixed dwelling". Now, because so many people have asked me this same thing in the last week I came online to do some research and found this thread - as it was bugging me, even though in my mind I had done the right thing and called the local council to check first.
Well, you can imagine my surprise at finding out this 28-day rule and wotnot. If I'd have known about this before hand I wouldn't have bought the land! However, it's bought now and I can only assume that the local council person I spoke with is a) an idiot, or b) having a laugh.
So, I have no option BUT to move out on the 12th as I can no longer afford to live here (oh, and I've handed in my notice, obviously) and see what happens.
Having read all the thread though, I now understand the 28-day rule of sleeping in a vehicle on your land, but what I DON'T understand is how the council can put an eviction notice on that vehicle on your own land unless they've first set up some surveillance to check that you've slept there for more than 28 days in a 12 month period. Surely that can be appealed against and you ask for the surveillance evidence?
My idea (after reading this post) is to now erect a tent next to the truck and say that I sleep in the tent. I mean, isn't it their job to prove that I don't?
This has all left a very sour taste in my mouth for something which I was looking forward to doing.
I'll keep you all posted on my progress.
Hi all old post i know but read the whole lot, We bought our dream plot of land in a hamlet of 25 houses, did the right thing and applied to the council paid £300 for pre planning advice for a single unit log cabin but its on a chassis and wheels so comes classed under a caravan, they have just replied to tell us the site is not within there development boundary so they will resist planning, i asked them for a map of there development boundary and they said the area has no defined development boundary , so my question was then how do you no its not in it then? no reply to that, We are gutted we love this site its just 52x180ft has residential house round three side but then a loverly view, well fenced and good access, we don't know if its worth going any further along the planning route at all, thanks all ???
I'm having trouble with planning enforcement officer who wants to look in my barn which I'm now doing but we have sit on mowers tools,bit of furniture which we dident need anymore but good wood so can make chicken homes out of but he's turn up after twenty years which was strange. Then found out a large developer wants to build west side of us but has no access to the site so has offered to council if they can use small road near our land they will modify road to do that they need my land which I new nothing about where's my rights we were told by local councilors never put planning permission in as we would be wasting our money for twenty years they have stopped us doing anything but a developer comes along and its OK there answer that's what the law is I wish I was a traveler I'd have more rights
I have just read through this; 6 years or so of posts full of people frustrated with the system. The solution we are building is kind of a combination of living on the land, and van living. Look at the nomadic living forum on ukhippy for loads of info on van life: http://
Forestry land has more generous permitted development than agricultural, (plus it has lots of trees to hide your illicit activities!), so a storage shed or two shouldn't be a problem, and you can have a caravan which can be used for seasonal forestry workers for an unspecified length of time. You can then grow your food, keep chickens etc, and partially live in the caravan, partially in your van. Have in mind some local places to park your van, and if anyone starts sniffing around causing hassle, sleep in the parkups for a few nights/weeks, or stay with friends/family if possible
There are quite a few people living in vans, trucks etc full-time, so planned well, this system is perfectly do-able, and in the meantime, you can plant thousands of evergreen trees, shrubs and vines to form a total barrier between your land and any public access. You could also look at putting in a well-hidden small dwelling, buried in a hillside maybe, and surrounded by evergreen trees or thickets of blackthorn. Look at tiny homes for ideas, perhaps survival bunkers etc, and adapt the design to your surroundings.
Forget it if you have kids, but if you are a quiet and discreet individual or couple, build good relationships with your neighbours if you have any, and don't draw too much attention to yourself, I believe that a semi-nomadic lifestyle like this could provide you with a really lovely, free way of life, without having to jump through all the hoops and pay thousands to support a system that does nothing to support sustainable, low-impact living.
I can't even stand the thought of applying for planning permission. I do not believe that I should have to, so I refuse to play the game by their rules.
Nobody can tell you you can't spend all day, every day on your land, all they care about is where you sleep at night. We just need to re-think our lifestyle to adapt to this mentality.
By viewing living as a modular system, rather than a static home inside a single box, we can be free of these constraints!
