26th May 2022

 

A MUCH WELCOMED MOVE:

Today, PHOJC members have  received the below from our colleague Sonia McColl. It is both self-explanatory and much welcomed where work and efforts in the background usually go unseen.  This improves all our hopes that  more will be done more quickly:

Dear Justice Campaign Member

I have not as yet heard from the Department with regard to the change from RPI to CPI - but if it comes later, I will report.   However, following on from his question to the Prime Minister on our behalf, I have received the letter below from our President Sir Peter Bottomley.  I am told that this morning, he has sent this letter to the Secretary of State, Michael Gove MP.  When I hear the outcome, I will post it to you all.

Hopefully, this morning we will all receive help from the government.  I have already emailed to thank Sir Peter for his continued support.  Please  read Sir Peter's letter - which I hope will bring the right result for all park home residents.

Best wishes

Sonia

26 th May 2022 

Dear Michael, 

I write in my capacity as vice- chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Park Homes (APPG) and President for the Park Homes Owners Justice Campaign (PHOJC) concerning Government’s review of the Mobile Homes Act 2013 in England including the need for greater support and protection for park home owners. 

Government issued its response that included proposing to strengthen existing legislation to: (a) improve residents rights (b) give local authorities greater enforcement powers against 

rogue/unscrupulous site owners and review the pitch fee inflationary index from the Retail Price Index (RPI) to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).  and on commission fees payable on the sale of any park home, 

Pitch fees had been increased by the RPI for many years, but their pensions were linked to increases in the CPI. In 2018 following the pitch fee review as part of its response Government concluded that it had: “…Considered all the arguments put forward including concerns about affordability for both residents and site owners.  We also considered the merits of using CPI or RPI as the pitch fee review inflationary index and have concluded that CPI is the most appropriate inflationary index.

The Government will introduce legislation in due course to change the pitch fee review inflationary index from RPI to CPI, when parliamentary time allows.” 

The inspirational and dedicated Sonia McColl OBE, founder of the PHJOC has been lobbying with others for this change for the past eight years and received support from as she explained: ‘Lord Graham of Edmonton, Dame Annette Brooke OBE, former MP Natascha Engel, Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, Sir Christopher Chope MP, Sir Peter Bottomley MP, Lord Richard Best, Steve Brine MP, Sir Robert Buckland MP, Paul Baker, Sebastian O’Kelly and Martin Boyd both of the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership and Secretariat for the leasehold/commonhold reform APPG, PB Insurance Limited,  Tony Turner of the Park Homes Policy Forum, Mr. Alan Savory, The Park Homes Magazine and Brian Doick MBE – NAPHR, et al. Government promised it would adopt the changes some four years ago. Wales has already done so. 

You will agree, it is now time for England to level- up and provide greater protection for park home owners. Might you kindly provide a timeframe when Government will commit to addressing this issue that continues to impact negatively lives of park home residents and their families. 

I look forward to hearing back from you. 

Yours sincerely, 

Sir Peter Bottomley MP. 

Father of the House. Vice- chair for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Park Homes. Co-chair for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Leasehold and Commonhold Reform.

( The letter is signed and copied to the Chair for the All-Party Group on Park Homes Sir Christopher Chope MP )