I live on a bus on my own land but the council is trying to EVICT me…they want me to pay for a caravan park instead
A MAN living in a bus on his own land is at risk of eviction after being summoned to court.
Dan Reinhold, from Australia, claims authorities are trying to bully him out of his own home because the property is not on a caravan park.
Like many Aussies caught up in the housing crisis, Mr Reinhold could not afford a rental property and had little option but to move into the bus on land he owns with a friend as he battles poor health.
Located in the small rural town of Darkan, about 155 miles southeast of Perth in the Shire of West Arthur, with a population of just 194, Dan and his friend had planned to build a shed and septic tank.
Unfortunately, a tradie never turned up to do the work and now the pair have been told they can no longer stay on the property and must go to the local caravan park instead.
“Why would we stay at the caravan park when we own the land?” Mr Reinhold told the Daily Mail.
“The bus is fully equipped and self-contained, it has just got out of hand.”
Dan claims that a number of authorities have turned up at his door to “rattle and intimidate” him in the past 12 months.
Just last week, however, he discovered he had been summoned to court after the shire launched legal action against him.
Mr Reinhold has now been charged with camping outside of a caravan park or camping ground.
“They are using barristers and solicitors to get this old bloke off his land. It is really over the top, it is absolutely and utterly ridiculous,” he said.
“There is a housing crisis.”
The council have told Mr Reinhold that he can stay at the Darkan Caravan Park, which is managed by the shire, although guests can only stay for a maximum of 28 days across a three-month period.
A state government spokesperson said that under the Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Regulations, local governments could issue approvals for people to camp on their own land for up to three months, the Mail Online report.
The local government minister could also provide approvals for up to 12 months.
“Applications can only be approved if important health and safety requirements outlined in the regulations have been met,” the spokesperson said.
“Generally, the Minister for Local Government will only approve an application if the local government has advised that it is satisfied that health and safety requirements have been met.
“Due to privacy considerations, we are unable to provide comment on whether a specific person had lodged an application.
“However, applications are considered on a case-by-case basis as quickly as possible.”
Under the current regulations, however, caravans or homes on wheels could only be approved for permanent living in caravan parks, the spokesperson added.
Rules on caravans on your own land in the UK
BASED on the average number of people who use a caravan or motorhome, it's estimated that more than 1.1 million are in use in the UK.
However, there are certain rules you must abide by when owning a caravan on your own land.
Caravans, including mobile homes up to 65 x 22 ft, can be sited in the direct garden of a house without planning permission if they are used by members of the household as additional living space and not as independent accommodation.
Static caravans or a luxury lodge, however, require planning permission if placing one on land, according to the UK Caravan Centre.
That is, of course, unless it is being used as ancillary accommodation for a house, such as for a dependent relative or holiday accommodation for visiting family members.
A static caravan, mobile home, or twin lodge is regarded as an article of moveable personal property known as a “chattel” and there is no public law preventing one being kept in someone’s garden or driveway.
Provided the caravan is within the garden of the main home, then no change in use of the home’s land has taken place.
But if the caravan is being used with no connection to the main house, then the local planning authority could decide that an unauthorised “material change of use” has occurred, for which planning permission will be required.