Forestry land has more generous permitted development than agricultural, (plus it has lots of trees to hide your illicit activities!), so a storage shed or two shouldn't be a problem, and you can have a caravan which can be used for seasonal forestry workers for an unspecified length of time. You can then grow your food, keep chickens etc, and partially live in the caravan, partially in your van. Have in mind some local places to park your van, and if anyone starts sniffing around causing hassle, sleep in the parkups for a few nights/weeks, or stay with friends/family if possible
There are quite a few people living in vans, trucks etc full-time, so planned well, this system is perfectly do-able, and in the meantime, you can plant thousands of evergreen trees, shrubs and vines to form a total barrier between your land and any public access. You could also look at putting in a well-hidden small dwelling, buried in a hillside maybe, and surrounded by evergreen trees or thickets of blackthorn. Look at tiny homes for ideas, perhaps survival bunkers etc, and adapt the design to your surroundings.
Forget it if you have kids, but if you are a quiet and discreet individual or couple, build good relationships with your neighbours if you have any, and don't draw too much attention to yourself, I believe that a semi-nomadic lifestyle like this could provide you with a really lovely, free way of life, without having to jump through all the hoops and pay thousands to support a system that does nothing to support sustainable, low-impact living.
I can't even stand the thought of applying for planning permission. I do not believe that I should have to, so I refuse to play the game by their rules.
Nobody can tell you you can't spend all day, every day on your land, all they care about is where you sleep at night. We just need to re-think our lifestyle to adapt to this mentality.
By viewing living as a modular system, rather than a static home inside a single box, we can be free of these constraints!
Hi folks, im a newbie on here but came across the site through a search I did asking about living in a caravan on green belt land. We are currently doing a self build and have all the plans passed etc to commence work. We want to live on site whilst building, have a sale going through on our current residence so need to sort our living arrangements out fast. I phoned our planing officer a while ago to see if we could live on site whilst we do the build and she wasnt keen, asked me how long we would be living in it, would it be a static which it won't be as there is only enough room for a tourer 4 berth. she told me I would have to write all the details down about the size of the van, where it will be sited on my land etc. The land is green belt but as I mentioned earlier....... we have had the plans passed for the build. I was planning to ask the closest neighbours if they would mind us living on site as well and note this down in my letter to our planning officer. If anyone can help or advise me I would be very grateful......... especially Andy who was a local officer himself. The more I know about the matter and my rights the better. Kind regards to all that post.
Found this site by accident i will give you my experience
i have six acres with block of 2 stables and store.
Used it to keep a few goats and run my dogs.
Then a goat got altacked by a stray dog,had £5000 worth of equipment stolen.
Locks cut off animals let out on to road.
Final straw i arrived lock was cut a tramacers truck with caravan was on site.
Do you want any tarmacing a quick glance saw bolt crops and 3 vans parked down the road with caravans no prizes for guessing what would of happened.
That was final straw made room in storeroom put bed in it had sink ect already in.
Stayed there 2 years no probs then one morning there was 2 council officals at the gate we have had a report that its been used as a dwelling.
Snoop around , tear strips off me for staying there, could not really care less about problems.
Only thing you can do is put in for retrospective planning permission you wont get it green belt.
I applied tried saying i slept but stayed as security its classed as residential.
they made a few naff ups and it took 5 months to get planning decision and guess what it was no. .
WE HAD A MEETING IN COUNCIL OFFICES BEFORE HAND
It was agreed if i did not go for house or place caravan they we be sypathetic to planning permision lying -unts.
This week i will be served with a enforcement notice.
I have 30 nanny goats and 1 billy they are 30% way through kidding the council do not give a toss about animal welfare.
All the talk about you can do this and that here are the facts from experience.
To get permission using the livestock card this is what you need
Must justify a full time job and not just your opinion
needs to make £16-18,000 a year clear profit after expenses anything less and you are on a almost impossible task.
Some times if you have a good bis plan plenty of capital for livestock barns machinery ect (And they submit it to agricutral experts that know whats what.
You wont fool them you need to know your stuff.
They may give you temp permission for mobile home for 3 years.
Clocks ticking you have to clear said profit in one of three years if you dont they wont renew permission no ifs buts thats it.
