6th March 2019
5th March 2019
To all JUSTICE Campaign Members.
It will be our President “Lord Ted Graham’s Birthday on 26th March.
If you would like to send a card to make his day extra special, please send to him c/o Knebworth Care Home, 59 London Rd, Woolmer Green, Knebworth, Herts. SG3 6JJ.
5th March 2019
PLEASE SIGN PETITION
To: Claire Perry the Minister for Energy
Reform the Re-sale of Electricity & Gas (guidance for resellers) 2002
28th February 2019
Westminster Hall Debate: Residents of Leisure Park Homes.
There is a need for wider reform. Organisations such as the Park Home Owners Justice Campaign and the Park Homes Policy Forum have worked for years to expose the exploitation of park home residents, which is still ongoing. Park homes have been described to me as
“like leasehold bullying, but with criminal thuggery thrown in.”
We know that 62% of leasehold home owners feel as if they were mis-sold them; I would not be surprised if a similar, or higher, number of park homes residents felt the same way. Just as there are leaseholds with onerous ground rents, park home owners can be charged extortionate pitch fees that can increase rapidly each year. As with leaseholds, hidden clauses in park homes contracts can cause significant hardship down the line; residents have limited routes of redress when things go wrong, and any enforcement is often affected by a lack of transparency and opaque structures.
However, unlike the situation with most leaseholds, park home owners also report, as we have heard, experiencing or being threatened with violence and other illegal activity. We saw that most prominently in the disgraceful treatment of Sonia McColl, a leading campaigner for park homes reform. After campaigning for action on rogue park owners, Sonia had to sell her park home and move due to death threats. She then, astonishingly, had her entire home stolen while waiting for it to be delivered to her new site. She was made an OBE for services to society, but I think society has let her down. I asked her what issues she would like to raise with the Minister; she wants to know, first, when the consumer prices index instead of the retail prices index will be used to calculate the increase in pitch fee, and secondly when independent research will be done on the 10% commission payable to site owners on the sale of residence properties. She will be happy to share the Minister’s response with the 30,000 residents on her database.
To read the full HANSARD report click on the link below.
Click this link to sign the petition to
"Reduce the council tax for people who live in park homes"
https://petition.parliament.uk/signatures/53562179/verify?token=2QG9CiZ2M169tQnGEK
10th January 2019
THE GOVERNMENT HAS PUBLISHED THE MEMORANDUM
to the Communities and Local Government Select Committee
on post-legislative assessment of the Mobile Homes Act 2013 (MHA 2013):
21st December 2018
Do you need help at Christmas?
As most agencies will be closed
PARK HELP LINE volunteers will be operating a
reduced service.
If you have a park home problem
telephone 02038466601
and we will do our best to help.
29th November 2018
A message from Sonia
CRISIS at CHRISTMAS
Last year I was officially homeless at Christmas - but I was lucky.
That is why I am asking if you will
give one more present this Christmas?
Will you make a donation to bring
a HOMELESS person in from
the cold?
Being homeless with no security is frightening. Will you help to transform a life
by reserving a place for someone at
CRISIS AT CHRISTMAS?
£28.18 could bring one person in from the cold for a week over Christmas
where they will receive food, comfort, healthcare and special support
to transform their lives.
( or please donate whatever you can - no matter how small )
To donate online go to www.crisis.org.uk/baublegift
or call their freephone number on 0800 999 2080
Thankyou.
21st November 2018
GOVERNMENT PUBLISHES BRIEFING PAPER
AHEAD OF A REVIEW OF THE 10% COMMISSION
Click on the link below to read the full briefing
https://parkhomes.lease-advice.org/government-publishes-briefing-paper-ahead-of-a-review-of-the-10-commission-rate-on-sales-of-park-homes-in-england/
DRAFT MINUTES OF THE
ALL PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP FOR PARK HOMES MEETING
1st November 2018
UPDATE ON SONIA'S STOLEN PARK HOME
It is almost one year since thieves stole my home and
I would like to congratulate and thank the
Police
for quietly conducting a thorough investigation job.
Although I can not say more at this time
I have permission to inform that
TWO SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED
and both are RUI (released under investigation)
AND THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.
Thank you to all who continue to ask for updates and
when allowed, I will let you know how it progresses.
23rd October 2018
Our National Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign
Dear Members and all Peers and MPs who have supported our campaign for an Independent review of the 10% Commission Charge and a change from RPI to CPI on the pitch fee.
Together we brought about a change in the law to stop Sale Blocking and now, together, we have achieved our goal and the future overall outlook for park home residents is far better than expected.
Yesterday, 22nd October 2018, on behalf of our Campaign, I attended the APPG for Park Homes at which the Minister Heather Wheeler MP spoke at length about the Government’s response to the Review of Park Home Legislation (links to enable you to read the complete summary can be found on the Home Page of our web site at www.parkhomeownersjusticecampaign.co.uk
You, the residents, have spent your time, money and effort to change the pitch fee review index from the Retail Price Index (RPI) to the Consumer Price Index (CPI.)
The Government have now written that they will “CHANGE THE PITCH FEE REVIEW INFLATIONARY INDEX FROM THE RETAIL PRICE INDEC (RPI) TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI)”
Park Home Residents again spent their pensions, travelled to rallies and meetings in London and wrote many letters requesting an INDEPENDENT AND TRANSPARENT REVIEW OF THE 10% CHARGE.” I should add at this point that together we asked for the Independent Review with sight of the site owners accounting because the abolition of the charge would have immediately failed. However, the 10% issue was fraught with problems from the outset, pushed under the carpet after being debated by MPs who called for an Independent Review, relegated to a working group, dropped from the official agenda of the Government’s Review of Park Home Legislation and rescued from the brink of disaster on many occasions.
When you asked in 2013 if we could do something about the 10% Commission Charge, I said that “we would try.” Yesterday 22nd October 2018 your efforts were rewarded, and the Government have said they “will therefore undertake research to gather relevant data to enable a detailed assessment of the likely impacts of a change to the 10% commission on residents and site owners.”
At yesterdays meeting of the APPG I asked the Minister if the review would take into account the financial accounting of site owners and for her assurance that the research would include not only those site owners who own one or two parks – but those who own multiple parks. From the Ministers response, I was satisfied that it would. In due course the draft minutes of the meeting will be posted on the JUSTICE Campaign web site at www.parkhomeownersjusticecampaign.co.uk
Due to Brexit and the work involved it is sadly understandable that we cannot expect anything to be done before the spring of 2019 - but thanks must be given to Sir Christopher Chope MP (who not only accompanied our party to Downing Street to deliver your petition – but also tried at length during yesterday’s meeting to speed up the process.)
As supporters, you can all be justifiably proud as our JUSTICE Campaign has again achieved what it set out to do. I will leave the JUSTICE Campaign Web Site up until the research is started in the spring of 2019 because independent researchers will be gathering the opinions of site owners and park home residents. If and when I received information regarding this research, I will post it on the web site and send it to all members of the JUSTICE Campaign as it is of vital importance that you have your say. Following this, our campaign will close and all your personal data will be destroyed as we will have done all that we can and the final outcome will be decided by Government.
However, now that our campaign is over and we have succeeded in all that we set out to do, may I take this opportunity to thank all those who have supported us – in particular, the unknown people who have made our Justice Campaign the household name that it is: John (who prefers to remain anonymous) but has built and managed our web site for nine years and thousands of residents from every part of our country who have become valued friends, have made banners, travelled, rallied and spent their pensions to further our campaign.
I have said on many occasions that without allies from within, you can never expect to get through the doors of Parliament. Therefore, on behalf of PHOJC my sincere thanks goes, to Lord Graham of Edmonton, the now retired Dame Annette Brooke OBE, former MP, Natascha Engel, Grant Shapps MP, Sir Peter Bottomley MP, Sir Christopher Chope MP, Lord Best, Steve Brine MP, Robert Buckland MP, Members of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and so very many more who assistance over the years has been greatly appreciated and without whose help we would not have got this far.
We are also indebted to Paul Baker of PB Insurance for his support of our campaign and the road shows that he organised. Tony Turner of the Park Homes Policy Forum for his unstinting support and friendship. The Park Homes Magazine for its coverage – with particular thanks to Alex Melvin and Anne Webb. LEASE, Mr. Alan Savory MBE of IPHAS and Mr. Brian Doick MBE of NAPHR and Sebastian O’Kelly, Martin Boyd and Jim Fitzpatrick MP of the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership.
Little did we realise when our campaign was born in 2009 that it would grow and succeed to this level. Together we put our heads above the parapet. Sometimes suffered the consequences but that is what it takes and together we have brought about change. THAT IS TRULY THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE.
PHOJC has achieved what it set out to do and is now closed but the Park-HELP-Line that it founded and is supported by Paul Baker remains and its Friendly Volunteer Operators can be contacted on 02038466601
I feel so very privileged and proud to have known and become friends with so many wonderful people and thank you all for your belief in our JUSTICE Campaign, our cause and what you have done. Together we made it happen and many Park Home Residents in the future will benefit because of you.
With Much Love and Best Wishes for the Future
Sonia
Sonia McColl OBE
Founder of the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign
22nd October 2018
Below are links to the Government’s response to Part 2 of the Call for evidence.
On behalf of PHOJC I am attending the APPG for Park Homes today. The Minister will be addressing the meeting. Full report will follow as soon as appropriate.
1. Review of park homes legislation - the document sets out the government’s response to the two part review of park homes legislation.
It sets out proposals to strengthen the existing legislation to:
- improve residents’ rights
- give local authorities more enforcement powers to tackle rogue site owners
- work with the sector to raise awareness of rights and responsibilities of residents
- develop and disseminate best practice amongst local authorities.
https://www.gov.uk/government/ consultations/review-of-park-h omes-legislation-call-for-evid ence
https://www.gov.uk/government/ consultations/review-of-park-h omes-legislation-call-for-evid ence-part-2
2. Mobile home residents are to receive greater protection from dishonest site owners seeking to make a profit at their expense, thanks to plans announced today (22 October 2018):
https://www.gov.uk/government/ news/new-plans-to-stamp-out-ro gue-mobile-home-site-owners
On behalf of PHOJC I am attending the APPG for Park Homes today. The Minister will be addressing the meeting. Full report will follow as soon as appropriate.
1. Review of park homes legislation - the document sets out the government’s response to the two part review of park homes legislation.
It sets out proposals to strengthen the existing legislation to:
- improve residents’ rights
- give local authorities more enforcement powers to tackle rogue site owners
- work with the sector to raise awareness of rights and responsibilities of residents
- develop and disseminate best practice amongst local authorities.
https://www.gov.uk/government/ consultations/review-of-park-h omes-legislation-call-for-evid ence
https://www.gov.uk/government/ consultations/review-of-park-h omes-legislation-call-for-evid ence-part-2
2. Mobile home residents are to receive greater protection from dishonest site owners seeking to make a profit at their expense, thanks to plans announced today (22 October 2018):
https://www.gov.uk/government/ news/new-plans-to-stamp-out-ro gue-mobile-home-site-owners
23rd September 2018
A message for all who have donated to the appeal for “A Home for Sonia”
Dear Friends
I write to thank you all for the love and support that I have received from my amazing family, friends and all the wonderful people and park home owners here and abroad who have helped me since my home was so cruelly stolen because of my work for the JUSTICE Campaign.
I will forever be eternally grateful to each and every one of you and especially Sir Peter Bottomley MP, Sebastian O’Kelly, Martin Boyd and Jim Fitzpatrick MP of the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership who; upon hearing of my plight, immediately set up the “Home for Sonia” appeal. My dear friend Tony Turner of the Park Home Policy Forum; knowing that my husband had passed away, has called and supported me through the darkest of days and acted as a conduit for those park home residents unable to access the Leasehold Knowledge donation site; while Paul Baker of PB Insurance did his utmost to advertise my stolen park home and set up a reward for information leading to the capture of the villains. Lord "Ted" Graham has kept in constant touch and has been like a father figure and I am so grateful for the support of all while I struggled to attend London meetings (to fight the residents corner) and keep the JUSTICE Campaign going until a decision could be made by government on our RPI to CPI and 10% Commission Charge Campaign.
Letters and emails have poured in from lovely park home residents across the country; some have added me to prayer circles and others have sent their love and support and offers of accommodation in their homes. Please know that I can never adequately express how grateful I am to you all for your kindness; that will never be forgotten.
I have been able to send personal thanks to all those who sent cheques to Tony but I don’t know the names of the amazing people who donated to the Leasehold Knowledge Appeal. If you are one of them and reading this letter, please accept my heartfelt thanks for your very kind and generous gift.
On the recommendation of the Police I have been relocated to another county for my safety and I hope that you will understand that I will not be giving out my new address – but please know that I am so thrilled and feel very lucky to now be able to rent a little home of my very own and because of your generous donations which totalled £15.105 pounds I am able to equip and furnish it. Everyone needs their own space and front door – but you don’t realise how important this is until your home is stolen from you.
Many times, during the last year, when I have been very low; I have sat in my little car (when all was quiet outside) in the realisation that apart from the wonderful people who gave me refuge and somewhere to sleep – my car was the only shelter that I owned. However, I was lucky to have such a wonderful family and friends that were willing to shelter me, but my heart goes out to the many homeless people on our streets and I can’t help but wonder what awful situation has happened to them.
One day it would be wonderful to report that the thieves have been caught and Justice has been done. Someone somewhere is living in my home. Sleeping in my bed, cooking on my cooker, sitting on my sofa and watching my TV – and there are people out there who know who they are. If that is you, please call the Police or crime stoppers and if it leads to a conviction, you can claim the reward – because these people are wicked thieves.
However, importantly, once again my very very sincere thanks to all who have helped and supported me. I now have a lovely little home. I am very happy and contented and I have moved from a very dark place to a bright sunny world and I hope to get a dog.
With love to you all
Sonia
PS. I will of course report to you all when news of our RPI to CPI and 10% Campaign is announced.
19th September 2018
Park-HELP-Line
IS GRATEFUL TO
Mr. Sam Mayer
of
Henriques
Griffiths (Solicitors)
who will give an initial
FREE
consultation to
Park Home Resident callers that are
referred by
Park-HELP-Line
and are experiencing
Park Home Problems.
