This section helps you work out what kind of tenancy you may have if you rent a mobile home from a landlord. You need to know what kind of tenancy you have in order to understand your rights.
What are tenancy rights?
If you rent a mobile home, your tenancy will come from the law and from the agreement you have with your landlord. This will either be a written agreement or a verbal agreement. If you don't have a written agreement, you still have rights.
Your tenancy rights determine your rights to live in the rented mobile home itself, not on the pitch it's stationed on. Your rights to live on the site are regulated by different laws, and depend on whether or not you live on a protected site or an unprotected site.
If you are not sure what kind of tenancy you have or want more information about your rights, get advice from a Shelter advice centre or Citizens Advice. Use our directory to find a local advice centre.
Do I have an assured, assured shorthold or regulated tenancy?
You may be able to show that you have an assured, assured shorthold, or regulated tenancy if you rent a mobile home, which can be classed as a 'dwelling house'. This may be the case if your mobile home:
- has mains supplies of electricity, water and telephone, and
- is used as a permanent residence, and
- is static and cannot be moved, or
- is so large that it cannot be moved in one piece.
Regulated tenancies
You may have a regulated tenancy if:
- your mobile home can be classed as a dwelling house, and
- your tenancy agreement began before 2 January 1989.
As a regulated tenant, you may be able to apply to the rent officer to have a fair rent determined and you will have more defence against been evicted.
Assured or assured shorthold tenancies
You may be an assured or assured shorthold tenant if:
- your mobile home can be classed as a dwelling house, and
- your tenancy began after 15 January 1989.
Assured tenants in particular have stronger tenancy rights. See the sections on assured and assured shorthold tenancies to read about your rights.
Problems with tenancy status
The chances are your landlord will refuse to accept that you are an assured, assured shorthold, or regulated tenant, and that you have legal rights. If you want to assert these rights (for example, if you want your landlord to make repairs to your home or you are defending an eviction), you may have resort to court action. It's best to get advice from a Shelter advice centre or Citizens Advice before taking any action. Use our directory to find one local to you.
Do I have a licence?
If your mobile home can't be classed as a dwelling house, you may still have some rights as a licensee. For more information, please see the section on licensees' rights.
