Mobile Home / Park Home Bill of Sale (England & Wales)

A Mobile Home / Park Home Bill of Sale in the United Kingdom transfers ownership of the item from seller to buyer and records the price, description, and condition of what is sold, under the framework of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.

The legal framework governing mobile and park home sales in England and Wales is more complex than that for ordinary chattels, because the home and the pitch on which it stands are treated as legally distinct. The home is personal property (a chattel) and ownership transfers by delivery and a written agreement. The pitch is governed by a separate agreement between the homeowner and the park operator — a pitch agreement (formerly called a licence) regulated under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 and the Mobile Homes Acts.

For residential park homes on protected sites, the Mobile Homes Act 2013 is the primary legislation. It replaced the Mobile Homes Act 1983 and significantly strengthened the rights of residential park homeowners. Under section 3 of the Mobile Homes Act 2013, a residential park homeowner has a statutory right to sell their home and to assign their pitch agreement to a buyer of their choice, subject only to the park owner's approval of the buyer's identity. The park owner may not unreasonably withhold or delay approval — the 21-day response period applies — and may only refuse on limited statutory grounds. The park owner is entitled to receive a commission on the sale (up to 10% of the sale price under the standard implied terms).

For holiday lodges and non-residential static caravans on holiday parks, the Mobile Homes Act 2013 does not apply. These homes are governed by ordinary contract law and the terms of the individual pitch or siting agreement with the holiday park operator. The park operator typically has much greater contractual discretion to control sales, impose restrictions on buyers, or decline to offer a new pitch agreement to the purchaser.

The Sale of Goods Act 1979 governs the implied terms of the sale of the home as personal property. Section 12 implies a warranty of title that the seller has the right to sell the home — this applies in every private sale and cannot be excluded. Where the seller is a business and the buyer a consumer, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies, requiring the home to be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described.

Gas safety in mobile homes is governed by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. Electrical safety is assessed against the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) and demonstrated by an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).

A Mobile Home Bill of Sale is needed whenever a mobile home, park home, or static caravan changes hands by private sale in England and Wales, regardless of whether the home is residential or holiday use.

Residential park home sales represent the most important use case. England has approximately 85,000 residential park homes on around 2,000 licensed sites, with an average sale price of £80,000 to £200,000 depending on location and quality. At these values, a well-drafted bill of sale is essential to document what was agreed, what condition the home was in, what contents were included, and what the seller declared about outstanding finance and defects. The bill of sale also provides the documentary record needed to trigger the park owner's approval process under the Mobile Homes Act 2013.

Holiday lodge sales on holiday parks require a bill of sale to record the transaction where the park operator permits private sales between buyers and sellers. Many holiday park operators have their own sales procedures and may charge commission or require the sale to be conducted through the park office — a bill of sale remains useful as the legal record of the transaction between the private parties, even where the park operator is also involved.

Estate sales — where a park home formed part of a deceased person's estate — require a bill of sale that identifies the seller's authority as executor or administrator of the estate and confirms the transfer from the estate to the buyer. The executor or administrator must apply for the park owner's approval under the Mobile Homes Act 2013 in the same way as any other seller.

Finance settlement — where a seller has outstanding hire purchase or loan finance against the home — requires the bill of sale to record the finance disclosure, the settlement obligation, and the conditions for transfer of title. The buyer should not pay the full purchase price until they have independent confirmation that the finance has been discharged.

New park home purchases from developers or dealers attract the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Buyers have statutory rights to a home of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described, and these rights cannot be excluded or limited by the dealer. A bill of sale from a dealer should clearly describe all specifications and any defects.

A well-structured Mobile Home Bill of Sale for England and Wales should contain the following essential elements.

Party identification: Full legal names and addresses (with UK postcodes) of seller and buyer. For estate sales, the seller should be described as executor or administrator of the named estate with evidence of their authority (grant of probate or letters of administration).

Home identification: The manufacturer, model, year of manufacture, exterior colour, chassis or serial number, external dimensions, and number of bedrooms. The chassis number is the primary identifier for the home and should be physically verified against the data plate on the home before exchange.

Site details: The name and address of the park or site, the pitch or plot number, and the basis of the pitch agreement transfer. For residential park homes under the Mobile Homes Act 2013, record whether the park owner's approval has been obtained or is pending, and include the current annual pitch fee.

Mobile Homes Act 2013 acknowledgement: Where the home is a residential park home on a protected site, both parties should acknowledge the statutory framework, confirm that the sale is conditional on park owner approval where required, and note that the buyer's statutory rights as a residential park homeowner are not affected by the agreement.

Contents and fixtures: A thorough list of all items included in the sale price — integrated appliances, fitted furniture, floor coverings, outbuildings, garden structures, and additional equipment. Items not listed are excluded.

Condition and safety disclosures: The overall condition, gas safety certificate status (with engineer's details and expiry date), electrical safety (EICR status), and all known defects including damp, roof issues, appliance faults, and structural concerns. Under the Misrepresentation Act 1967, concealing material defects may give rise to a claim for rescission and damages.

Purchase price and payment: The agreed price in pounds sterling, the payment method (CHAPS for high-value transactions), the completion date, and any deposit paid. Record the balance payable at completion separately from any pre-paid deposit.

Finance declaration: The seller's warranty that the home is free from all outstanding hire purchase, mortgage, and finance encumbrances, or a full disclosure of any outstanding finance and the mechanism for its settlement at or before completion.

Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 exclusion: A clear provision excluding third-party rights under the 1999 Act, which is standard practice in English commercial contracts.

Signatures and governing law: Both parties should sign the agreement, confirming the deal terms under the laws of England and Wales.

Additional compliance elements for a Mobile Home / Park Home Bill of Sale (England & Wales) used in United Kingdom include: Under UK law, the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 govern personal data in this document. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects individuals in consumer transactions. Section 62 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 addresses unfair terms. The County Court and High Court of Justice have jurisdiction over personal disputes under the Senior Courts Act 1981 and the County Courts Act 1984. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) enforces data protection. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for United Kingdom-compliant documentation.