ANY FOLLOW UP WORK MUST BE
PAID FOR.
Park-HELP-Line
is sponsored by Paul
Baker of PB Insurance Services
Tel: 0800 038 5090
Full Details of Henriques
Griffiths Solicitors can be found on the link below.
1st September 2018
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18th August 2018
The JUSTICE CAMPAIGN'S 10% Commission Charge and RPI to CPI Campaign
Since 2013 our JUSTICE campaign (with the help and active support of residents from all parts of our country) has lobbied, rallied, organised a Three Nation Rally, presented petitions to Government and hundreds of residents have attended our meetings with MPs in the Palace of Westminster. Our request has always been for a full and transparent review of the sales commission in England with sight of the site owners certified accounting - and if a change is made that nothing is added to the pitch fee.
The decision of the Scottish government has been to retain the 10% and the Welsh government is likely to phase in a reduction to 5% over a five year period.
In England. Although, I fought very hard - as a member of the working group - to have the 10% commission charge included in the 2017 review of the effects of the 2013 Act; after our JUSTICE Campaign's staunch ally Dame Annette Brooke MP OBE retired and MP Natascha Engel was not invited to attend the meetings, I basically stood alone within that group on the subject of the 10% commission charge and as the BH & HPA were in opposition and with no other back up from other members, no recommendation to include the 10% Commission charge in the review of the 2013 Act could be put forward. Therefore, the review does not include the question of sales commissions; however, although outside of its scope, and following the help of hundreds of campaign members who wrote to their various MPs, this Government has agreed to give it further consideration separately from this review. I believe, this has come about ONLY because of the effort that members of the JUSTICE campaign have made.
In 2013, I was asked if the JUSTICE Campaign could do something about the 10% Commission Fee. I said we would try - and we have all certainly done that. In fact, if it had not been for the effort that park home residents have put in, the 10% would have disappeared and turned to dust under the proverbial carpet. Now, the fact is that we can do no more on this subject. It is in the hands of the government and we have to wait and hope that justice is done and in England we get the Independent and transparent review that JUSTICE Campaign members have requested and if the 10% is changed - as we have campaigned for - there is nothing added to the pitch fee. I am led to believe that the result of the review will be announced at the end of September - we shall have to wait to see if that is correct.
Our campaign to change the inflationary index used for pitch fees from RPI to CPI is included in the coming review. Let us hope that this is successful and a change is made because it is wrong that our pitch fees increase by RPI when our state pensions only increase by CPI. Again, Residents have done all that they can and we await the government proposals following its 2017 two part call for evidence in its review of the effects of the 2013 act - and whether this will include all that is needed to restore the lives of park home owners to what they should always have been.
The new Park Homes Policy Forum that was formed by Tony Turner in January 2018 fears that this latest review will not go far enough in facing and resolving all the known problems, from the first licensing of park owners, through to providing home owners with a greater say in the way in which their park is managed. The PHPF is growing rapidly and has accrued its own national membership to as best ensure that the 28 page report and proposals for changes that Tony has submitted to government in late 2017 are taken into account and if not, that any shortfalls are returned for further review. The JUSTICE Campaign has seen that report and fully supports all of its recommendations. In addition, it thanks Tony for his active support of our campaigns.
The position of the PHPF is that ALL the current loopholes and anomalies that encourage malpractices must be addressed once and for all, not least because it is unlikely that there will be a further review of park home legislation for a very long time. Your JUSTICE Campaign agrees with this and full supports this initiative.
The PHPF works quietly in the background, not only in its support of your JUSTICE Campaign but also its Park-HELP-Line. Tony, is a formidable opponent of rogue ownerships and has pro-actively supported the positions of very many park home residents for a decade.
If you are not already a member of the Park Homes Policy Forum ( which like your JUSTICE Campaign, has FREE membership) you might feel that you would like to join before the coming review is announced as I am assured that Tony will challenge anything that is wrong and against the wellbeing of the park home resident. You can join using the contact form on its website and the two links to the PHPF can be found below.
Members of the JUSTICE Campaign have fought an amazing campaign over many years. They have written copious amounts of letters to MPs, spent their pensions to come in support of our London rallies on many occasions. Built wonderful banners, dressed up, marched through the streets - and still found time to attend and speak respectfully in the Palace of Westminster. This has all been noticed by the MPs and Peers in attendance and because of them all, our JUSTICE campaign has become a name that is known throughout Westminster and the Industry.
As I have said many times. It is very easy to complain behind closed doors - but it takes courage to put your heads above the parapet. show your face publicly and get through the Palace of Westminster doors and bring about debates in the House of Commons - but the park home residents who are members of the JUSTICE Campaign have done just that. To win you must have the help of those already inside. That help is not easy to attain but our JUSTICE campaign has succeeded on many occasions because we have been strong and have always acted in a respectful but firm manner and to my knowledge, what we have achieved together has not been done on this scale by any other organisation that is related to Park Homes. In fact, whatever the future brings, residents can all be proud of what they and their Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign has achieved.
I will of course publish the results of the coming review to all members when they are available - but in the meantime: if you have any problems,
please call the Park-HELP-Line on: 02038466601
This voluntary Help Line that has been set up by your JUSTICE Campaign; is sponsored by Paul Baker of PB Insurance Services for Park Homes and its friendly operators will do their very best to make sure that you find the best way to deal with any park home problems. In fact if you need a quote for your park home, why not give Paul a call on: 0800 038 5090 as he does so much for park home residents.
Many people have asked; but sadly, I have to report that there is no positive news on the whereabouts of my stolen home. However, I send my sincere and heartfelt thanks to all who have sent donations to the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership, to Tony Turner who has acted as a conduit for that appeal and the Park Homes and Holiday Caravan Magazine and Paul Baker for publishing the story of my stolen home - and for their steadfast help to our JUSTICE Campaign.
I hope that the coming review will make things better for all park home residents but I think it would be wise and would certainly recommend residents to join Tony Turner's FREE Park Homes Policy Forum - who have vowed to fight for your rights.
I have made many wonderful friends through the Justice Campaign and I send my best wishes and thanks for all your love and support - in all matters - over the last 10 years.
Sonia
Sonia McColl OBE
Founder of the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign and Park-HELP-Line
13th August 2018
SITE OWNERS LOSE FOURTH APPEAL:
THE SCATHING COMMENTS OF A HIGH COURT JUDGE
THE SCATHING COMMENTS OF A HIGH COURT JUDGE
Below you will find the link address for the written High Court determination of HHJ Cotter QC following the latest appeal by Jeffrey & Barbara Small in their endeavours to expand their sites.
This latest lost Appeal follows those recently similarly dismissed at other of their sites, we understand including: Woodlands Park (Tetbury St Mary ) Battisford Park (Plympton ) and Planet Park, (Delabole) Finally, some of the chickens born of the eggs of audacity, are finally coming home to roost !
( It is always worth reading and filing the various outcomes of Appeals, as residents can always use any relevant reasons for dismissals if they ever need to challenge similar circumstances )
To read it, click on the below:
29th July 2018
This link will lead you to the draft minutes of the APPG for Park Homes
held on the 16th July 2018
27th July 2018
I have been told by the BBC
that the segment below on You and Yours
has been pushed back to next Friday August 3rd.
They will confirm next week that it is running and
I will post on the Justice Campaign's face-book page.
Our JUSTICE Campaign has been informed that
BBC YOU & YOURS - Radio Programme
will be discussing the COMMISSION CHARGE
On Friday 27th July 2018
I do not know the exact time.
19th July 2018
18th July 2018
APPG
All Party Parliamentary Group for Park Homes
A meeting of the Group took place
on Monday 16th July 2018
at which our JUSTICE Campaign was present.
When completed by the secretariat; the minutes of this meeting
will be available on the following link and I will post a copy
to all JUSTICE Campaign Members.
I can confirm to all members that I voiced the
not approval of our JUSTICE Campaign
to the appointment of the industries trade body (the BH & HPA)
as the Public Enquiry Point.
14th July 2018
BBC Tonight 13/7/18
Commission on the Sale of Holiday Homes and Residential Park Homes
by Sarah Corker.
My report went out on Look North tonight - East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Here is a link. It focuses mainly on holiday static caravans but does reference residential park homes too and shows our
My report went out on Look North tonight - East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Here is a link. It focuses mainly on holiday static caravans but does reference residential park homes too and shows our
Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign.
Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire),
Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire),
Evening News: 13/07/2018: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/
6th July 2018
BBC Look North
Are Calling all Holiday and Residential Park Home Residents
If you are not happy with the money
you have to pay site owner on the sale of your home
and you live on a Holiday or Residential Park
in Yorkshire or Lincolnshire
Please see the message below and reply to the number
if you are happy to be filmed.
‘My name is Sarah Corker and I am a reporter for BBC TV in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. I am interested in hearing from people who own caravans on either holiday homes or permanent parks who are concerned about the extra charges they have to pay park owners when they sell their vans and have to transfer ownership. You must live in Yorkshire or Lincolnshire. I am putting together a TV report for BBC Look North on these rules and charges that are costing van owners thousands of pounds. Please could anyone who would like to take part in this report and do an interview with me email sarah.corker@bbc.co.uk or call me on 07711349077. Ideally I would like to do the filming next week (Wed or Thursday but can be flexible). Thank you.’
Sarah Corker.
BBC TV Reporter.
3rd July 2018
WE NEED ALL LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO:
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT TO FOLLOW TELFORD AND WREKIN'S LEAD.
where residents in that area can report rogue landlords.
FULL DETAILS ON THE LINK BELOW.
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MOBILE HOMES. MINISTRY OF HOUSING & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Written Question regarding level of Sales Commission charged
on Park Homes.
To ask the Secretary
of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
conclusions he has drawn as a result of his call for evidence of 12 April 2017 on
park home regulation and the level of sales commission charged on
park homes.
Friday 22nd June 2018
Heather WheelerParliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Thursday 14th June 2018
The Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign
UPDATED 10% Commission Information
Dear Member of the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign
This letter is really important if you wish to see the changes that we have campaigned for to the 10% Commission Charge.
Policy Briefings have just been published by Government on the 10% Commission Charge. They confirm that the English Government has now said that although separate from the current review of the effects of the 2013 Act, it now intends to give the issue further consideration. That is not good enough, we need to ensure that a full Independent and Transparent Review with sight of the site owners accounting is put in place. This has already happened in Wales and their Government has listened. We must ensure that we get the deal we need in England. To do this we must keep the pressure up. I can write to your MP, but it will be ignored as I am not their constituent. Therefore, if we are to succeed, I need to ask you to please send the letter below and the attached revenue statistics to your own constituency MP with your added comments.
Many thanks and best wishes
Sonia
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LETTER TO SEND or email TO YOUR CONSTITUENCY MP. If you do not have their surgery address, please send it to your MP at House of Commons, London
Date:
Your Address:
Dear
The latest briefings to MPs at: https://researchbriefings.parl
SUMMARY OF BRIEFINGS
- The briefings make regular reference that the Commission Charge is currently set at 10% of the selling price. That reference is wrong. The Commission Charge is currently set at up to 10% of the selling price. Although rarely conceded, this indicates that the 10% is not an amount needed by the Industry to sustain itself. At no time has it been convincingly established that it is needed at all – but the Welsh government has conceded that it should become 5%.
The purpose of the initial Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign’s rally at Westminster was to ask government to instigate an Independent and Transparent Review (with sight of the site owners financial accounting.) This culminated in the back-bench debate of the 30th October 2014 when MPs unanimously called for an Independent and Transparent Review.
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved,
That this House calls on the Government to set up a review of the current fee of up to 10 per cent of the sale price of a park home payable to the park home site owner.
The unanimous decision of MPs at that debate was ignored by the Minister who set up a Working Group to make recommendations on the inclusion of the 10% commission charge in the coming review.
· POLICY BRIEFINGS
In 2015, the Government set up a Park Homes Working Group “to identify evidence of poor practice where it exists, and investigate how best to raise standards and further tackle abuse”. The Working Group, which included national resident groups and industry trade bodies, considered the issue of the 10% commission charge, but was unable to reach a consensus.
As a member of the Working Group, the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign tried extremely hard to get the unanimous will of MPs upheld but there could never have been any agreement between the JUSTICE Campaign and the BH & HPA (the industries trade body) on the 10% commission charge and therefore by the action of the Minister in passing this to a working group of opposing sides the 10% commission charge and the unanimous will of MPs was swept effectively under the carpet.
At the APPG meeting on Wednesday 13th September 2017. It was quoted in the minutes that:
“The Chairman asked when the APPG would know whether the Minister would take on board a further review of commission. Mr Skeoch said that this was not in the scope of Part 2 of the review of the Mobile Homes Act 2013, but Ministers were aware that there was a call for a review of commission and that would be considered when reviewing the responses. If there was anything to be done on commission, there would be a separate consultation. “
· The latest policy briefing now confirms that it intends to give the issue further consideration. That is not good enough as again we descend from consultation to consideration!! The unanimous vote by MPs for an Independent and Transparent Review must be up held – or much time, money and effort by many MPs will have been totally wasted.
As a Park Home Resident, and your constituent, I now make it known to you that I want Government to honour the will of MPs at the 30th October 2014 debate and to set up an Independent and transparent review of the current (up to 10%) commission charge (that includes sight of site owners accounting.) Mr. Skeoch has said this will be considered when reviewing the responses; I inform you as my constituency MP that I want you to make sure that a separate consultation leading to a thorough Independent and transparent review of the 10% commission charge does take place in 2019.
I have also attached the anecdotal statistics of the financial revenue of a series of parks. This anecdotal evidence has been collected from Park home Residents across our country who are best placed to know the revenues that are being collected on individual parks and the amount of homes sold and their approximate sale price. These also indicate the level of maintenance carried out on the parks and holding companies where they exist. These have been collated and produced by the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign. The complete document that names the parks and their owners have been sent to all MPs by the JUSTICE Campaign but on the copy attached the names have been redacted.
Although anecdotal, these figures show the vast income of some site owners and we must not forget that since the last investigation, certain site owners have increased the amount of sites they own by 100% (the largest owning 50 plus and increasing.)
