A Westminster Hall debate held today (Tuesday, 28 April) has called for stronger protections and more fairness for park home residents across England.
Led by Rushcliffe MP James Naish, the debate highlighted the important role that park homes play in housing markets across the UK, with around 160,000 people living on mobile home sites in England alone. While many sites are well run, longstanding issues continue to plague mobile home residents’ lives across the country.
Drawing on his local experiences in Rushcliffe, where six park home sites form part of established communities, James Naish MP opened the debate by highlighting some of the benefits of mobile home living, which include independence, security, and a strong sense of community. However, he also noted that there are gaps in protections and oversight that need addressing.
In particular, concerns exist about the balance of power between residents and mobile home site owners, with the transparency and fairness of fees, maintenance standards, and utility arrangements all scrutinised in the past by MPs.
Questions have also been raised about how effectively existing regulations are enforced, with some residents finding it difficult to challenge poor practice or resolve disputes. In addition, a 10% commission fee charged on the sale of park homes has come under significant scrutiny over recent years as property values have risen over time.
James Naish and other MPs welcomed the government’s recent call for evidence on the 10% commission fee, but MPs also called for practical reforms to improve protections, strengthen enforcement, and ensure residents are treated fairly.
James Naish, MP for Rushcliffe, said: “Park home residents deserve the same fairness and protections as any other homeowner. With relatively small legislative changes, I believe we can make a significant difference to tens of thousands of people across the country, and I am determined that this Parliament delivers that change. This is why I brought this debate to Parliament.
“The government is rightly looking at major commonhold, leasehold, and ‘fleecehold’ reforms because the current system isn’t working for millions of people across the UK. It is really important that, as part of these wider changes, park and mobile home owners aren’t forgotten, and I hope that this debate today will make sure that they aren’t.”
