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How can I legally remove an unwanted guest from my garden caravan?

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UKPublished 6 October 2026 · Written by BuyMeWhiskey Editorial Team · How we check facts

First establish whether the person is a guest, licensee, lodger or tenant. In England, a genuine guest with no continuing right to occupy can usually be asked to leave, but an occupier who has acquired legal rights may need notice or a court process. Do not use threats or violence.

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Use GOV.UK's eviction guidance and contact your local council or Citizens Advice if you are unsure what legal status the occupier has.

Read GOV.UK eviction guidance

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Start with the person's legal status

The fact that someone lives in a caravan in your garden does not by itself tell you whether they are a tenant, licensee, lodger or simply a guest. The arrangement matters: did you invite them to stay, do they pay rent, do they have exclusive occupation, and do they share living accommodation with you?

GOV.UK distinguishes between different forms of occupation. For example, an excluded occupier who shares a resident landlord's kitchen, bathroom or living room can usually be asked to leave using reasonable notice, while an occupier with basic protection may need a written notice and a court order if they refuse to go.

What if they are genuinely just a guest?

A guest who has permission to stay does not automatically become a tenant merely because they have been there for a few nights or weeks. The problem is proving what the original permission meant once the relationship breaks down. If you clearly told the person they were staying temporarily and they have no agreement giving them continuing possession, the next step is usually to withdraw permission and ask them to leave.

Put the request in writing. State that permission to stay has ended, give a clear date and keep copies. Avoid taking property, cutting utilities or locking someone out if there is a real possibility they have tenancy or licence rights.

What if they pay rent or have a licence?

GOV.UK says an excluded lodger generally needs reasonable notice to quit. Where rent is paid weekly, that will usually mean a week's notice; where rent is monthly, it may be a month. But those rules apply to the relevant type of occupier, not to every person living in an outbuilding.

If the caravan is a self-contained space and the occupier does not share living accommodation with a resident landlord, the situation may be different. An occupier with basic protection can require a written notice and a court order if they do not leave.

Do not turn a disagreement into an illegal eviction

GOV.UK says illegal eviction is a criminal offence in England and landlords must follow the correct procedure. Changing locks, physically removing someone or cutting services can create serious legal problems where the person has a protected right to occupy.

Threats or violence are never a safe shortcut. The government says police should be contacted where physical violence or threats are involved. A council can also help with suspected illegal eviction or harassment.

What evidence should you gather?

Messages showing why the person was allowed to stay.
Any written agreement, even if informal.
Evidence of rent or other payments.
Who uses the kitchen, bathroom and living areas.
How long the arrangement was meant to last.

Keep evidence about the caravan itself too: whether it is connected to utilities, whether it has a lock the occupier controls, and whether they receive post there. These facts do not decide the legal issue alone, but they can help an adviser understand the arrangement.

What about the unrelated questions in the original search?

Questions about estate agents, switching bank accounts, matured fixed-rate savings or buy-to-let property are different topics. The lasting question here is how to remove an unwanted occupier lawfully. Keeping the legal issue focused makes it easier to choose the right notice and avoid accidentally using the wrong eviction procedure.

Where to get help

If the person says they are a tenant or claims they cannot be removed without a court order, get housing or legal advice before taking action. GOV.UK identifies local councils as a source of help for illegal eviction issues, and Citizens Advice and Shelter provide practical housing guidance. For an urgent safety problem, contact the police.

Worked example

Illustrative arrangement: An owner lets an acquaintance stay in a caravan in the garden while the acquaintance looks for permanent accommodation. There is no written tenancy. The owner lives in the house and the acquaintance uses the house's kitchen and bathroom. After the relationship breaks down, the owner tells the acquaintance the arrangement is ending.

The first question is not "How quickly can I change the lock?" It is "What type of occupier is this?" Because the person shares living accommodation with a resident owner, the arrangement may fall within the rules for an excluded occupier, depending on the full facts. GOV.UK says an excluded occupier generally needs reasonable notice, often linked to the rental period. If the person pays weekly, that can mean a week's notice; if no rent is paid, the precise position needs checking rather than assuming a fixed number of days.

The owner should give the notice clearly, keep evidence, avoid threats and arrange a lawful handover. If the occupier disputes the status, the owner should pause and get housing advice before excluding them.

Can I just change the caravan locks if the guest refuses to leave?#

Not automatically. A genuine guest with no continuing right to occupy is different from a tenant or protected licensee. If the person has acquired occupation rights, changing the locks can amount to an unlawful eviction. Establish the status first and use the correct notice or court process where required.

What is reasonable notice for a lodger in England?#

GOV.UK says an excluded lodger usually needs reasonable notice, which commonly matches the rental payment period. For example, weekly rent usually points to one week's notice and monthly rent to one month. The exact agreement and circumstances still matter, so do not assume every caravan arrangement is automatically a lodger arrangement.

Can I call the police to remove an unwanted guest?#

Police involvement is appropriate where there is violence, a threat of violence or another criminal issue. It is not a substitute for working out civil housing rights. If an occupier claims a lawful right to remain, the safer route is to identify their status and get council, Citizens Advice or housing-law advice.

Does living in a caravan make someone a tenant?#

Not by itself. The legal classification depends on the substance of the arrangement, including permission, rent, exclusive occupation and whether living accommodation is shared. A self-contained caravan can create a different situation from a guest who simply sleeps on a sofa, so the facts should be assessed rather than the label used.

Can I remove a person's belongings when their stay ends?#

Be careful. Even where an excluded occupier can be lawfully removed, GOV.UK guidance says landlords still have duties around belongings. Do not destroy, dump or keep property as leverage. Give the person a reasonable opportunity to collect their things and document what remains.

Where can I get free help if an occupier refuses to leave?#

Start with GOV.UK and your local council. Citizens Advice and Shelter also provide housing guidance. If there is a serious dispute about tenancy status, possession or a proposed lock change, get legal advice before acting. Housing rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland differ from England.

Keep reading

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Sources

Figures were checked against these sources before publication. If a rule changes, we update the page and show the new date.

General information, not personal financial advice. Rules depend on your circumstances; check the official source or speak to a regulated adviser before acting.