The 2013 Mobile Homes Act has brought about some improvement – but the 10% commission charge must be addressed if the Industry is to survive and Park Home Owners are released from the entrapment they now face by not be able to move due to the loss of 10% equity and for those needing special assistance, the reduced quality and quantity that can be afforded if they have to move into care.
As my constituency MP; I inform you that I want your help and assurance that you will do your best to represent my needs and ensure that a thorough Independent and Transparent Review of the 10% Commission Charge takes place in 2019.
Yours Sincerely
.......................................................................................................................
LKP helps raise £14,682 for park home champion Sonia McColl OBE
The following has been received by Sonia McColl OBE
Dear LKP and all the wonderful people
who have helped me,
Your amazing gestures of kindness have
raised £14,682 pounds and I can not adequately say how grateful I am to you
all. However, I hope you will all know how much it helps when a vital part of
your life is stolen and you feel very alone.
Through my work for the Park Home
Owners JUSTICE Campaign, I have met, heard from and experienced some of the
pain, fear and forms of retribution that many elderly park home residents have
been subjected too. Normal people from all walks of life; who, in their golden
years have had the misfortune to encounter greedy heartless site owners who see
them as a cash cow and bleed them dry. Of course there will be some decent site
owners (but not many) and it is thoroughly appalling that in 2013 Government
were speaking of hitting the rogues hard in their pocket – where it hurts – to
rid the industry of the rogues and yet still – 5 years later – the mighty defy
and the weak suffer.
Let’s hope that a coming review of the
mobile homes act 2013 does something to eradicate the problems and that the
Park Homes APPG follow the lines of LKP and that we have regular meetings and
importantly the BH & HPA are relegated to a guest organisation and an
independent secretariat is appointed.
Once again my sincere thanks to all who
have helped me. Despite the threats received and being told that my home was
stolen because “I trampled over site owners to stop sale blocking – and I
deserve this”. They will not win as I will make sure that the JUSTICE Campaign
does all that it can in the time remaining before the coming review to get an
Independent and transparent review of the 10%Commission Charge payable to site
owners on the sale of a home and the increase to the ground rent changed from
RPI to CPI.
Well done LKP. Please accept my very
sincere thanks for all that you have done to help me and I hope one day to tell
you that I have a home.
Sonia
Tuesday 12th June 2018
I have been reliably informed that the announcement below regarding
the 10% Commission Charge
HAS RATTLED THE INDUSTRY.
It would appear that the problem lies with the wrong people in the Industry.
Let us hope that the announcement below will bring some realism to the sector
and bring them to the table in a constructive frame of mind.
Meanwhile:
Please copy the statement below and send to your
constituency MP, asking him/her to question the Housing Minister
and bring this up in the House.
Congratulations to the sensible and pro-active Welsh Government.
Will Westminster NOW properly address
the 10% Commission charge or must all
Park Home Residents move to Wales to get JUSTICE ?
STATEMENT
BY
THE WELSH GOVERNMENT
"It is my intention to reduce the commission rate to a new maximum level of 5%. This will be done by reducing the commission rate by one percentage point each year over a period of five years. The regulations to achieve this will be subject to the scrutiny of this Assembly by the affirmative procedure. I will bring forward regulations at the earliest opportunity in the New Year."
TITLE
|
Changes to the Park Homes Commission Rate
|
DATE
|
5 June 2018
|
BY
|
Rebecca Evans AM, Minister for Housing & Regeneration
|
Shortly before recess, I published the summary of responses to our consultation on the park homes commission rate and outlined my intention to reduce the maximum rate.
I am pleased to be able to provide Members with further details about the pace and rate of change and of the wider actions I propose to take to support the park homes sector.
I would like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to the consultation and the financial analysis work – there were almost 400 responses.
I would also like to thank the site owners who shared financial information with our independent financial analysts.
Members will be familiar with many of the arguments on both sides of this debate. I am sure that we all want to ensure viable, well-managed sites continue to offer an attractive lifestyle to people who choose to live in a park home.
The issue of commission rates on the sale of park homes is one where views remain polarised. It has been debated for as long as people have used park homes as a permanent residence. In the 1960s rates were typically around 20%, reducing to their current rate of 10% in the 1980s. Over the last 40 years, the sector has been transformed – park home living today bears little resemblance to park home living in the 1960s.
Establishing a consensus about the way forward has not been possible because views are so polarised. And gathering sufficient evidence on which to base a balanced decision has not been easy.
I have deliberated long and hard and I have challenged my officials and the sector to provide more and better evidence and analysis to ensure we find a balanced and proportionate way forward which best supports park home living.
The evidence we now have supports the view that the value of a park home is a combination of the value of the home plus the pitch on which it is sited. A park home on its own costs less than one already sited, particularly if located on a well-run, attractive site with good facilities in a sought-after location. The costs to site a home can be significant. This has been a fundamental part of the argument in favour of the commission rate over the years.
It is clear that the current commission rate impacts significantly on people who own a park home. For some, the loss of significant equity from the sale of their homes is becoming a barrier to being able to sell and move on to alternative accommodation or accommodation which is more suitable for them. Commission may also be deterring potential buyers from purchasing a park home as they worry about the implications of losing 10% of its value if they need to sell in the future.
This poses a risk that park home living may become less attractive and cease to offer an alternative lifestyle choice.
The independent financial analysis, carried out for the Welsh Government, shows that commission is an important element of income for site owners, especially for smaller sites.
Any decision about changes to the commission rate must therefore balance the potential benefits and risks to both parties – park homeowners and the site owners.
If a site was to become no longer viable, the owners would need to consider how to change their business model in order to make it sustainable, usually by seeking an increase in pitch fees. The ultimate risk is that unviable sites close, leaving park homeowners without a pitch and having to re-locate their homes. This can be a complex and costly arrangement and homes without a pitch can have a reduced value.
I am committed to ensuring everyone can access suitable, good-quality, secure and affordable homes. Reducing the maximum commission rate will help to remove the financial barriers for residents who either want or need to sell. It will also help to ensure that potential buyers are not put off buying a park home because they are worried about how it will affect them, should they need to sell in the future.
However, I am mindful of the need to avoid placing sites at risk of closure whilst also seeking to protect residents from steep and sudden increases in pitch fees.
It is my intention to reduce the commission rate to a new maximum level of 5%. This will be done by reducing the commission rate by one percentage point each year over a period of five years. The regulations to achieve this will be subject to the scrutiny of this Assembly by the affirmative procedure. I will bring forward regulations at the earliest opportunity in the New Year.
I believe this approach strikes a reasonable balance in protecting the interests of all parties.
Reducing the commission rate gradually will help reduce the risks to the viability of some sites by providing site owners with time to adjust their business models to reflect this change. I accept that this adjustment may include increases in pitch fees for some.
I have considered carefully the calls from some to use powers in the 2013 Act to restrict any potential increase in pitch fees but have decided against this course of action.
This process has highlighted a range of much wider issues relating to alleged poor practices by some site owners and variations in the implementation of the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013.
I intend to issue refreshed information about park home living, focused on delivering accessible and clear guidance to all parties. Working with the sector, I will develop best practice materials and will look at how we can strengthen the role of LEASE in providing advice.
I will work with local authorities to ensure they adopt consistent approaches to site licensing and enforcement. We have a fantastic example of collaborative working in the private rental sector with Rent Smart Wales as the lead authority. I will explore what we can learn from this model that might benefit the residential park home sector.
Llywydd, we all want to see viable, well-managed sites, which offer an attractive lifestyle choice for those who choose park home living.
I believe a phased reduction in the commission rate, supported by improvements in information, advice and support and consistent standards and adherence to the current legislation can help deliver just that.
Sunday 3rd June 2018
ONE LUCKY WINNER
HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR FREE HOME INSULATION.
LETTER RECEIVED FROM PRESTIGE ENERGY.
Good Afternoon,
Firstly, our apologies for the slower than planned update, as with many projects sometimes things don’t go fully to plan and take longer than intended to bring together. We at Prestige Energy want to give a big thank you to everyone that responded to the original posting, and particularly to Sonia for working with us to spread the word about the free wall insulation opportunity.
Several homes were surveyed and we then evaluated if the homes were suitable for the insulation and we were able to complete the work on the dates required by the material supplier. Based on this, a lucky resident has today been selected and their home will be insulated during the course of June.
Sadly, this was only available for one home which means the offer is no longer available. However, we may have future opportunities that are similar to this and will attempt to spread the word in a similar way as before if we do.
Our team always aims to help wherever possible, if you do have any queries or questions regarding insulation or energy efficiency then please contact support@prestige-energy.co.uk and we will do our best to assist where we can.
Kind Regards,
The Prestige Energy Team
Wednesday 30th May 2018
Mobile Homes and Park Homes Bill 2017-19
Progress of the Bill
Bill started in theHouse of Commons
Last event
1st reading: House of Commons (no debate) | 05.09.2017
Next event
2nd reading: House of Commons | 06.07.2018
Latest Bill
This Bill is being prepared for publication.
Latest news on the Mobile Homes and Park Homes Bill 2017-19
This Bill is expected to have its second reading debate on Friday 6 July 2018.
This Bill was presented to Parliament on Tuesday 5 September 2017. This is known as the first reading and there was no debate on the Bill at this stage.
This Bill is a Private Member’s Bill. These are often not printed until close to the second reading debate. If the text is not yet available here and you wish to know more about this bill please contact its sponsor, Mr Christopher Chope.
Summary of the Mobile Homes and Park Homes Bill 2017-19
A Bill to require the use of published criteria to determine whether mobile homes and park homes are liable for council tax or non-domestic rates; to make provision in relation to the residential status of such homes; to amend the Mobile Home Acts; and for connected purposes.Stay up to date
Keep up to date with the progress of Bills going through Parliament. Sign up for email alerts or use our RSS feeds.
Related information
Guide to the passage of a Bill
Find out what happens at each stage of a Public Bill’s journey through Parliament with the Passage of a Bill guide.
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Explanation of what happens after Bills have been passed, and when laws may change.
Monday 28th May 2018
The Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign
HAS SENT THIS EMAIL TO THE PRIME MINISTER. HOUSING MINISTER. EVERY MP AND DCLG
Dear Member of Parliament
Please do not ignore the email below. It is of the utmost importance to thousands of Park Home Owners who need you to act now and demand that Westminster is not left again in the wake of the Welsh Government.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Westminster and a variety of Housing Ministers have ignored the 10% Commission Charge for too long. Please assert your position as a Member of Parliament and demand that park home owners in England are treated fairly and NOT THE SUBJECT OF UNJUST DISCRIMINATION.
WELSH HOUSING MINISTER DECLARES
PHASED REDUCTION TO
PARK HOMES 10% COMMISSION CHARGE
WHY DOES WESTMINSTER CONTINUE TO IGNORE
ENGLISH CAMPAIGNERS
AND THE WILL OF MPs as quoted in HANSARD
(park homes debate 30th October 2014)
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved,
That this House calls on the Government to set up a review of the current fee of up to 10 per cent of the sale price of a park home payable to the park home site owner.
….…………………………..
WRITTEN STATEMENT
BY
THE WELSH GOVERNMENT
TITLE
|
Publication of Summary of Responses to Consultation: The Park Home Commission Rate
|
DATE
|
24 May 2018
|
BY
|
Rebecca Evans AM, Minister for Housing and Regeneration
|
I am pleased to announce the publication of the summary of responses to the consultation on the commission rate payable on the sale of a park home. I have also published the independent review of financial information from site owners.
There is a clear and consistent divide between the views of residents and park owners, with most residents supporting the reduction or abolition of the commission paid, whilst all site owners wish to see it retained at the current maximum rate of 10%.
The summary outlines the next steps following this extensive exercise. Following consideration of the views and evidence presented, I am setting out my intention to begin a phased reduction of the commission rate over a period of time.
I also intend to take forward a range of proposals designed to support good management in the sector and to ensure that those buying and selling park homes have access to clear, consistent information to support their decision making.
I will make an oral statement in due course.
The summary of responses and financial review are available here: https://beta.gov.wales/park-ho
…………………………….
Over the last five years supporters of the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign have worked tirelessly, attended rallies in London, delivered petitions to Downing Street, had meetings with MPs (many of whom have been in complete agreement that a change is needed to the 10% Commission Charge that is paid to the site owner when a home is sold,) written countless letters to Ministers and MPs BUT STILL FIND THEMSELVES TRAPPED IN THEIR HOMES.
WHY? Because after giving the site owner 10% of their equity from the sale of their home they can only afford something inferior to what they already have and if they need to sell to go into CARE the loss of 10% of their equity seriously curtails the amount and quality of care they can afford.
As said earlier; enough is enough. The outcome of the Review of the Mobile Homes Act (which has intentionally left out the 10% Commission Charge is promised for the Autumn. Your action to demand the Independent Review of the 10% Commission Charge is needed now because this subject WILL NOT GO AWAY.
Yours Sincerely
Sonia McColl OBE
Founder of the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign and Park-HELP-Line
Friday 25th May 2018
Well done WALES and all Residents who campaigned.
Let us Hope that all those who were part of our Three Nations 10% Campaign in England
receive this kind of news - or something better - from our Government.
Hello Sonia,
In Wales we appear to be a step closer to reducing the commission rate, our new Minister Rebecca Evans promises a reduction but is very vague as to the exact figure.
Best wishes from us all, ( have redacted the name and address of the sender and the park)
WRITTEN STATEMENT
BY
THE WELSH GOVERNMENT
TITLE
|
Publication of Summary of Responses to Consultation: The Park Home Commission Rate
|
DATE
|
24 May 2018
|
BY
|
Rebecca Evans AM, Minister for Housing and Regeneration
|
I am pleased to announce the publication of the summary of responses to the consultation on the commission rate payable on the sale of a park home. I have also published the independent review of financial information from site owners.
There is a clear and consistent divide between the views of residents and park owners, with most residents supporting the reduction or abolition of the commission paid, whilst all site owners wish to see it retained at the current maximum rate of 10%.
The summary outlines the next steps following this extensive exercise. Following consideration of the views and evidence presented, I am setting out my intention to begin a phased reduction of the commission rate over a period of time.
