Do I Have To Pay Council Tax on a Static Caravan?

If you own a static caravan in England, then you may be wondering if you have to pay council tax on it. The answer is... it depends! In this blog post, we will explore the different scenarios in which council tax is required to be paid on static caravans in England. So, whether your caravan is your sole residence or just a holiday home, read on for all the details.

Do I Have To Pay Council Tax on My Static Caravan as a Holiday Home?

If you use your static caravan as a holiday home, and it is located on a holiday park, then you will not have to pay council tax on it. Holiday parks are classified as commercial properties, and so they are not subject to council tax.

Additionally, this because you already have a home elsewhere that you pay council tax on. Some holiday parks even require buyers to prove they pay council tax on their main property before purchase of their static caravan.

One static home owner, Tracey, states "ours is open 12 months but I stay 9 months, I go home for winter and pay council tax on my main address".

Bottom line - If you pay council tax on your home, then you do not pay council tax on your holiday home.

Do I Have To Pay Council Tax on My Static Caravan as Sole Residence?

If your sole residence is your static caravan, then you are liable to pay council tax.

The Caravans and Houseboats (VAT Notice 701/20) notice states "where a caravan is used as a person’s sole or main residence, it will generally be subject to council tax, for which the resident or owner of the caravan or park home will be liable. Caravans on seasonal or holiday parks will not be subject to council tax (unless used as a person’s sole or main residence)".

Additionally, you cannot legally live in a static caravan on a holiday site, your site must be a residential site. It is against holiday site licenses to allow full time residency, many local councils are currently looking into holiday parks that illegally allow full-time residents, in which no council tax will have been paid.

Bottom line - if your static caravan is your sole residence, then yes, you do have to pay council tax.

What Are the Consequences of Not Paying Council Tax on a Static Caravan?

If you are found to be living in a static caravan on a holiday site, or if your caravan is your sole residence and you have not paid council tax, then you could face some serious consequences.

Firstly, the local authority could require you to pay backdated council tax, plus interest and penalties.

They may also impose a civil enforcement action, which could result in your caravan being seized and sold. Additionally, if you are living in a static caravan on a holiday park without paying council tax, the site owner could be prosecuted and fined. So, it really is not worth risking it!

Final Thoughts

So, whether your static caravan is your main residence or just a holiday home, it's important to know which council tax regulations apply. In some cases you may not have to pay any council tax at all, but in other cases you could face serious consequences for not paying. It's always best to be informed and stay on the right side of the law.

Want to read more about static caravans? Check out our handy static caravan buying guide.

Or see our latest static caravans for sale today, happy browsing!