Residential Mobile Homes in Scotland - Scottish Government
Residential Mobile Homes in Scotland - Scottish Government
Residential Mobile Homes in Scotland - Scottish Government
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CHAPTER FIVE<br />
CONCLUSIONS<br />
Introduction<br />
5.1 This chapter draws together the ma<strong>in</strong> conclusions of the report. In so do<strong>in</strong>g, the<br />
chapter aims to <strong>in</strong>form policy developments by identify<strong>in</strong>g possible areas where action might<br />
be required. The conclusions are discussed under the head<strong>in</strong>gs of the aims and objectives of<br />
the research, which were set out <strong>in</strong> section 1.8.<br />
Conclusions<br />
Identify the number, location and composition of licensed mobile homes sites throughout<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong>, and where possible, identify unlicensed sites and quantify the extent of isolated<br />
s<strong>in</strong>gle units.<br />
5.2 The 2001 Census data showed that a very small proportion of the population <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>Scotland</strong> lived <strong>in</strong> caravans, mobile homes or other temporary structures (0.21 per cent).<br />
However, there were some concentrations <strong>in</strong> the number of caravans and mobile homes <strong>in</strong><br />
some local authority areas. The local authority with the highest proportion of households<br />
liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> caravans or mobile homes was Midlothian, where 1.1 per cent of all households<br />
lived <strong>in</strong> these types of accommodation. There were other concentrations <strong>in</strong> authorities such<br />
as Moray, Highland and Argyll and Bute.<br />
5.3 The local authority survey identified a total of 4,121 residential mobile homes. This<br />
total <strong>in</strong>cluded sites licensed for residential use, residential units on mixed sites with holiday<br />
pitches as well, <strong>in</strong>dividual residential mobile homes used by staff on sites licensed for holiday<br />
use, and an estimate of <strong>in</strong>dividual units with<strong>in</strong> authorities. However, it should be noted that<br />
few respondents to the local authority survey felt <strong>in</strong> a position to estimate the number of<br />
s<strong>in</strong>gle units with<strong>in</strong> their areas. Therefore, the total of 4,121 represents an underestimate of<br />
the total number of residential mobile homes <strong>in</strong> <strong>Scotland</strong>.<br />
5.4 The tenure profile of mobile homes <strong>in</strong> <strong>Scotland</strong> was quite dist<strong>in</strong>ctive compared with<br />
England and Wales. A far greater proportion of residents rent their mobile homes from<br />
private landlords <strong>in</strong> <strong>Scotland</strong> compared with other countries with<strong>in</strong> the United K<strong>in</strong>gdom.<br />
Thirty four per cent of mobile home residents <strong>in</strong> <strong>Scotland</strong> rented a caravan, mobile home or<br />
other temporary structure from a private landlord compared with 18 per cent <strong>in</strong> England and<br />
Wales. A proportion of these tenants lived on licensed sites, but many were also liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong>dividual units, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g accommodation that was tied with employment or provided for<br />
seasonal workers.<br />
Explore the reasons why people are liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> mobile homes and their length of residence,<br />
look<strong>in</strong>g at factors that have led them <strong>in</strong>to the sector, their previous hous<strong>in</strong>g history and<br />
their aspirations for the future, particularly their ability to access affordable hous<strong>in</strong>g<br />
5.5 Respondents described a variety of reasons for want<strong>in</strong>g to live <strong>in</strong> mobile homes, and<br />
often there wasn’t a s<strong>in</strong>gle reason, but rather a comb<strong>in</strong>ation of motivations for mov<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to<br />
mobile homes. The most common factor across the case study areas, and also between park<br />
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