I also intend to take forward a range of proposals designed to support good management in the sector and to ensure that those buying and selling park homes have access to clear, consistent information to support their decision making.
I will make an oral statement in due course.
The summary of responses and financial review are available here: https://beta.gov.wales/park-homes-commission-rate
Friday 25th May 2018
GOVERNMENT PUBLISHES PART 2 OF THE CALL FOR EVIDENCE
ON THE LINK BELOW.
Tuesday 22nd May 2018
Supplied by Park Home Policy Forum
NO SALES COMMISSIONS
For anyone who may be interested, the link at the end of this item will take you to a Youtube recording of a USA inter-state Meeting of APAC, the All Parks Alliance for Change. This is a grassroots organisation that serves as a vehicle for (mobile) home park residents to express their needs and concerns in their parks and in the larger community. The recording refers to bullying park owners and other issues that are common in the UK. Interestingly, some States now have clauses within the equivalent of our own Mobile Homes Act, that prohibits selling fees and reads as follows:
` The owner of a mobile home park or his agent shall not require payment of any type of selling fee or transfer fee by either a home owner in the park wishing to sell his mobile home to another party or by any party wishing to buy a mobile home from a home owner in the park as a condition of tenancy in a mobile home park for the prospective buyer. This section shall in no way prevent the owner of a mobile home park or his agent from applying the normal park standards to prospective buyers before granting or denying tenancy or from charging a reasonable selling fee or transfer fee for services actually performed and agreed to in writing by the home owner. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the rent charged.`
Also interesting, is that this does not appear to affect the economics of the industry, who in the UK argue that the viability of their park home businesses could not survive without the sales commission.
Wednesday 25th April 2018
NO CATCH.
FREE EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION FOR ONE LUCKY PARK HOME OWNER.
I have been approached by a reputable company who are looking for a park home owner to allow them to do a pilot job that will enable them to use their new product on park homes and obtain ECO funding to provide discounted works in the future to other park home owners.
Their letter to me is copied below. If you would like to benefit from this, please email me and I will put you in touch with the Company. You will then be able to ask as many questions as you like and satisfy yourself with regard to their offer - and one lucky person will have FREE wall insulation for their home.
If you are interested, please email Sonia at phojc1sm@gmail.com by the end of April.
Best Wishes Sonia
Dear Sonia
As stated, we are looking to find a park home in need of external wall insulation to complete as a pilot job as part of our partnership with the material manufacturer Weber. All of the work would be carried out free of charge with the only requirement for the resident to be available to have the work carried out during any of the dates listed below.
• from 21st to 25th of May
• 28th and 29th of May
• from 11th to 15th of June
• from 25th to 29th of June
This pilot job will enable a new product to be certified by the BBA (British Board of Agreement) and will allow it to be used for future works on park homes in conjunction with ECO funding which will provide discounted works in the future to other park home owners.
It would be favourable if the resident was able to provide comments or feature in a photograph however any further involvement with regards to reviews, social media or other forms of advertising will be entirely up to them if they wish to participate or not.
If possible we are looking mainly at a home located in Cambridgeshire, Essex or the midlands however can travel further afield if this is not possible.
Saturday 14th April 2018
"HOW THE MIGHTY CAN FALL"
LEASEHOLD-ADVISORY Service Chair resigns
No explanation for the resignation is given, but it follows calls from the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership that he resign, and questions in the Commons from MPs such as Justin Madders and LKP patron Sir Peter Bottomley.
Sir Peter said:
"A number of reasons have caused many in the leasehold sector to question how Roger Southam could be the appropriate person to chair the Leasehold Advisory Service.
"It may now be possible for LEASE to speak openly about the abuses suffered for too long by too many residential leaseholders." ............................." In the meantime, the Board and staff will continue to drive the organisation forward in meeting the needs of leaseholders and park home owners."
Sir Peter said:
"A number of reasons have caused many in the leasehold sector to question how Roger Southam could be the appropriate person to chair the Leasehold Advisory Service.
"It may now be possible for LEASE to speak openly about the abuses suffered for too long by too many residential leaseholders." ............................." In the meantime, the Board and staff will continue to drive the organisation forward in meeting the needs of leaseholders and park home owners."
SEE THE FULL STORY ON OUR "Info from other sources" page
Monday 2nd April 2018
FOR INFORMATION
Review of Park Homes Legislation
Call for evidence - Part 1 Summary of responses
Call for evidence - Part 1 Summary of responses
From Residents, Site Owners, LA's and others.
To view, please click on the link below
Sunday 1st April 2018
PARK HOMES CAMPAIGNS
A little while ago in a pair of articles I wrote with Aimee
Hutchinson of Blacks, Solicitors – A patchwork landscape: residential and
holiday parks, leasehold lodges and mobile homes – Part I, L. & T. Review
2015, 19(1), 16-19, Part 2 L. & T. Review 2015, 19(2), 64-67 – we
questioned the approach of the Consultation Paper by the Department of
Communities and Local Government, A Better Deal for Mobile Home Owners (April
2012) and the Communities and Local
Government Committee Report,‘Park Homes’ (TSO, 2012), HC 177-I), which
considered the distinction between mobile homes and “traditional ‘bricks and
mortar’ housing” absolute and discounted the possibility of any overlap.
We also made the point that, while mobile homes and
leasehold properties in or on parks, are very different in legal terms, they
may be virtually indistinguishable on the ground; not only because both are
often referred to as “lodges” or “chalets”, but also because agreements between
occupiers and park owners were often informal and entered into without
consideration of their true legal character.
In my submission to the Law Commission, I pointed out the
disparity between freeholds and leaseholds on parks or estates and park homes,
in relation to site rules which, unusually, park home owners have a statutory
right to challenge and an entitlement to a written statement, while
leaseholders and freeholders do not. Leaseholders and freeholders are left to
such, primarily common law, remedies as may, in the particular circumstances of
the case exist. That is one of the few aspects of the Patchwork Landscape of
legislation in relation to which park home owners are not, by some considerable
distance, second class citizens. When park homes on ostensibly well-appointed
(but not necessarily well-managed) parks can have values in 6 figures, the
injustice in the disparity of treatment is thrown into sharp relief.
A meeting I attended in Cornwall recently (the second of the
two referred to below) brought home the extent to which even the new
residential mobile homes legislation has failed to help park home owners.
With kind permission of Tony Turner, the chairman of the
Park Homes Policy Forum, I reproduce his account of the meeting I attended and
another the day before. I also reproduce, at his suggestion, the latest
circular from The Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign.
The text of the two follows:
Published by the Park Homes Policy Forum: RECENT EVENTS IN CORNWALL :
LEASEHOLD ADVISORY SERVICE MEETINGS
MID AND EAST CORNWALL
: 26TH/27TH MARCH 2018
To summarise, these two day events again revealed that the
majority of issues raised were the same or similar to those that have been
ongoing for very many years and that, other than in the Park Homes Owners
JUSTICE Campaign which succeeded in persuading government to limit the
opportunities for sales blocking, otherwise the introduction of the 2013 Act
has had little positive effect.
On Monday and Tuesday, residents and their Association
representatives travelled from parks across Cornwall and North Devon to hear
Lease solicitor Ibraheem Dulmeer, eminent Barrister Rawdon Crozier, Stephen
Hassall from IPHAS and the writer representing the Park Homes Policy Forum and
responses to questions about the common problems of site maintenance’s, alleged
overcharges for services, breaches of site licences and important terms that
form the contract between park and home owners.
In 2013 home-owners were given hope that their lives would
be restored to what they should always have been – but in again hearing the
names of the same site owners, it remains clear that government pledges to rid
the market of the rogue element have not only failed to materialise but that
due to shortfalls in legislation and applied controls, conversely, their
expansions have been encouraged.
So far and as in 2013, we cannot be confident that the
current government review of park home legislation will go far enough and if
not, we must be fully prepared to immediately respond. This is reason for the
formation of the PHPF and all residents can today join the thousands who have
already registered their interests through their FREE memberships.
Complacency or leaving it to others is not an option. Simply
by registering, you will become part of the fight for vital and radical
changes. Please use the contact form on our website: / or in similar
confidence, email: ferrier57@btinternet.com
The Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign News Letter
From Sonia
Short News letter and a little more that we an do regarding
the 10%
Dear All
I get a lot of emails asking what is happening and are there
any updates on the 10% Commission Charge. As you are aware, since our success
in 2013 and after five years of campaigning for a change from RPI to CPI on the
annual pitch fee increase and an Independent and Transparent Review of the 10%
Commission Charge – we now have to wait until the promised 2017 review of the
Mobile Homes Act 2013 takes place; (sometime this year) when we will know if
our pitch fees increase by RPI or CPI.
The Consultation papers are in. The petitions have been
delivered and you have had the chance to have your say. However, with regard to
the 10% Commission that is not included in the review, we must still keep the
pressure up and to that end – although I know that many of you have sent a copy
letter to the Consultation Review; may I respectfully ask you to please send a
copy of the letter below to your constituency MP and the Housing Minister
Dominic Raab at: House Of Commons, London SW1A 0AA
Date:
Your address:
Dear
I am a member of the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign and I
have been an integral part of that campaign which is calling for the annual
increase to the pitch fee of all Park Home Residents to be changed from RPI to
CPI and for Government to uphold the will of MPs in the previous coalition government
at their debate on the 30th October 2014 for an Independent and Transparent
Review of the 10% Commission Charge.
Call for a review of the 10% Commission Charge
At the Park Homes debate on 30th October 2014; MPs debating
the need for an Independent and Transparent Review of the 10% Commission Charge
unanimously voted as shown in the exert from HANSARD below:
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved,
That this House calls on the Government to set up a review
of the current fee of up to 10 per cent of the sale price of a park home
payable to the park home site owner.
At the APPG meeting on Wednesday 13th September 2017. It was
quoted in the minutes that:
“The Chairman asked when the APPG would know whether the
Minister would take on board a further review of commission. Mr Skeoch said
that this was not in the scope of Part 2 of the review of the Mobile Homes Act
2013, but Ministers were aware that there was a call for a review of commission
and that would be considered when reviewing the responses. If there was
anything to be done on commission, there would be a separate consultation. “
As a Park Home Resident, and your constituent, I now make it
known to you that I want Government to honour the will of MPs at the 30th
October 2014 debate and to set up an Independent and transparent review (that
includes sight of site owners accounting) of the current fee of up to 10 per
cent of the sale price of a park home payable to the park home site owner. Mr.
Skeoch has said this will be considered when reviewing the responses; I inform
you as my constituency MP that I want you to make sure that the call for a
review of the 10% commission is considered when reviewing the responses; this
to be followed by a separate consultation leading to an Independent and
transparent review of the 10% commission charge.
In addition, I make it known that I want the RPI increase to
the annual pitch fee to be changed to CPI which is in line with pension
increase and already enjoyed by park home residents in Wales.
Yours Sincerely
cc. Housing Minister Dominic Raab.
Park-HELP-Line 02038466601
Please don’t sit at home worrying. If you or any of your
neighbours have a park home related problem and are unsure of where to turn for
help. Please call this Free, Friendly Service on 02038466601 and speak in
complete confidence to one of the Help Line Operators.
This service is sponsored by Paul Baker of PB Insurance who
also gives a 15% discount to JUSTICE Campaign members who purchase insurance
from them. You can get a quote at: 080 0038 5090
PUBLISHED BY RAWDON CROZIER
Rawdon Crozier is a barrister and mediator. He was educated
at Bedford School
Posted in Landlord & Tenant, law, Park Homes
Saturday 30th March 2018
Short News letter and a little more that we an do regarding the 10%
Dear All
I get a lot of emails asking what is happening and are there any updates on the 10% Commission Charge. As you are aware, since our success in 2013 and after five years of campaigning for a change from RPI to CPI on the annual pitch fee increase and an Independent and Transparent Review of the 10% Commission Charge – we now have to wait until the promised 2017 review of the Mobile Homes Act 2013 takes place; (sometime this year) when we will know if our pitch fees increase by RPI or CPI.
The Consultation papers are in. The petitions have been delivered and you have had the chance to have your say. However, with regard to the 10% Commission that is not included in the review, we must still keep the pressure up and to that end – although I know that many of you have sent a copy letter to the Consultation Review; may I respectfully ask you to please send a copy of the letter below to your constituency MP and the Housing Minister Dominic Raab at: House Of Commons, London SW1A 0AA
Date:
Your address:
Dear
I am a member of the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign and I have been an integral part of that campaign which is calling for the annual increase to the pitch fee of all Park Home Residents to be changed from RPI to CPI and for Government to uphold the will of MPs in the previous coalition government at their debate on the 30th October 2014 for an Independent and Transparent Review of the 10% Commission Charge.
Call for a review of the 10% Commission Charge
At the Park Homes debate on 30th October 2014; MPs debating the need for an Independent and Transparent Review of the 10% Commission Charge unanimously voted as shown in the exert from HANSARD below:
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved,
That this House calls on the Government to set up a review of the current fee of up to 10 per cent of the sale price of a park home payable to the park home site owner.
At the APPG meeting on Wednesday 13th September 2017. It was quoted in the minutes that:
“The Chairman asked when the APPG would know whether the Minister would take on board a further review of commission. Mr Skeoch said that this was not in the scope of Part 2 of the review of the Mobile Homes Act 2013, but Ministers were aware that there was a call for a review of commission and that would be considered when reviewing the responses. If there was anything to be done on commission, there would be a separate consultation. “
As a Park Home Resident, and your constituent, I now make it known to you that I want Government to honour the will of MPs at the 30th October 2014 debate and to set up an Independent and transparent review (that includes sight of site owners accounting) of the current fee of up to 10 per cent of the sale price of a park home payable to the park home site owner. Mr. Skeoch has said this will be considered when reviewing the responses; I inform you as my constituency MP that I want you to make sure that the call for a review of the 10% commission is considered when reviewing the responses; this to be followed by a separate consultation leading to an Independent and transparent review of the 10% commission charge.
In addition, I make it known that I want the RPI increase to the annual pitch fee to be changed to CPI which is in line with pension increase and already enjoyed by park home residents in Wales.