Very few small bis will pass 3 year route. Your only hope is try to get a bis going before they catch you and pray you get a good head start.
Back to the best route its the 12.5 acre route you are almost gaurenteed permission to build barn and have 5 years and temp permission for mobile home.
Now i amrunning around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to get another 6 acres while holding council at bay for the sake of my animals
Planning officers willdo best to mess you about dont take what they say as 100%
ill keep you postedhow i go
i have six acres with block of 2 stables and store.
Used it to keep a few goats and run my dogs.
Then a goat got altacked by a stray dog,had £5000 worth of equipment stolen.
Locks cut off animals let out on to road.
Final straw i arrived lock was cut a tramacers truck with caravan was on site.
Do you want any tarmacing a quick glance saw bolt crops and 3 vans parked down the road with caravans no prizes for guessing what would of happened.
That was final straw made room in storeroom put bed in it had sink ect already in.
Stayed there 2 years no probs then one morning there was 2 council officals at the gate we have had a report that its been used as a dwelling.
Snoop around , tear strips off me for staying there, could not really care less about problems.
Only thing you can do is put in for retrospective planning permission you wont get it green belt.
I applied tried saying i slept but stayed as security its classed as residential.
they made a few naff ups and it took 5 months to get planning decision and guess what it was no. .
WE HAD A MEETING IN COUNCIL OFFICES BEFORE HAND
It was agreed if i did not go for house or place caravan they we be sypathetic to planning permision lying -unts.
This week i will be served with a enforcement notice.
I have 30 nanny goats and 1 billy they are 30% way through kidding the council do not give a toss about animal welfare.
All the talk about you can do this and that here are the facts from experience.
To get permission using the livestock card this is what you need
Must justify a full time job and not just your opinion
needs to make £16-18,000 a year clear profit after expenses anything less and you are on a almost impossible task.
Some times if you have a good bis plan plenty of capital for livestock barns machinery ect (And they submit it to agricutral experts that know whats what.
You wont fool them you need to know your stuff.
They may give you temp permission for mobile home for 3 years.
Clocks ticking you have to clear said profit in one of three years if you dont they wont renew permission no ifs buts thats it.
Very few small bis will pass 3 year route. Your only hope is try to get a bis going before they catch you and pray you get a good head start.
Back to the best route its the 12.5 acre route you are almost gaurenteed permission to build barn and have 5 years and temp permission for mobile home.
Now i amrunning around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to get another 6 acres while holding council at bay for the sake of my animals
Planning officers willdo best to mess you about dont take what they say as 100%
ill keep you postedhow i go
Hi,
This thread has been a great help already but just wondering if someone can give advice on my specific situation.
My girlfriends parents have a large field a couple of miles from their house which we plan to put a 28ft x 10ft static caravan on to live in for a couple of years whilst we save money to travel. The field has had a large shipping container and a horse shed on it for many years. The horses live down there in summer and there are 2 water points that have also been down there for years. The caravan will go right next to the container and will be atleast 100m from the next land owner. After looking at this thread if we did get any complaints could we just say that we worried about the security of the horses and the contents of the container and we were there for security??
Thanks in advance for any help :)
This thread has been a great help already but just wondering if someone can give advice on my specific situation.
My girlfriends parents have a large field a couple of miles from their house which we plan to put a 28ft x 10ft static caravan on to live in for a couple of years whilst we save money to travel. The field has had a large shipping container and a horse shed on it for many years. The horses live down there in summer and there are 2 water points that have also been down there for years. The caravan will go right next to the container and will be atleast 100m from the next land owner. After looking at this thread if we did get any complaints could we just say that we worried about the security of the horses and the contents of the container and we were there for security??
Thanks in advance for any help :)
Hi jackh5000
If you do t you are taking a big chance, if someone spots it or reports youthe council will serve you with a enforcement notice for sure.
They wont give a hoot about security or claiming horses welfare, that wont stop them.
I would be tempted to modify inside of container without many extenal changes.
If you do t you are taking a big chance, if someone spots it or reports youthe council will serve you with a enforcement notice for sure.
They wont give a hoot about security or claiming horses welfare, that wont stop them.
I would be tempted to modify inside of container without many extenal changes.
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