The Caravan Act and Quick-garden.co.uk Mobile Homes

A mobile home can look much more like a timber house than a traditional caravan. In planning terms, however, its legal status may be different from that of a permanent building. That can be useful if you want extra living space next to your home without making the project unnecessarily complicated.

The rules commonly referred to as the Caravan Act explain what can legally be treated as a caravan or mobile home. Quick-garden.co.uk has a dedicated range designed around those requirements, giving buyers more choice when planning a granny annexe or extra accommodation at home.

How does the Caravan Act define a mobile home?

The term Caravan Act is commonly used for rules found in the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 and the Caravan Sites Act 1968, together with later amendments. They cover more than touring caravans. A structure designed for human habitation can also qualify if it remains physically capable of being moved and meets the relevant size and construction rules.

For a twin-unit mobile home in England, the maximum dimensions are:

- 20 m in length, excluding any drawbar,
- 6.8 m in width,
- 3.05 m internal height.

A qualifying mobile home does not need wheels or a permanent chassis. What matters is that the finished structure remains physically capable of being moved. Twin-unit designs must also be made from no more than two separately constructed sections that can be joined on site.

What can this mean for planning permission?

Meeting the legal mobile home definition can make the planning side simpler, but it does not create an automatic exemption in every case.

A typical example is a mobile home placed in the garden of an existing house and used as accommodation connected with that home, such as a granny annexe for a family member. If the use remains ancillary rather than becoming a separate independent dwelling, a full planning application may not be needed.

The location and intended use still matter. Local restrictions or the planning history of the property can affect the answer, so it is sensible to check the proposal with your Local Planning Authority before installation. A Certificate of Lawful Development can provide formal confirmation where appropriate.

How Quick-garden.co.uk mobile homes meet the requirements

Quick Garden's Manufacturer's Method Statement covers all 28 products in the Mobile Houses category. Each model is designed to meet the statutory caravan definition and the relevant size and mobility tests. Twin-unit models also meet the applicable construction test.

Across the range, nominal lengths run from 7.5 m to 19 m and widths from 4.2 m to 6.15 m. Internal living height is designed to remain within the 3.05 m limit. The timber structures use mechanical fixings and are designed so they can be dismantled into sections and re-erected elsewhere.

For sites in England, the Method Statement and individual technical drawings can also support an enquiry to the Local Planning Authority or a Certificate of Lawful Development application. Different provisions apply in Wales and Scotland.

Mobile homes for different spaces and needs

Caravan Act compliance does not mean choosing from one standard layout. Quick-garden.co.uk range goes from compact one-bedroom options to larger family annexes, making it easier to match the building to the space available in your garden.

Compact options

DIANA Modern M is one of the newest additions to the range. At 26 m², it combines a bedroom with a practical living area and a contemporary design with large windows.

MAX M keeps the footprint compact at 32 m². Its three separate spaces suit buyers who want more structure than a single open room without taking over too much of the garden.

ARGO M offers 35 m² and an 8 m² covered terrace, giving you a little more indoor and outdoor space. An insulated version is also available for longer stays throughout the year.

More room for family living

ANGELA M steps up to 50 m² with one bedroom and a generous shared living area. It can work well for a family member who wants privacy while staying close to the main house.

SELENE M offers 63 m² and two bedrooms, providing more room for a couple or small family as well as a comfortable shared living space.

NICOLE M is the largest of these three at 68 m². It has three bedrooms and is designed to accommodate up to six people, with a spacious living room opening directly towards the garden.

From compact annexes to larger family layouts, the Mobile Houses range lets you make use of the Caravan Act rules without giving up the comfort or appearance of a timber home.

Got any questions or want to check which mobile home would work best for your plans? Give us a call at 02070994301 and our team will be happy to help!