Yours Sincerely
cc. Housing Minister Dominic Raab.
Park-HELP-Line 02038466601
Please don’t sit at home worrying. If you or any of your neighbours have a park home related problem and are unsure of where to turn for help. Please call this Free, Friendly Service on 02038466601 and speak in complete confidence to one of the Help Line Operators.
This service is sponsored by Paul Baker of PB Insurance who also gives a 15% discount to JUSTICE Campaign members who purchase insurance from them. You can get a quote at: 080 0038 5090
MAY I AGAIN ASK FOR YOUR HELP.
It is now five months since my park home (pictured above) was stolen from the haulage yard in Devon where it was waiting to be delivered. Paul Baker of PB Insurance (who I thank most sincerely) has put up a £1000 reward for information leading to its recovery. If you should happen to see it hidden in a field or maybe it has arrived on your site, would you please either contact me at phojc1sm@gmail.com or call Crime Stoppers.
It has probably not been moved too far as it has been a bit too hot to handle especially with the wonderful media attention from the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership (especially Sir Peter Bottomley, Sebastian O’Kelly and Martin Boyd) who almost immediately stood up and supported me when I was at my lowest and were not afraid to put their heads above the parapet.
Equally, Paul Baker has written extensively in his Park Home News, Tony Turner has been a staunch friend, phoned me every day and has done his utmost to help me. Without their help and the kindness of so many Park Home Residents life would have been an awful lot bleaker – and I thank all those residents (of which there were many) who wrote to their own MP demanding action regarding the theft of my home. (Let's hope that they take heed and stop this happening to any other residents who upsets certain site owners.)
Since the theft of my home, I have taken real notice of the homeless on the streets. I have to say that my heart goes out to them because if it were not for the kindness of friends who have put me up - that would be me. You cannot imagine how much it means to have your own home to retreat too, until it is no longer there. That is why I am writing this because we must not let this happen to any other park home resident - but we must be allowed the freedom to stand our corner without reprisals.
I thank you all for the £13.000 that has been donated. I really don’t know what I am going to be able to do but I am actively looking to put a roof over my head and these donations will help towards it. It is a sad fact that the Police have recommended that I no longer live on a Park Home Site. “What does that tell you?” And there is so much more that I can not go into it.
Hopefully, as I am making all at Westminster aware of this fact, and I know that it has been brought up at the BH & HPA Conference; all those who can do something to stamp out the evil in this industry will come to realise that harassment and intimidation in the park home sector is rife and this is the type of thing that can happen to anyone who challenges them. It has got to stop so that no one else has their home, valuables or worse – their life taken.
Park Home Policy Forum
This is a new organisation that has been set up by Tony Turner. It is FREE and if you would like to join or inquire about it, please email Tony at ferrier57@btinternet.com
Once again, I wish you all a Happy and Peaceful Easter and I hope the coming review will reward you all for the work that you have done over the last five years – and bring much needed changes to park home living.
Sonia
Monday 26th March 2018
Tony McColl
26.3.2013
My Husband. My Rock. My Soul-mate. My Best Friend
and
The quiet ROCK of our JUSTICE Campaign.
Taken so cruelly on the day her Majesty gave Royal Assent to
the Mobile Homes Act 2013
for which he had dedicated so much of his time.
God Bless You and Rest in Peace knowing that I love you the world.
Sonia
Friday 23rd March 2018
FOR EAST & MID CORNWALL
PARK HOME OWNERS
There
are two meetings taking place for Cornish Park Home Owners that may like to
attend to ask questions and obtain legal advice on any aspect of their Written
Agreements under the terms of the Mobile Homes Act. Present will be solicitor
Mr. Dulmeer of LEASE, a public body sponsored by the Ministry of Housing,
Communities & Local Government. Also present Tony Turner, Chair of St
Dominic Park and founder of the Park Homes Policy Forum (PHPF) and Stephen
Hassall from IPHAS (Independent Park Home Advisory Service). Entry to these
meetings are FREE and light refreshments will be available. Whether you have
questions or not, the meetings are intended to give relevant information to
those that live in Park Homes or who are intending to do so in the future. PLEASE COME ALONG. You will be made most welcome.
MEETING ONE MEETING TWO
26th
March 2018: 10am – 4pm. 27th
March 2018: 2pm – 5pm.
St
Erme Community Centre, Harrowbarrow
& Metherell Village Hall,
Castle
Field, School
Road,
Trispen, Harrowbarrow,
Truro, Nr.
Callington.
TR4
9BN PL17
8BQ
Friday 2nd March 2018
HOW LONG MUST PARK HOME RESIDENTS PUT UP WITH THIS?
DISGRACEFUL VEILED THREAT BULLETIN
SENT TO RESIDENTS BY THE PARK OWNER
Wedneday 28th February 2018
APPARENTLY, CONTRARY TO THE BELIEF OF MANY PARK HOME RESIDENTS
Mrs Ros Pritchard OBE, Director General of the industries trade body the BH & HPA
is not part of the Secretariat of the APPG for Park Homes.
Understandably, this is confusing to many Park Home Residents because at the
inaugural meeting of the APPG for Park Homes Meeting on the 16th March 2016
the minutes say and I quote:
Public Enquiry Point
- The meeting AGREED that Mrs Pritchard should serve as the public enquiry point.Secretary’s note: a specific email address for public enquiries to the group has been set up – APPG@bhhpa.org.uk
Website
The meeting AGREED that a webpage should be published online for the group and that Mrs Pritchard should organise.Secretary’s note: a dedicated webpage for the group will be published at www.parkhome.org.uk/APPGSecretariat
The meeting AGREED the secretariat proposed, noting that Ms Webb had volunteered to minute meetings of the group and Mrs Pritchard had offered all other secretariat services.- However, at the inaugural meeting of the APPG for Park Homes on 13th September 2017 when your Justice Campaign and many Park Home Residents wrote calling for the secretariat and the APPG web site to be administered by a completely Independent body - the minutes state as below that Mrs Pritchard continues to serve as the public enquiry point but no longer appears to offer her services to the secretariat!
Public Enquiry Point
The meeting AGREED that Mrs Pritchard should serve as the public enquiry point.Secretary’s note: a specific email address for public enquiries to the group has been set up – APPG@bhhpa.org.uk- Secretariat
- It was noted that Ms Webb had volunteered to serve as minuting secretary for the Group, a role she had also undertaken for previous APPGs following her retirement as Editor of ‘Park Home Magazine’. The meeting expressed thanks to Ms Webb for her time and gratefully AGREED that she should continue in this voluntary work.
- Therefore, if an apology is due for believing and inferring that the BH & HPA is the secretariat of the APPG for Park Homes - then that apology is made. However, the JUSTICE Campaign continues to ask why the Industries Trade Body should have any input into the APPG for Park Homes - other than that accorded to other guest organisations and why the APPG does not have an independent secretariat? PARK HOME RESIDENTS WANT AND DESERVE ANSWERS.
Sunday 25th February 2018
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
DUMP THE BH & HPA (THE INDUSTRIES TRADE BODY)
WHO ARE SECRETARIAT OF THE
APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group for Park Homes)
Earlier in 2017, many Park Home Residents who are members of the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign,
wrote to their MPs and members of the APPG for Park Homes
calling for the Industries Trade Body, the BH & HPA (British Holiday and Home Parks Association)
to not be re-instated as the secretariat of the APPG for Park Homes.
The request of Park Home Residents
for a completely independent secretariat was completely ignored and the BH & HPA re-instated.
CHECK OUT THE PIECE PUBLISHED IN PRIVATE EYE BELOW AND CLICK ON THE LINK TO THE LEASEHOLD KNOWLEDGE PARTNERSHIP.
PRIVATE EYE ( on sale now )
that the All Party Parliamentary Group, supposed to protect their rights has appointed as its secretariat er.. the site owners’ trade body, the British Holiday and Home Parks Association.
Eye readers know well that residents – some vulnerable and elderly – have long been at the mercy of unscrupulous and bullying park site owners, who have milked them for every penny. They say such dodgy owners have been exploiting loopholes in relatively recent park homes legislation, which was supposed to give them greater protections.
The Mobile Homes Act, 2013, is currently under review focussing particularly on the ‘fairness’ of the charges imposed on sites, harassment and transparency of ownership, which can often be hidden behind a series of management and service companies.
Residents are therefore anxious that their demands for a radical change to the Act – which some have dubbed a ‘crooks’ charter’ – are met. Unsurprising then that they are demanding the all-party group immediately dump the trade body. Not least because the BH and HPA, which represents those who own or manage holiday, residential, tenting and touring parks says that it is committed to ‘lobbying and representing members' interests to government and policymakers at all levels’. Park home residents are outraged.
That says campaigner Tony Turner, of the Park Homes Policy Forum, is why the legislation was so weighted in their favour in the first place!
Thursday 15th February 2018
Dear all
MESSAGE FROM LEASE
Thank you for joining the webinar yesterday, I hope it was
useful or at least thought provoking. Lets hope the call for evidence (1 and 2)
results in some concrete action to improve things in the sector.
My apologies for the difficulties you were having with sound
and the chat function. I will raise the issue with our IT section.
Sonia is correct, Antony Tregenna is no longer working at
LEASE so please delete his email details and send any correspondence via the
enquiry function on our website using your unique client reference number if
you have one.
Kind regards
Richard
Richard Hand | Senior Adviser (Solicitor)
The Leasehold Advisory Service
Sunday 11th February 2018
founder of the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign and Park-HELP-Line
regarding the 10%
Commission Charge. RPI to CPI.
The BH & HPA as
secretariat of the APPG for Park Homes.
Donations, and
the new
Park Home Policy Forum
Dear Justice Campaign member.
Despite the theft of my home last November and all the
consequences that being homeless involves, I have and am still working
hard on your behalf in our bid to get the Independent and Transparent Review of
the 10% Commission Charge and a change from RPI to CPI increase on your annual
pitch fee.
The BH & HPA continue to be the secretariat of the APPG for
Park Homes, despite the many letters that JUSTICE Campaign members sent to
their various MPs - but I still hope that with the pressure that is now being
brought to bare - by the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership - that
eventually we will get an independent secretariat.
We have all come a long way since 2009 and I hope that many of you
will have now sent the letter calling for a review of the 10% to the Park Homes
Team. This is the last chance that we will have for a very long time and
the closing date is 16th February 2018. Together, we have all been part of a very strong
campaign to bring about changes to the 10% and RPI to CPI. The end of
this particular road is in sight and I am very proud to have worked with you
all to try to get the changes that we need. Together, we could not have
done more and I hope that when every MP reads our statistics on the revenue of
site owners; it will not only dispel the myth that site owners are desperately
in need of your equity from the sale of your homes to run their businesses -
but the annual addition to your Pitch Fee will also be reduced to CPI; giving you
more money in your pocket and Park Home Residents will be victorious again.
Best Wishes
Sonia
PS. I would like to send my heartfelt and very
grateful thanks to everyone who very kindly made donations to the fund set up
by the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership after my home was stolen. £10,000
was donated by a group in London
Paul Baker of PB
Insurance - sponsor of the JUSTICE campaign - has offered a £1000 reward for information leading to the
recovery of my home; for which I am truly grateful. Sadly, however, my
home has not been found and I really don't think it will be as our Police
Force does not appear to have the resources to view cctv footage which is
crucial to this type of investigation. (Something else that I will be bringing
up in London
I can not
begin to tell you how traumatic and devastating it is to have everything -
apart from life - taken from you and to wake each day not knowing where
you will go or how you will carry on or if you will ever have a home
again that you can call your own. Like many of you, I am retired and not
in a position to take out loans. That is why I will be making sure in
London at my next meetings that Ministers, DCLG, MPs and the whole APPG and
Working Group really understand how devastating and hopeless it can be
for Park Home Residents to be harassed, intimidated or worse.
I am not asking
for anyone's sympathy, but I felt that you should know the truth - as I have
heard that some seem to think that I am ok and that is certainly far from true.
In the past I
have seen many abuses to residents and their possessions. I have been
asked by the Police to speak for residents who had suffered arson at The Glen
and were too frightened to speak for fear of retribution - even though their
tormentors were in prison. I did my best but like a lot of others,
I could only speak of the horror, I had not felt their pain.
However, I can
now speak from the heart with first hand knowledge about the terrible
things and anguish that some Residents have to deal with - because I am
living it - and I will do all that I can to bring an end to it.
I can
give no longer give a forwarding address but if you need to write to me
regarding the campaign, please send it to Mr. Turner's address at the bottom of
this letter. Tony and I are good friends. We speak almost every
day and he will direct any mail to me.
In writing to you today, I wanted to bring you up to date with the
latest initiative undertaken by the newly formed Park
Homes Policy Forum, that in working to support JUSTICE
Campaign members and all residential park home owners, wants to ensure
that the current government review of park home legislation is more
comprehensive than may have been intended.
Copied below is what has now been sent to All MP`s and which sets
out the issues that in 13 points, the forum believes should be fully included
in the review and then acted upon. If you agree with any or all of these, then
you can also become a member of the Park
Homes Policy Forum by sending your name and address or ( in the
assured strict confidence of the Policy Forum ) a list of your Association
members if you have one, to the founder, Tony Turner, a long term and active
campaigner for change. Membership is also FREE and his private email address is ferrier57@btinternet.com . The Policy Forum,
which already has a four figure membership and is growing daily, can be found
by an internet search for park
homes policy forum, which regularly provides updates on its progress.
Dear..........................
PARK HOMES POLICY FORUM
You may or not have residential park home
estates within your constituency. If so, they may be well run - or you may have
been approached by some of the many thousands of retired home-owners who suffer
the ongoing consequences of so far largely unhindered and expanding rogue park
owners who make their lives misery and threaten, intimidate and defraud them of
their assets and savings.
In 2013, Housing Ministers said “For too long, some unscrupulous
operators have made residents’ lives a misery, intimidating people and
manipulating the rules to turn a quick profit.” However, despite these best intentions little has changed,
in part because much of the Mobile Homes Act as a contractual Agreement is
unfit for purpose and because the majority of those who were delegated new
powers failed to respond.
The final of the two part governments Calls
for Evidence closes on 16th February
2018 and the following has already been said by serving members of the
All Party Parliamentary Group for Park Homes..........
