A Fair Deal for Park Homes Owners
Stuart Anderson MP has said that the new government must deliver a fairer deal for England’s 159,000 park home residents. He has called on the government to urgently review the park home ‘sales commission’, which allows site owners to charge residents up to 10% on the resale of a home.
The last government commissioned an independent survey on the subject in 2021 and the findings of that survey were submitted to Ministers in June 2022. Since then, there has been no decisions made to make changes to the 40 year old legislation or not. Sign the petition calling for a decision here.
Almost all park operators charge the full commission rate on every sale. The payment is unique to the park homes sector and is not replicated in any other sector. Stuart has said that a new deal must be found, which provides a fair settlement between park home residents and site owners.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"Residents in park homes across South Shropshire have raised very real concerns with me about the commission rate payable on the resale of their homes, currently set at 10% of the sale price. It is an unjustifiable charge which traps residents into their properties, unable to move on if their circumstances change. The commission is becoming increasingly outdated and unfair. The Secretary of State has power to review the commission. I have called on her to do so. A new deal must be found."
In a response to Stuart's campaign, dated 27th November 2024, Minister for Housing and Local Government Baroness Taylor of Stevenage said:
"The park homes sector is an important part of the housing market. It must be a safe and secure place for residents to live and must also operate efficiently to meet housing needs. I understand the concerns many residents have about the payment of a maximum 10% commission on the sale of a park home. The Government will consider the recommendations of the 2022 research report together with the sector’s views and set out the Government’s position as soon as possible."
Stuart is also calling on support for all households vulnerable to the energy price increases, including those which utilise heating oil as a source of energy. This is because any household not connected to the mains gas network does not benefit from the Price Cap.
There are approximately 2 million such households, many of which will be living in park homes on some of the country’s 1,832 parks. In the past, these households were instead supported with a £200 payment from the government.
Having campaigned for Winter Fuel Payments to be kept, Stuart is also calling for the support, known as ‘Alternative Fuel Payments’, to be retained as equivalent support for households not connected to the mains gas network.
I am encouraged that Ministers have agreed to consider extending the Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme to include other individuals without a direct relationship with an energy supplier.
