Park Home Owners

The Park Homes Charter

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The Park Homes Charter

THE GUIDE TO BUYING, LIVING IN AND SELLING YOUR PARK HOME
The Park Homes Charter has been drawn up jointly by the residents' associations, British Park Home Residents Association, Independent Park Home Advisory Service, National Association for Park Home Residents and the industry trade associations British Holiday & Home Parks Association and the National Park Homes Council and in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. (For addresses, see contact list at the end of the Charter.)

The Charter has been drawn up to help the home owner and the park owner to understand and use the law in a fair and even way. The Charter does not affect the statutory rights of any party; it explains those rights and the obligations of each party. Only the Courts can give a definitive ruling on questions of law.

The Charter recognises that the park owner and the home owner share the same interest: a well-run Park Home Estate where the benefits of park home living can be enjoyed and the purchase of a park home is secure for the future.

Throughout the Charter you will see the symbol HB at the end of the sentence. This symbol is used to explain that further information is available within the DETR Mobile Homes Housing Booklet. Certain rights are laid down by the Mobile Homes Act 1983 - these are printed in bold. We strongly suggest that DETR Mobile Homes Housing Booklet is read in conjunction with this Charter.

Members of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) and the National Park Homes Council (NPHC) shall comply with the Mobile Homes Act 1983 and with this Charter and the Associations will apply their disciplinary procedures against any members who are shown to have breached the Charter.

As the owner or prospective owner of a park home, you may be aware the law already protects your security and peace of mind. The law gives you; subject to certain conditions:

• The right to a Written Agreement under the Mobile Homes Act 1983
• Security of tenure
• Rights concerning the inheritance of your home
• The right to give your home to a member of your family
• The right to sell your home on the park

The Charter explains how the law may affect the buyer of a park home during the process of buying and afterwards as a resident on a Park Home Estate. How something is done in practice is often as important as the technicalities of the law and the Charter sets out how members of the two trade associations deal with a number of common issues.

The purchase of a park home differs in many ways from 'bricks and mortar' housing. Park Home living is a unique partnership between the park owner and the home owner. Although park home owners do not own the land on which they have their home sited, they do have the right to live in their home in perpetuity. Having bought your home, you must also pay pitch fees. Legal conveyancing is not required: there is no land title to transfer thus no land registry fees and no stamp duty. Therefore, there are no obligatory legal charges. However you might well feel you need help or legal advice, in which case you should seek it from a solicitor or other qualified body.

Terms and conditions for buying a park home consistent with the Charter and the 1983 Act shall be made available to you in advance of your purchase.

If you have any queries concerning your park home, please ask the park owner or his authorised representative.

If you are in doubt as to your legal positon, you should seek independant legal advice.

The Charter is intended to set out the ground rules and guides the prospective home owner and the park owner through the purchase decision making process, the purchase formalities and thereafter. Everyone is encouraged to keep all documents and correspondence relating to the purchase.