“ We
understand that the issues and problems the consultation covers may be seen as
insufficient and will not address all the problems that bedevil the Park Home
sector, however the reality is, this consultation (parts 1 and 2) is what the
government have committed to and we urge all residents to contribute.”
With the full endorsement of the Park
Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign founded by Sonia McColl OBE, driven from
her home in November 2017 by death and other threats similar to those received
by the undersigned but her replacement home stolen in likely retribution for
her work, I have now formed the Park
Homes Policy Forum, its growing membership intended to as best ensure that
even if delayed, that the current review of park home legislation does not
scrape the surface of the problems, but is sufficiently radical to afterwards
restore the lives of all park home owners to what they should always have been.
If you are aware of the many problems, then I
can certainly confirm that your affected constituents and their families are
relying upon your influence
to ensure that the current review does not scrape the surface and introduces
radical changes, by writing to Housing Minister Dominic Raab and by seeking
assurances in the House that any intended legislation does indeed “
address all the problems that bedevil the Park Home sector”
The Park
Homes Policy Forum has already submitted a 28 page report and
recommendations to the Ministry of Housing and Communities, since confirmed
that these submissions will be considered alongside all others. If you have
needed to respond to any of the the thousands of victims, you will understand
the need for radical changes and I and our new and increasing membership and
that of the Park
Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign are now asking for your active support
before the consultation is competed, when otherwise it will be too late. We
thank you for your considerations and set out the key recommendations of the Park
Homes Policy Forum below.
1) A
comprehensive review of the MHA Implied Terms that relate to charges.
2) A coordinated cross-county approach
between all Local Authorities, that actively consults with and involves rather
than disregards the rights and representations of park home owners.
3) The use of escalating fixed
penalties for non compliance with Works Notices.
4) The
requirement for site owners to allocate a set percentage of pitch fee revenues
to sinking funds for site maintenances that is then managed in conjunction with
occupiers.
5) Improved
strategies to respond to rogue site owners that involves procedures for the
temporary or permanent assignments, by the Courts, of site licences to third
party companies with positive track records in the management of tenanted
estates
6) Full
transparency in charges and clarity in what costs can or cannot be passed on.
7) Developing
Strategies for tackling new forms of sales blocking.
8) The introduction of building
controls for all newly sited homes as applied in any other sector
9) To prevent fraud in the
sales of holiday homes as residential, the requirement for all buyers of new
homes to be provided with advance copies of the full planning consents
11) A central register of all site owner convictions with
public access
12) The registration of all new homes
including site-ownership information
13) The changing of Model standards to law as
opposed to evaded good practice recommendations
PLEASE HELP TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE CHANGES. Most park home owners are those who
responsibly downsized to release equity to support their pensions incomes and
now it is also those who need to sell their bricks and mortar to find deposits
for their children's housing needs. PLEASE ask
the questions in Parliament and gather your all party colleagues support. Thank
you.
Yours faithfully.
Tony Turner.
Park Homes Policy Forum
c/o, 49A, St Dominic Park,
Harrowbarrow,
PL17 8BN
Private email: ferrier57@btinternet.com
Monday 5th February 2018
WHY CAN'T PARK HOME RESIDENTS HAVE AN
INDEPENDENT SECRETARIAT
TO THE APPG FOR PARK HOMES?
A SHORT WHILE AGO MANY MEMBERS OF THE
PARK HOME OWNERS JUSTICE CAMPAIGN
WROTE TO THEIR MPs REQUESTING THEM TO NOT RE-INSTATE
THE BH & HPA AS SECRETARIAT
OF THE APPG for PARK HOMES.
Sadly, this non independent body that is the Site Owner's Trade Body was re-instated.
Now
The successful Leasehold Knowledge Partnership who have been victorious in their fight against ground rent in the Leasehold Section have published the piece below.
CLICK ON THE LINK TO READ THE FULL STORY.
|
Saturday 3rd February 2018
THIS IS THE VERY LAST PUSH THAT WE CAN ALL MAKE
TO GET THE CHANGES THAT YOU AS JUSTICE CAMPAIGN MEMBERS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR SINCE 2013
Together, we have fought for an Independent and Transparent review to bring about a change to the 10% Commission Charge
and to get the RPI annual increase to your pitch fee increase changed from RPI to CPI.
Hundreds of Residents have given of their time and money to represent thousands of Park Home Residents at our rallies in London.
Many of you have aired your views in the Palace of Westminster and you have made a difference.
Many MPs and Peers have listened and are onside.
You have spent hours gathering names on petition forms (40,000) of them and they have been delivered to Downing Street
which brought about a Parliamentary Debate in which all MPs voted unanimously for an Independent Review.
You did this and you have also written countless letters to your MPs. Even if some seemed distant, YOU HAVE MADE YOUR MARK.
After successfully getting the law changed to stop the Approval of the Buyer in the selling process,
many of you asked if we could do something about
the 10% Commission Charge.
I said we would try and we have now done more than that,
together, our JUSTICE Campaign has got RPI to CPI listed in the consultation documents.
NOW THIS IS YOUR VERY LAST CHANCE FOR A LONG TIME TO GET THE 10% COMMISSION CHARGE CHANGED.
Mr. Skeoch has said the 10% will be considered when reviewing the responses.
WE MUST ALL MAKE SURE THAT IT IS.
The 16th of February is looming and marks the deadline for submissions to Part 2 of the Consultation Review AND RESPONSES.
PLEASE COPY THE LETTER BELOW TO ALL ON YOUR PARK AND ASK THEM TO SEND IT THIS WEEK TO THE PARK HOMES TEAM ADDRESS ON THE LETTER - AND PLEASE WOULD YOU ALSO SEND A COPY OF IT TO YOUR OWN MP. IF YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR MPs ADDRESS, SEND IT TO HIM/HER AT:
House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.
To back you all up and to do what I can on behalf of our JUSTICE Campaign, I have made a submission to Part 2 of the consultation which included the letter below and our anecdotal statistics. This week a copy of those anecdotal statistics, gathered from park home residents regarding the annual finances of the site owners will be sent to every MP and many Peers.
Over the last four years, together, as a JUSTICE Campaign, we have raised the bar on subjects they thought were dead and buried. Yes, there is still much to achieve in the park home industry
but the 10% and RPI to CPI is what we have been working towards
and now is the time AND INDEED YOUR LAST CHANCE FOR A VERY LONG TIME to make it happen.
If you have not already sent your letter
LET'S CONCENTRATE ON GETTING THE ACTION THAT WE WANT AND MAY I ASK YOU ALL TO MAKE THIS ONE LAST EFFORT AND SEND THE LETTER BELOW TO THE PARK HOMES TEAM AND TO YOUR MP.
Thank you for all your support and best wishes
Sonia
Your Address here
Date
Park Homes Team,
Better Rented & Leasehold Sector Division,
DCLG, 3rd Floor (NE), Fry Building,
Dear Sirs
Re: Additional submission to Part 2 of the Consultation Review.
Call for a review of the 10% Commission Charge
At the Sale of Park Homes debate on 30th October 2014; MPs debating the need for an Independent and Transparent Review of the 10% Commission Charge unanimously voted as shown in the exert from HANSARD below
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved,
That this House calls on the Government to set up a review of the current fee of up to 10 per cent of the sale price of a park home payable to the park home site owner.
At the APPG meeting on Wednesday 13th September 2017. It was quoted in the minutes that:
“The Chairman asked when the APPG would know whether the Minister would take on board a further review of commission. Mr Skeoch said that this was not in the scope of Part 2 of the review of the Mobile Homes Act 2013, but Ministers were aware that there was a call for a review of commission and that would be considered when reviewing the responses. If there was anything to be done on commission, there would be a separate consultation. “
As a Park Home Resident, when you review the responses to Part 2 of the review of the Mobile Homes Act 2013; I now make it known to you that I want Government to honour the will of MPs at the 30th October 2014 debate and to set up an Independent and transparent review (that includes sight of site owners accounting) of the current fee of up to 10 per cent of the sale price of a park home payable to the park home site owner. I understand that the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign has sent anecdotal evidence of the site owners income to Ministers and that copies will be sent to every MP. As Mr. Skeoch has said this will be considered when reviewing the responses; I inform you that I want the call for a review of the 10% commission to be considered when reviewing the responses; this to be followed by a separate consultation leading to an Independent and transparent review of the 10% commission charge.
In addition, I make it known that I want the RPI increase to the annual pitch fee to be changed to CPI which is inline with pension increase and already enjoyed by park home residents in Wales.
The Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign has sent you a copy of the anecdotal statistics gathered from park home residents regarding the financial income of site owners. These statistics will be sent this week to every MP in Parliament and I will be sending my MP a copy of this letter.
Yours Sincerely.
Tuesday January 16th 2018
HAVE YOU SEEN Sonia's HOME THAT IS PICTURED ABOVE?
It is a 40' x 13' Stately Albion
£1000
Offered by Paul Baker of Paul Baker Park Home Insurance
Services, Cheltenham
FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO
THE
SAFE RECOVERY
OF Sonia McColl's STOLEN PARK HOME
SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE KNOWS SOMETHING.
HAS MY HOME ARRIVED ON YOUR PARK - or - A
PARK NEAR YOU?
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION
THAT WILL LEAD TO THE
SAFE RECOVERY OF THIS HOME
PLEASE CONTACT CRIME STOPPERS 0800 555 111
AND QUOTE CRIME NUMBER CR/102371/17
Crime Stoppers can be anonymous, but if
you want to be able to claim a reward - should your information be useful - you
would need to leave contact details.
Thank You Message from Sonia
Along with my sincere thanks to Paul Baker, the Leasehold
Knowledge Partnership, the Park Homes Magazine, IPHAS and PHRAA who have given
coverage of the loss of my home on their web sites. I want also to say a heartfelt
thanks to all those Park Home Residents who have very kindly tried to help
me by sending donations online to the Leasehold Knowledge
Partnership. I know that many residents do not have access to the
internet and I would like to thank most sincerely, those who have sent to me
using Tony Turner of the JBS Residents Action Alliance
It is the most
dreadful feeling in the world to be homeless and until you are, you cannot
imagine what it feels like to have the security and safe space around you taken
away - leaving you entirely vulnerable and reliant upon the kindness of
others. Of course if the thieves who stole my home are reading this, they
will be pleased - but I want them to know that they have only made me more
determined. In the past I have provided evidence and made Government
aware of the atrocities that happen to park home residents. I know that
many Parliamentarians are already appalled at what has happened to me and
I hope that some good can evolve from this and Government will look with
urgency at cleaning up the Industry and dispelling the rogue element that they
have talked about doing for such a long time.
Through the
pages of magazines and the web sites listed at the base of this message
may I thank all those who have sent me so many messages of sympathy
and offers of temporary accommodation - including one good park owner. However,
it is a sad fact that I have been told that my home was stolen because "I have trampled over park owners
and I deserved this" and I am in no doubt that my home was stolen because of my
work for the JUSTICE Campaign. I don't know what the future will
bring - but I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all the support and
kindness that I have received and ask you to please spread the message and help
me by sending this letter to all your friends and paste it on your face book
page
Sonia
Sonia McColl
OBE
Founder of
the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign and Park-HELP-Line.
For more information about the theft
of Sonia's park home, please see the following news articles on the following
web sites. I apologise if I have left anyone out, please know that I
thank you - but the web sites below are the only ones that have helped me that
I am aware of.
saw some three hundred Park Home Residents
travel to London
Although many MPs are on board with the 10%
issue, again, your call and the unanimous call of MPs in the October 2014
debate for an Independent and Transparent Review of this charge has again been
ignored.
You will all be aware from my previous
postings that the Minister of the day pushed this issue out to a Working Group
for recommendations. I was a part of that Working Group along with the BH
& HPA and although I said and did all that I could to get the 10% included
into the current review, I stood alone against the BH & HPA and there was
never going to be an agreement between us. However, the fat lady has not
sung yet and the full anecdotal revenue statistics that name the site owners
and their parks have been sent by me to many MPs. I have purposely waited
to send the remainder to every MP in Parliament and they will be delivered
before the closing date of Part 2 of the Consultation.
However, all is not lost as Part 2 of the
Consultation gives you the opportunity to change your pitch fee increase
from RPI to CPI (which is what all JUSTICE Campaign members called for on
the 21st March.)
If you have not already done so, please make
sure that you make reference to this when you complete part 2 of the Consultation
Paper. Your pensions rise by CPI. Our Welsh Counterparts already
enjoy pitch fee increases at the CPI rate. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU
CAN PUSH FOR AND OBTAIN AND IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN EVERY MONTH OF EVERY
YEAR TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY TO THE SITE OWNER.
I know that many residents do not have access
to a computer. If there are people on your park who fall into this
category, please copy the form below for them as they can now send their
submission by post. THE ADDRESS AND FORM IS LISTED BELOW
Residents who may not be able to complete
the response form online and return by email, can instead print and return the
form by post to;
Park
Homes Team,
Better
Rented & Leasehold Sector Division,
DCLG, 3rd
Floor (NE), Fry Building
The call for evidence and response form are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/
Thursday 21st December 2017
PART 2 of the CALL FOR EVIDENCE
A JUSTICE CAMPAIGN SUPPORTER HAS WRITTEN TO THE DCLG
INFORMING THAT THE MAJORITY OF ELDERLY PARK HOME RESIDENTS
DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER AND WOULD BE UNABLE TO RESPOND
AND HAS ASKED FOR A FAIR AND LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.
DCLG HAVE REPLIED
THAT THEIR WEB SITE HAS BEEN AMENDED TO INCLUDE AN OPTION TO RESPOND BY POST.
IF YOU HAVE A COMPUTER, PLEASE LOOK AT THIS OPTION AND PASS
THE INFORMATION TO THOSE ON YOUR PARK WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNABLE TO RESPOND.
Saturday 9th December 2017
My thanks to:
Sir Peter Bottomley, Sebastian O'Kelly and the Trustees of the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership
who, on the 6th December invited me to attend
the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership's APPG at the Palace of Westminster
where I was asked to speak about my stolen park home - which I believe was a planned retribution for my work with the JUSTICE Campaign.
