MLA in bid to tow Caravan Legislation in line with UK

South Down MLA John McCallister is proposing to introduce legislation as a Private Members' Bill, to the Assembly, which would provide improved legal protection in NI for persons who own caravans and mobile homes.

"The law on caravans has not been updated in NI since 1963, in which no provisions were set aside for caravan owners and permanent residents in caravans. Unlike mainland UK where the Mobile Homes Act 1983 extended rights throughout the rest of the UK, excluding NI" stated Mr McCallister.

"At present I am conducting a consultation process by informing many interested parties and councils across NI of the proposed legislation. The Bill will redefine the definition of caravan to include mobile homes and park homes and afford protection to owners who rent their pitch from a site owner by making it an offence to harass, interfere with the peace or comfort, persistently withdraw or withhold reasonable required services or unlawfully evict the occupiers."

Mr McCallister continues, "Caravanning has huge economic importance across NI, and is vital within the South Down area. The local economic benefits that caravanners bring, becomes hugely prevalent throughout the summer months."

"This move to protect caravanners and bring NI in line with the rest of the UK has become necessary. A number of cases have been brought to my attention in which caravanners were required to purchase most of their goods and services through the site owner. Another instance included caravanners having to upgrade their caravans after a certain time period and could only sell the caravan back to the owner - most often at an extremely reduced rate." Mr McCallister affirmed.

Concluding, "When researching many of these cases it became evident that caravan owners and park owners were both extremely unclear about their legal rights and in some cases whether they had any at all, therefore, resulting in the complicated and often unfair treatment of caravan owners."

"The purpose of the new bill will be to provide Caravan owners with improved legal protection. It will also provide clear structures for both caravan owners and park owners about their legal rights and obligations, through the implementation of written agreements for both existing residents and prospective residents."

"The consultation on the draft Bill concludes on September 12. I have already received very positive feedback from many of the consultees. I would urge anyone with a vested interest to read the draft bill which can be found on my website www.johnmccallister.org or contact my office for further advice, details of which can be found on my website."