17 October 2012
Waveney MP Peter Aldous today commented ahead of the Second Reading of his Private Member’s Bill on Mobile Homes on Friday 19 October.
Having been successful in the ballot to take forward a Private Member’s Bill, Mr Aldous decided to promote a Bill on park homes because he believes strongly that park home residents need better protection from unfair practices by rogue operators in the industry. After a full consideration of the correspondence that he has received from his constituents and cross-party representations from both Houses, Aldous has identified clear loopholes in the current legislation which unscrupulous site owners are able to exploit to the detriment of park home owners.
Aldous is particularly concerned about the way site owners are able to prevent a resident from selling a park home, in many cases subsequently buying it for a fraction of its true value. The economics of the park home sector mean that it can be more lucrative for a site owner to block a sale than to take 10% commission on the sale to a third party.
Mr Aldous also highlights the poor conditions on many park home sites which sometimes mean that it is impossible for residents to sell or even to continue living there. The antiquated licensing regime that applies to park homes means that local councils are effectively powerless to address poor conditions.
Since his election in May 2010, Mr Aldous has been concerned to ensure that park home residents in the Waveney Constituency do not suffer at the hands of unscrupulous site owners. In December 2010, Aldous wrote to park home owners in the Waveney area asking for their experiences. The findings highlighted the difficulties experienced by park home owners trying to sell their homes, facing delays and maintenance.
The Government consulted on a “Better Deal for Mobile Home Owners” in April 2012. The consultation showed that rogue site operators and poor quality sites have an unacceptable impact on both home owners and on reputable operators who are working hard to improve the reputation of the industry. The Government pledged support to improving protection for owners of mobile homes through imposing safeguards on sale blocking, modernising the licensing system and making it easier for home owners to exercise their rights.
The Communities and Local Government Select Committee report published in June 2012 found that “malpractice is widespread across the park home sector”. 25% of park homes residents in the UK have experienced problems with maintenance, security or safety standards and 19% have had problems regarding their written contracts or pitch fee arrangements.
According to a survey conducted by Consumer Focus in September, one in 10 park home owners interviewed in England had encountered intimidation, pressure to leave, abusive behaviour, vandalism, violence or damage to property. 54% of all surveyed residents reported to having been a victim of sale blocking.
With Government support, Peter’s Bill will introduce the following measures to re-balance the rights of home and park owners:
Peter aims to improve standards and conditions that apply to sites and enable park home owners to exercise their legal rights more effectively, such as selling their homes in the open market. The Bill seeks to modernise the legislation to ensure that those operating in the sector do so professionally and meet the needs of their consumers in the 21st century.
Peter Aldous commenting ahead of the Bill’s Second Reading in Parliament said:
“This sector is in urgent need of reform to promote fairness and to protect home owners, who are often elderly and vulnerable. It is a very small part of the housing market and not well understood by many. However we owe it to those people living on park homes sites and people trying to run decent businesses in this sector, to take their problems as seriously as any other.”
Housing Minister Mark Prisk said:
“Many people choose a park home expecting a peaceful retirement and a good quality of life. This bill will help to make that a reality by ensuring that sites are safe and properly managed and that residents are better able to exercise their rights.
“This industry has been blighted by rogue operators – these reforms aim to drive them out of the industry securing a fairer deal both for home owners and for the good operators, running decent businesses.
“This is why the Government is fully backing Peter Aldous’ Mobile Homes Bill.”
Having been successful in the ballot to take forward a Private Member’s Bill, Mr Aldous decided to promote a Bill on park homes because he believes strongly that park home residents need better protection from unfair practices by rogue operators in the industry. After a full consideration of the correspondence that he has received from his constituents and cross-party representations from both Houses, Aldous has identified clear loopholes in the current legislation which unscrupulous site owners are able to exploit to the detriment of park home owners.
Aldous is particularly concerned about the way site owners are able to prevent a resident from selling a park home, in many cases subsequently buying it for a fraction of its true value. The economics of the park home sector mean that it can be more lucrative for a site owner to block a sale than to take 10% commission on the sale to a third party.
Mr Aldous also highlights the poor conditions on many park home sites which sometimes mean that it is impossible for residents to sell or even to continue living there. The antiquated licensing regime that applies to park homes means that local councils are effectively powerless to address poor conditions.
Since his election in May 2010, Mr Aldous has been concerned to ensure that park home residents in the Waveney Constituency do not suffer at the hands of unscrupulous site owners. In December 2010, Aldous wrote to park home owners in the Waveney area asking for their experiences. The findings highlighted the difficulties experienced by park home owners trying to sell their homes, facing delays and maintenance.
The Government consulted on a “Better Deal for Mobile Home Owners” in April 2012. The consultation showed that rogue site operators and poor quality sites have an unacceptable impact on both home owners and on reputable operators who are working hard to improve the reputation of the industry. The Government pledged support to improving protection for owners of mobile homes through imposing safeguards on sale blocking, modernising the licensing system and making it easier for home owners to exercise their rights.
The Communities and Local Government Select Committee report published in June 2012 found that “malpractice is widespread across the park home sector”. 25% of park homes residents in the UK have experienced problems with maintenance, security or safety standards and 19% have had problems regarding their written contracts or pitch fee arrangements.
According to a survey conducted by Consumer Focus in September, one in 10 park home owners interviewed in England had encountered intimidation, pressure to leave, abusive behaviour, vandalism, violence or damage to property. 54% of all surveyed residents reported to having been a victim of sale blocking.
With Government support, Peter’s Bill will introduce the following measures to re-balance the rights of home and park owners:
- Reform the licensing system that applies to park home sites, whilst leaving the holiday sector within the existing regime;
- Prevent site owners from blocking residents’ sales in the open market, including through the misuse of site rules;
- Clarify the law on harassment and makes it an offence to say something which is untrue to prevent a home being sold;
- Make pitch fee reviews more transparent and set new rules on what is to be taken into account on a review so they are fairer and reflect the condition of the site and
- Allow the Secretary of State to introduce a “fit and proper” registration scheme in the future should that prove necessary.
Peter aims to improve standards and conditions that apply to sites and enable park home owners to exercise their legal rights more effectively, such as selling their homes in the open market. The Bill seeks to modernise the legislation to ensure that those operating in the sector do so professionally and meet the needs of their consumers in the 21st century.
Peter Aldous commenting ahead of the Bill’s Second Reading in Parliament said:
“This sector is in urgent need of reform to promote fairness and to protect home owners, who are often elderly and vulnerable. It is a very small part of the housing market and not well understood by many. However we owe it to those people living on park homes sites and people trying to run decent businesses in this sector, to take their problems as seriously as any other.”
Housing Minister Mark Prisk said:
“Many people choose a park home expecting a peaceful retirement and a good quality of life. This bill will help to make that a reality by ensuring that sites are safe and properly managed and that residents are better able to exercise their rights.
“This industry has been blighted by rogue operators – these reforms aim to drive them out of the industry securing a fairer deal both for home owners and for the good operators, running decent businesses.
“This is why the Government is fully backing Peter Aldous’ Mobile Homes Bill.”