This opportunity meant that whilst telling them of the horrific abuse that has happened to me,
I was also able to make reference to the abuses, harassment and intimidation that is rife within the park home sector.
The fear and terror that our JUSTICE Campaign and Park-HELP-Line
continually hear from residents who are and have been affected by it
and the total hopelessness of having no one to turn to when faced with this kind of treatment.
I believe that all the delegates were shocked to hear the story of my stolen home. What is happening to others and how the Police in many cases are not able to help; simply meaning that those who dare to report abuse often leave the Police Stations with CIVIL ringing in their ears - and return home to PUT UP AND SHUT UP.
In the Leasehold part of the industry the problem lies with WHITE COLLAR BULLIES.
In the Park Home Sector we have to deal with very different (BANDIT) LIKE BULLIES - which are far worse.
Therefore I was grateful not only for the opportunity to let them know first hand about what is going on in the park home sector - but now that I am homeless, for their amazing kindness in setting up a fund to try to help me and to
Tony Turner who is helping them to co-ordinate it.
Ultimately, I hope from the coverage that I am receiving
that some good for residents in general will come out of what has happend to me.
In addition, there is good news.
Sir Peter Bottomley will be speaking in a COMMONS DEBATE - WESTMINSTER HALL.
Although this will centre around Leasehold and commonhold reform and leasehold abuses
I AM INFORMED THAT IT IS LIKELY TO INCLUDE ABUSES IN THE RESIDENTIAL PARK HOME SECTOR.
THE DEBATE COMMENCES AT 1.30PM - 21 DECEMBER 2017
AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD TO HELP RESIDENTS IN THE PARK HOME SECTOR.
Sonia McColl
Sunday 3rd December 2017
Dear Justice Campaign Supporter.
NEWSLETTER
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from
The Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign and Park-HELP-Line
Before I begin, I must say thank you to certain people who have worked unseen to help our JUSTICE Campaign. All of whom prefer to remain anonymous so I will only use their Christian names.
Happy Christmas John and thank you for keeping the JUSTICE Campaign web site up and running. Without you, our JUSTICE Campaign could not get to its members on 1003 sites across our country and the many others who follow the JUSTICE Campaign online.
Thank you and Merry Christmas to Dave, Veronica, Susan, John, June and Barbara who have worked tirelessly and have helped so many park home residents who have called the Park-HELP-Line. You have all done an amazing job that has been appreciated by so many.
Thank you to Tony Turner of Gateway, who has helped so many JUSTICE Campaign Members.
Thank you to Lord Graham of Edmonton for his unstinting support of our campaign and we all wish him a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. Should you wish to send him a Christmas card, his address is Knebworth Care Home, 59 London Road, Woolmer Green, Knebworth SG3 6JE.
We were most saddened to lose our Vice Chairman Natascha Engel because she lost her seat in the last election. Natascha was a stalwart supporter of all park home residents and we will certainly miss her input at Westminster on our behalf. However, the new MP for NE Derbyshire has contacted me and offered his support. So, it is almost “when one door closes another opens” but Natascha will be a hard act to follow.
And last, but certainly not least a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year to Paul Baker of PB Insurance Services who has supported the efforts of the JUSTICE Campaign and paid to help get our statistics on the 10% issue to every MP in Westminster. In addition, Paul has paid for the set-up of Park-HELP-Line and continues to pay the monthly running costs. Although we do not usually advertise firms, in this instance, I feel a little plug for Paul’s Insurance Services for Park Home Owners is certainly deserved. If you would like a quote for your Park Home Insurance, please ring Paul on freephone 0800 038 5090 and if you mention that you are a Justice Campaign Supporter you will get a 15% discount.
Well it has certain been an eventful year. In March hundreds of you travelled to London for our Rally and meeting in Portcullis House. Although we have since been held up with the 10% issue because of Brexit and another election; on the positive side we have many more MPs who have contacted me and given their support to our campaign. I have asked these MPs to join the APPG for Park Homes as this is where a lot of issues are discussed. As the JUSTICE Campaign is an invited member of the APPG I have and will continue to bring up the 10% issue.
I am not going to pretend that this is an easy task as we are up against the BH & HPA and others. However, because of your help in sending me the revenue information of Park Owners, I have been able to put together statistics that show anecdotally the vast amount of income they are receiving. Copies of these statistics (that name the site owner and the parks) have been sent to all MPs who have registered with the APPG and the Housing Minister and Secretary of State for the DCLG. All MPs will also get a copy at the appropriate time, so we are still putting up a fight where it matters (in the heart of Westminster.) Of course, the industry wants us to go away, but that is not going to happen and we will not give in easily. I am also pleased to tell you that Sir Peter Bottomley (who attended Downing Street with our campaign) has registered his interest in the APPG and is now the treasurer. I am hoping and quietly optimistic that he and others will use their voice to help us.
Whilst writing this Newsletter I received a letter from Lord Graham who had just read the statistics that I sent to him. His words were: “Your resume of suspect, practical but deadly behaviour by dodgy site owners is devastating and I can see the MPs who receive it and are looking for a cause, should be able to use. I hope so. In creating the change in 2013 you can be pleased with your work and please keep firing the bullets.”
Well the only answer to that is: Yes Lord Ted, OF COURSE WE WILL KEEP FIRING THE BULLETS.
Promised 2017 Review of the 2013 act. It is here at last.
PART 2 - CALL FOR EVIDENCE
This is to let you know that the Review of Park Homes legislation-Call for Evidence Part 2 was published today 28 November 2017.
Part 2 is seeking evidence on the effectiveness of the Mobile Homes Act 2013, in particular, how well the local authority site licensing scheme and the procedures for selling mobile homes, making site rules and reviewing pitch fees have worked. The Call for Evidence is also seeking evidence on the appropriate index to be used when carrying out a pitch fee review (CPI or RPI); whether ‘fit and proper’ controls need to be applied in the sector; and views on the Park Homes Working Group’s recommendations on how local authorities can be assisted further in their licensing functions.
The Call for evidence closes on 16 February 2018.
A copy of the Call for Evidence Part 2 is available at https://www.gov.uk/governme
Also published today is a summary of the responses to Call for evidence-Part 1, which was published on 12 April 2017. A copy of the Summary of responses to Part 1 is available at https://www.gov.uk/governme
You will see from the above that they have listened to our call for the pitch fee to be changed from RPI to CPI. This is your chance to push this forward. Sadly, and as expected, they have conveniently left out a review of the 10% Commission Charge that we and all MPs in the 30th October 2014 debate called for. If you still want a review to change this charge. Please make strong reference to it in Part 2 of your submission.
APPG (ALL PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP FOR PARK HOMES)
For those who wish to keep up with news and minutes of APPG meetings; these can be found on our Justice Campaign Web Site at www.parkhomeownersjusticecampa
Insulation
As you will be aware, the BBC asked for information from residents for a forthcoming programme. That is now closed and I was informed by the BBC that they could not use any info given as the residents would not appear in the programme. Since then, I have heard that some residents were contacted and certainly would have appeared on the programme if asked. I have no answer to that – I can only report back what was said to me. However, I would like to thank all those who forwarded information to me.
BBC Inside out.
This year our Justice Campaign was asked to be a part of the Inside Out Programme regarding the 10% issue. This programme was shown live in Newcastle and Tees but could be seen on BBC I player. Sadly, although two hours of filming took place and a lot was said about the 10% and how it trapped residents in their homes, when they edited it for the programme, in my opinion the salient points of resident’s needs were not shown. However, it did keep the issue alive and all publicity, good or bad, continues to push out point across.
The Future.
It is too early to say if we will need another rally to London to demonstrate our need for and Independent and Transparent Review of the 10% Commission Charge. You all did a magnificent job at our Three Nations Rally. In Wales and Scotland, the co-ordinators did a grand job and the residents really backed them up. In London, you all had a good day and the opportunity to speak at Portcullis House.
Many have said “we want the 10% abolished.” Well the answer is we would all like that, but it simply will not happen and after listening to learned MPs who are on side, and Independent and Transparent Review of this charge is the only way forward because MPs are certainly not going to just order it to be abolished. A change can only come about from hard evidence.
The evidence produced in the various reports that have been done is anecdotal as no one has had sight of forensic evidence such as the sight of audited accounting. We may never get to see the site owners accounts, that is why our JUSTICE Campaign has done its own anecdotal statistics on the site owners revenue and as said earlier in this newsletter they have already been distributed to some MPs. Now that Part 2 of the consultation has been published, I will send the statistics to all MP’s by the closing date of the part 2 submission’s. Certainly, I will make sure that your voice is heard at the APPG meetings and I hope you will also ask your MP to voice your concerns. I will also make sure that the momentum is continued at any further working group meetings in 2018. But one thing is for sure, I will continue to do all that I can and call upon you again in the future if we need to demonstrate again in force.
BEWARE.
SALE BLOCKING -THEY ARE STILL AT IT
and ignorance by
ESTATE AGENTS AND SOLICITORS
is not helping.
What started off as the odd one or two residents reporting sale blocking by the site owner has now grown out of all proportion. It would appear that Estate Agents and some Solicitors are still not aware of the SELLERS PACK - that is to be used when you sell your park home - and most certainly many have not read it sufficiently to know THEY SHOULD NEVER GIVE FULL DETAILS OF THE PROSPECTIVE BUYER TO THE SITE OWNER.
Sadly, the outcome has been, that Estate Agents, Solicitors and indeed some Residents have given the site owner full contact details of the prospective buyer. AND THE OUTCOME HAS BEEN that the site owner has either put the buyers off the sale or in many cases has sold the prospective buyer one of his/her new homes for the same asking price.
Hence, the sale has been lost because the rules and the new laws were not followed correctly.
If you are selling a home. Please get a copy of the SELLERS PACK. It can be downloaded from the Government web site or your Estate Agent should be able to do it for you - or - if you are a Member of IPHAS or NAPHR I am sure they will help you to secure one.
MOST IMPORTANTLY. Do speak with any Estate Agent or Solicitor you use and RAM home the facts to them. In other words, please make sure they are fully aware of the SELLERS PACK and the new act. They will probably try to fob you off, but pester them and make it absolutely clear that they can only give the site owner your prospective buyers name. THEY MUST NOT PASS ANY CONTACT DETAILS OF ANY PROSPECTIVE BUYER TO THE SITE OWNER.
Indeed, don't just leave it to them. This is your home. From the outset make sure they understand that they must not discuss the sale of your home with anyone who walks in to their office. I say this because SITE OWNERS DO GO INTO ESTATE AGENTS AND FISH FOR INFORMATION.
Of course, you should not have to do any of this, but you are paying the bill and you must insist that they work to the rules of the SELLERS PACK and tell them to discuss everything with you throughout the sale. Ideally, get this in writing from the Estate Agents and Solicitors so they know you mean business - because it is too late when the site owner steals your buyer.
The Park Homes Warm Home Discount Scheme is now open
£140 pounds can be claimed. Find out if you are eligible by calling 0330 380 1040 or visit www.parkhomeswhd.com to apply.
Park-HELP-Line
If you have a park home problem and don’t know where to turn, this FREE, FRIENDLY and CONFIDENTIAL service can be reached by calling 0 2 0 3 8 4 6 6 6 01
Since its launch, Park - HELP - Line (although sponsored by Paul Baker, is run on a completely voluntary basis) and its Operators (who are all park home residents) have assisted hundreds of Park Home Residents and received many messages of thanks from grateful residents – some of whom simply wanted to talk to someone who would understand. Our Justice campaign hopes this will continue and many more will receive the help they need.
My STOLEN Home
Although numb and devastated beyond words I want to thank all those wonderful residents who have sent me emails and face book messages containing their kindness and support. Also sincere thanks to residents in many parts of the UK who have offered me temporary accommodation and the GOOD Park Owner who has offered me temporary accommodation in an empty home on their park. This has really propped me up in the darkest of days. I am grateful to you all and can say that I am spending Christmas with my family. I am also so very grateful to The Leasehold Knowledge Partnership, Tony Turner, Ann Barradine Insulation, Paul Baker of PB Insurance, IPHAS and all others who I am not aware of but have spread the word. The investigation is in the hands of the Police and has been circulated far and wide in the media. I am not allowed to talk about that - but I have no doubt at all that this was planned. Yes, the threats did frighten me. Yes, they have stolen my home. Yes, it is very likely that I will not get it back – although that would be wonderful. I can't say that my future might not be difficult - but NO, regardless of the outcome, they will not win, as I will not abandon the Justice Campaign and what it stands for. Although, other residents are not having their homes stolen, many are suffering other abuses, harassments and intimidations. We must stop this NOW and Government must listen. We need to put these perpetrators and their accomplices in JAIL and I will do all that I can to make them understand the torment that residents have to put up with.
Once again, I thank and wish you all the happiest of Christmases and a bright and better New Year.
Sonia
29th November 2017
Theft of £30,000 mobile home
Woman left without a home
Police are urgently seeking information following the theft of a motor home in Willand, near Cullompton.
The incident happened between 6pm on Wednesday 22 November and 6am on Thursday 23 November 2017 at The Yard on Willand Road, Cullompton.
Thieves entered a yard and loaded the 40ft static caravan on to a flat trailer and removed it from the yard.
The victim, a local woman, was not present at the time of the offence and is now without a home. Pictures of the park home are attached. The serial number is SA11.049221E.
PC Marie Gorfin said: “The home would have to had to been taken by a specific low loader trailer that is capable of taking a caravan of this size and by someone that knew what they were doing.
“This is a very high value and emotive crime as victim is now homeless and clearly distraught.
“We are urging anyone with information to come forward to police by emailing us via 101@dc.police.uk or by calling 101 quoting CR/102371/17.”
You can also give information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
28th November 2017
UPDATE ON MY STOLEN PARK HOME
I would just like to say a heartfelt thank you to the hundreds of people who have been so kind and for the many reported sightings and information that has been received after my home was stolen from a yard in Cullompton.
All have been given to the Police who are acting upon it.
I know many are thinking that it was insured. Sadly, No. I tried, but it could only be insured when on the base. It was insured whilst being transported - but it was taken off the transport and put in a yard where they tell me it is not insured.
