Seasonal Worker Caravan Exemption

[jgiddings]

From the caravan act: "Subject to the provisions of paragraph 13 of this Schedule, a site licence shall not be required for the use of land as a caravan site for the accommodation during a particular season of a person or persons employed on land in the same occupation, being land used for the purposes of forestry (including afforestation)."

I wish to make seasonal use of a caravan for accommodation while undertaking forestry work. As this work would occur during the winter, a static caravan would be my preference. My question is, am I required to remove the caravan each year, or is it acceptable to only use the caravan during the season?

 

[Alec_t]

I see nothing there to define 'particular season'. Unless that wording is defined/clarified elsewhere in the legislation, who's to say that a season couldn't be some arbitrary length of time, e.g. 365 days?

 

[JohnD]

I think a season is usually considered to be one of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, and there are official (nominal) dates for each.

Are you "employed?" on the land? Or a tenant or owner?

 

[opps]

Why not contact the local authority for clarification?

 

[jgiddings]

I see nothing there to define 'particular season'. Unless that wording is defined/clarified elsewhere in the legislation, who's to say that a season couldn't be some arbitrary length of time, e.g. 365 days?

Apparently, there is no definition of length, except 'less than a year'.

Are you "employed?" on the land? Or a tenant or owner?

I would be both a self-employed forestry worker and owner of the land.

Why not contact the local authority for clarification?

This is currently hypothetical - I'm in a position to buy 5 acres and have always wanted to manage a woodland, but my partner's work comes with a house and moves around the country, so I want the opportunity to have my own land-based business. I wouldn't be able to afford seasonal accommodation or afford to move a static caravan a couple of times a year (and a small trailer caravan would be too much of a sacrifice in comfort (coppicing is winter work).

Essentially I need to know if it's fine to 'store' the caravan on the land while it is not being used for legitimate seasonal work.

I would be registered for everything at a bricks and mortar house tied to my partner's work, so it would be above aboard and definitely seasonal.