Mobile Homes Act 2013: a guide for local authorities on setting licence fees - summary
Published 1 March 2014
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2014
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-homes-act-2013-a-guide-for-local-authorities-on-setting-licence-fees/mobile-homes-act-2013-a-guide-for-local-authorities-on-setting-licence-fees-summary
The Mobile Homes Act 2013 has made sweeping changes to the law on park homes and marks the government’s commitment to giving better rights and protection to park home owners, whilst ensuring that honest professional site owners can flourish.
As part of the changes a new licensing scheme will come into force on 1 April 2014 that will enable local authorities to monitor site licence compliance more effectively. Authorities will now have the tools to take enforcement action where owners are not managing and maintaining their sites and its services. This will ensure residents’ health and safety are better protected and the value of their homes safeguarded.
In summary, from 1 April local authorities will be able to charge fees for:
- considering applications for the issue or transfer of a site licence
- considering applications for altering conditions in a site licence
- administration and monitoring of site licences
The fee for administration and monitoring is levied as an annual fee. Where a local authority decides to charge fees these must be published in its Fees Policy document. Fees must be transparent and reasonable.
Ahead of the introduction of the licensing reforms the Department set up a working group of local authority practitioners, industry trade bodies and national resident organisations to provide informal guidance to local authorities in setting reasonable fees for their licensing functions for park home sites.
The guide for local authorities on setting licence fees sets out advice on:
- matters that can and cannot be taken into account in setting fees
- setting fee structures and how fees are to be calculated