Terrington St Clement man Anthony Paget prosecuted by West Norfolk Council after renting poor quality caravan to young family

A man who rented a poor-quality caravan to a young family as their home has been fined for breaching site licensing law.

Anthony Paget, from Terrington St Clement, had previously been warned by West Norfolk Council’s housing standards team that he did not hold the required licence to operate a site and must not rent out his caravan.

The young couple, along with their newborn baby, were found by council officers to be housed in very poor conditions within a static caravan positioned on Paget’s property at Emorsgate.

In August last year, the couple complained about their housing conditions to the council. The team immediately started an investigation, inspected the accommodation, and the family were able to find accommodation elsewhere.

At Lynn Magistrates’ Court on October 23, following a council prosecution, Paget pleaded guilty to two offences related to him operating a caravan site without a site licence and contravention of the fit and proper regulations.

He was fined £134 and told to pay £1,540 in court costs, as well as a £54 victim surcharge.

Cllr Jo Rust, the borough council cabinet member for people and communities, said: “We want to highlight that if you are a caravan owner, you cannot simply rent out a caravan for income without complying fully with the law around licensing and standards.

“If you ignore the rules, you risk the wellbeing of your tenants and put yourself at risk of prosecution.

“As this case demonstrates, we have a very proactive housing standards team who enforce caravan licensing rules as part of our work to improve housing standards across the borough and protect the most vulnerable in our communities.

“The rules are there to protect everyone and apply to everyone.

“Had he applied for a licence, officers would have attached a licence condition requiring the caravan to be changed to a quality residential-standard caravan, suitable for year-round occupation.

“I’d like to thank the officers for their swift and responsive action.”

Tenants in West Norfolk concerned about the condition of their accommodation can contact the housing standards team on 01553 616200.