22 May 2012
Waveney MP Peter Aldous last week secured a Private Members Bill in a Ballot in the House of Commons.

Mr Aldous applied along with other Members of Parliament and his Bill which he has decided to be on Park Homes was selected as number 5 in the Ballot on 17th May. Ballot Bills have the best chance of becoming law, as they get priority for the limited amount of debating time available.

Since his election in May 2010 Aldous has been campaigning for the rights of park home residents in Waveney. In December 2010 Aldous spoke in Debate in the House of Commons after having conducted a consultation of those in the Waveney constituency who live in a park home, or who own or manage one to contact him with concerns relating to living in, managing or owning park homes.

The Coalition Government responded in February 2011 announcing new rights for those who live in park homes that will allow them to resolve disputes with site owners quickly and more easily, and ensure that their sites are safe and better maintained.

But Aldous remains concerned that whilst park homes often provide excellent alternatives to bricks and mortar park home residents are often some of the most vulnerable. They often lack rights in relation to the sale of their home, site maintenance, pitch fees face significantly higher fuel costs.

The Government is currently consulting on “A Better Deal for Mobile Home Owners” with the consultation ending on 28th May.

This consultation proposes a number of reforms to the park homes sector, aimed at tackling a number of complaints made by residents of some mobile home site operators. These can include:

  • blocking an owner's sale of their home - without justifiable reason

  • neglecting their sites and failing to make adequate repairs; and

  • charging excessive pitch fees, breaching site rules and stopping owners from improving their homes.


The measures are designed to ensure site operators who behave responsibly can continue to operate as they do already whilst the rogue operators are properly tackled - as well as being made to meet the cost of their negligence rather than the taxpayer picking up the bill.

The proposed changes include:

  • ensuring compliance with site licence conditions by enabling the courts to impose unlimited fines on operators who do not manage their sites properly

  • allowing local authorities to make a reasonable charge on site operators for their licensing services, which they are currently unable to do

  • giving local authorities the power to carry out works on sites in an emergency or where the site operator has been found guilty of a breach of the licence, and charge the cost back to them

  • strengthening the rules around the sale of mobile homes so that unscrupulous operators cannot interfere with owners selling to a qualifying buyer who they have chosen; and

  • changing legislation to improve other residents' rights to reflect their status as home owners by, for example, allowing them to carry out home improvements without seeking permission.


Mr Aldous commenting said:

“I am pleased to have been successful in the Ballot and have the opportunity to speak up for Waveney’s park home residents. People living in these homes all too often experience a range of unnecessary problems impacting on their well-being and it is time their rights were addressed. I will be inviting views from residents and park home owners ahead of the Bill to ensure I have a balanced set of views.”