There is a lot that I can not say at this point in time but the Police are on the job.
I had bought new curtains and had so been looking forward to putting them up and buying a Christmas Tree. Silly I know, but the news that my home was stolen has left me very shocked and numb but the support and the offers of temporary accommodation by so many people have really helped to prop me up.
You have all been wonderful and I will never be able to thank you enough - but may I please ask you to keep this live and keep sharing to help me find my home. If you saw anything at all please contact Devon Police incident number CR102371/17
I KNOW THAT WE MAY NEVER RECOVER MY HOME - BUT LET's FIND THE THIEVES WHO STOLE IT.
Love and thanks from Sonia
13th November 2017
and ignorance by
ESTATE AGENTS AND
SOLICITORS
is not helping.
What started off as the
odd one or two residents reporting sale blocking by the site owner
has now grown out
of all proportion.
It would appear that
Estate Agents and some Solicitors
are still not aware of
the SELLERS PACK - that is to be used when you sell your park home - and most
certainly
many have not read
it sufficiently to know
THEY SHOULD NEVER
GIVE FULL DETAILS OF THE PROSPECTIVE BUYER TO THE SITE OWNER.
Sadly, the outcome has
been, that Estate Agents, Solicitors and indeed some Residents
have given the site owner
full contact details of the prospective buyer.
AND THE OUTCOME HAS BEEN
that the site owner has
either put the buyers off the sale or in many cases
has sold the prospective
buyer one of his/her new homes for the same asking price.
Hence, the sale has been
lost
because the rules and the
new laws were not followed correctly.
If you are selling a
home. Please get a copy of the SELLERS PACK.
It can be downloaded from
the Government web site or your Estate Agent should be able to do it for you
or - if you are a
Member of IPHAS or NAPHR
I am sure they
will help you to secure one.
MOST IMPORTANTLY.
Do speak with any Estate Agent or Solicitor you use
and RAM home the facts to
them.
In other words
please make sure they are fully aware of the
SELLERS PACK and the new
act.
They will probably try to
fob you off, but pester them
and make it absolutely
clear that they can only give the site owner
your prospective buyers
name. THEY MUST NOT PASS ANY
CONTACT DETAILS OF ANY
PROSPECTIVE BUYER TO THE SITE OWNER.
Indeed, don't just leave
it to them. This is your home.
From the outset make sure
they understand that they must not discuss the sale of your home with anyone
who walks in to their office. I say this because SITE OWNERS DO GO INTO
ESTATE AGENTS AND FISH FOR INFORMATION.
Of course, you should not
have to do any of this, but you are paying the bill and you must insist that
they work to the rules of the SELLERS PACK and tell them to discuss
everything with you throughout the sale. Ideally, get this in
writing from the
Estate Agents and
Solicitors so they know you mean business - because it is too late
when the site owner
steals your buyer.
18th October 2017
To all Justice Campaign Supporters
I have heard today from our President Lord "Ted" Graham of Edmonton.
Lord Ted is, as you probably know in a care home - he says he is content but yearns to be back as he was in the old days. Sadly, we all know that is not possible but Lord Ted has asked me to remember him and send his kind regards to the many people that he has helped over the years.
Although I know he cannot and should not be involved with the many problems in the park home sector ( but left to live in peace in his golden years ) I do keep him informed (our of interest) of what our Justice Campaign is doing and last Sunday a lovely Justice Campaign Supporter who visits him regularly took a recording of the BBC Inside Out Programme for Lord Ted to see. He was pleased to see it and said it covered some of the issues.
However, Lord Ted loves to receive letters and my reason for writing is to ask if you could spare a little of your time to send a little note to wish him well and thank him for what he has done for us all. I know you will understand that it would be most unfair to burden him at his great age with park home problems - but a friendly and cheery card or letter would bring a smile to his face and let him know that he is not forgotten.
Perhaps, as Christmas is approaching - which can be very lonely if you no longer have your family; may I ask if you would also please put
Lord Ted on your Christmas Card list.
His address is:
Lord Graham of Edmonton, Knebworth Care Home, 59 London Road, Woolmer Green, Knebworth, SG3 6JE
Best Wishes and thank you in anticipation of your help
Sonia
11th October 2017
A BBC HOUSING PROGRAMME
has contacted our JUSTICE campaign
because they are calling for information
from
RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN PARK HOMES.
The BBC are PARTICULARLY INTERESTED to hear from residents
with poor insulation in their homes and:
1. The affect
this has had upon them.
2. The ways
that residents have worked towards fixing the problem and the particular issues
they are experiencing
with damp/insulation or other issues to do with the fabric of their home
3. Those who
have recently heard they will receive the winter payment or other type of
grant to help towards
insulation or other work to help improve their living conditions.
4. Any
problems that residents are experiencing in insulation or other issues to do
with park home living.
If you are willing to help
and contact details.
I will then pass them to the BBC Producer who will
then contact you.
All issues sent to the
JUSTICE Campaign will be treated with complete confidence and passed to the BBC
and nothing will be used
in their programme without your permission.
|
|
|
6th October 2017
BBC INSIDE OUT PROGRAME
covering the
10% Commission Charge
on the sale of park homes
will be shown on
MONDAY 9th OCTOBER 2017
at around 8pm
PLEASE KEEP CHECKING THIS WEB SITE'S
10% page
where full details of all platforms to watch it live
will be posted as soon as the BBC send me the details.
I believe the programme includes interviews with:
Sir Peter Bottomley
The BH & HPA
Our JUSTICE Campaign
and others.
12th August 2017
PLEASE NOTE
I am sorry for any inconvenience
BUT FROM THE 11th AUGUST 2017
THE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR THE
Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign
HAS CHANGED TO
07903024612
AND
THE SILENT WOMAN ADDRESS
IS NO LONGER THE HEADQUARTERS ADDRESS FOR THE
Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign.
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
IF YOU WISH TO CONTACT THE
Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign
PLEASE TELEPHONE
07903024612
or email
12th August 2017
PLEASE NOTE
I am sorry for any inconvenience
BUT FROM THE 11th AUGUST 2017
THE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR THE
Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign
HAS CHANGED TO
07903024612
AND
THE SILENT WOMAN ADDRESS
IS NO LONGER THE HEADQUARTERS ADDRESS FOR THE
Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign.
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
IF YOU WISH TO CONTACT THE
Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign
PLEASE TELEPHONE
07903024612
or email
1st August 2017
TO ALL PARK HOME OWNERS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION BELOW REGARDING THE APPG FOR PARK HOMES
PLEASE NOTE.
I have received correspondence from the BH & HPA secretariat regarding my posting below and the
Meeting of the APPG for park homes.
Whilst I cannot publish their letter
THEY DO SPECIFICALLY ASK THAT AS I HAVE MADE YOU AWARE OF THE NEXT MEETING IN THE POSTING BELOW. THAT I ALSO MAKE YOU ALL AWARE THAT
THE APPG FOR PARK HOMES MEETING IN SEPTEMBER
IS NOT A PUBLIC EVENT.
However, as suggested to you in the posting below
you can be represented on Park Home Matters by your Constituency MP
24th July 2017
Dear Justice Campaign Member
With regard to the recent Briefings that I sent to you.
As members, I believe that you have a right to know all that is going on in matters that can have an affect on you and your lifestyle. In the recent Briefings that I sent, you will no doubt have noticed that almost all of the information regarding our JUSTICE Campaign is totally out of date and the important factors, ie our request for an Independent and Transparent Review of the 10% Commission Charge that includes sight of the site owners certified audited accounts has been completely left out.
So too have the reasons that we want changes to the 10%, ie, that you are trapped in your homes because you can only purchase something inferior to what you already have after parting with 10% of your equity - along with the seriously curtailed lack and quality of care that can be afforded if you need to go into a nursing home.
I find it incredible that although the author of the Briefings is aware of our Three Nations Rally, she has chosen to ignore all that it stood for and all that you worked for. Therefore, I have written to the author of the Briefings regarding these points and have copied the letter to the DCLG. I will be writing to all MPs during the summer recess with the anecdotal statistics on the revenue streams of site owners and the relevant points on the Briefings and the APPG (as listed below) will also be enclosed.
APPG (all party parliamentary group) on Park Homes.
Many residents are aware that the Industries Trade Body the BH@HPA (British Holiday and Home Park Association) were the secretariat of the APPG on Park Homes and have voiced their utter dismay that the Industries Trade Body had been appointed as secretariat and host a website for the APPG at their offices. Residents have reported their feelings that the Industry (who like the JUSTICE Campaign, IPHAS and NAPHR are guest organisations at the APPG) should not be considered for this position.
Of course it is vitally important to have an APPG for park homes, however, the Industry representatives, like the representatives of park home residents should only be there to put their views to the parliamentarians and bring awareness of the problems that are occurring. Many of you have voiced your feelings and I certainly agree that any working role should be done by an independent and transparent source, therefore avoiding the possibility of any benefits for their own organisation. In fact, I have had to disagree the last minutes of the APPG meeting because they failed to include important issues that were spoken of at the APPG meeting by the JUSTICE Campaign and the Minister on the subject of the 10%.
I have spoken to several MPs about your worries and have been told that it is only parliamentarians who can vote for such roles to be filled. Guest organisations like the BH@HPA, NCC, JUSTICE Campaign, IPHAS and NAPHR are unable to vote. Therefore, the JUSTICE Campaign can do little to appose the BH@HPA again becoming the secretariat of the APPG. However, I am reliably informed that if they are again voted as the secretariat following the recent general election, this must be declared; for their Director General is a paid employee of the BH@HPA when presumably undertaking work for the APPG for park homes.
I have also been reliably informed that it is of great importance that we get as many MPs who are sympathetic to the cause of park home residents to become members of the APPG for park homes. There is no doubt that the BH@HPA will continue to try to push the 10% commission charge and RPI to CPI under the carpet - because that is what the industry wants. However, all those who attended our London meeting will be aware of the many MPs who are in support of an Independent and transparent review of the 10%. WE NEED THESE MPs TO JOIN AND SPEAK FOR US AT THE APPG FOR PARK HOMES for it is only those parliamentarians who could (if they so wished) ask for an independent secretariat.
I have already contacted several MPs requesting their agreement to join the APPG and attend the crucial meeting of the APPG on Park Homes that will take place from 9.30am on Wednesday 13th September in Room U at Portcullis House.
This is a very important meeting. It will be the AGM to elect officers and re-register the group in the new Parliament and we need as many supportive MPs of the changes we want for park home residents to attend as it is their vote that will decide the officers and secretariat.
This is where (if you agree) that your help is urgently needed. If you would like more MPs to work for you with regard to the 10% and other issues and you would like to see an even playing field; please write or email your MP as soon as possible. This can be done individually or by sending one letter to your MP that has been signed by all residents on your park. If you do not agree that the Industries Trade Body the BH@HPA should be the secretariat and you want an even playing field, please explain this to your MP as they are the only people who can vote and discuss this matter.
SAMPLE LETTER OF WHAT YOU MAY LIKE TO WRITE TO YOUR CONSTITUENCY MP. As the summer recess is almost upon us, it would be best to address the letter to your MPs constituency office - and may I suggest that you ask for an acknowledgement of your letter.
Dear
As my/our constituency MP may I/we request that you support us (as park home residents) by joining the APPG for Park Homes.
The AGM to elect officers and re-register the group in the new Parliament will take place from 9.30am on Wednesday 13th September in Room U at Portcullis House.
As parliamentarians you have the right to vote for the Officers and Secretariat of the APPG for Park Homes. As Park Home Residents we consider that using the Industries trade body - the BH & HPA as the secretariat of the APPG and allowing the APPG web site to be housed at the BH & HPA offices is totally wrong. The BH & HPA are a guest organisation like our JUSTICE Campaign. We believe that in the interests of fairness and transparency the secretariat should be totally independent from the guest groups (of apposing sides) and I/we would respectfully ask you to consider this.
Yours Sincerely
Many thanks in anticipation of your help and if you should have a problem or wish to speak confidentially to a friendly operator, WHY NOT CALL THE PARK-HELP-LINE ON 02038466601
Sonia.
For many Months, our JUSTICE Campaign has been part of a Park Homes Working Group. Although I will be writing to all members in due course regarding the ongoing 10% Commission Charge, RPI to CPI and the APPG for Park Homes; please see below for your information the latest briefing from the House of Commons Library on Mobile (park) homes.
House of Commons Library
Mobile (park) homes
Published Friday, June 9, 2017
This Commons Library Briefing Paper provides an overview of the the rights of residents who live year-round on mobile home parks. The main focus of the paper is on mobile home owners in England but sections on Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are included.
Jump to full report >>
People living year-round in mobile (park) homes normally own their home and rent the land on which it is stationed from the site owner (paying a pitch fee). The Government estimates that around 85,000 households live in mobile homes on 2000 sites in England. The majority of mobile home sites are privately owned with a small number owned by local authorities. Mobile homes can offer an attractive housing option for retired people, consequently residents tend to be older. In 2002 68% of mobile home occupants were aged 60 or over. The age profile of mobile home owners can make it challenging for them to assert their rights when dealing with unscrupulous site operators.
Jump to full report >>
The legal framework: issues and shortcomings
The legal framework within which site and mobile home owners operate has developed in a piecemeal fashion. The Mobile Homes Act 1983 extended the rights of mobile home residents, particularly in respect of security of tenure, but various short-comings in its provisions were identified, leading to calls for its review and amendment. In 1988 Shelter's now disbanded Mobile Homes Unit produced a report on the operation of the 1983 Act which called for changes to be made, including having pitch fee levels fixed by rent officers; the development of an effective system of arbitration; and stronger duties on local authorities to inspect unfit housing on mobile homes sites.
Following a review carried out by a Park Homes Working Group in 1998, some of the short-comings identified were addressed by the Housing Act 2004. Concerns around malpractice in the park homes sector persisted. These focused on complaints about unfair fees and charges; poor standards of maintenance; and site owners obstructing the ability of home owners to sell. The Labour Government conducted a further consultation exercise in 2009, following which detailed proposals to strengthen the site licensing system were set out in Park homes site licensing reform: The way forward and next steps. These measures were not implemented prior to the 2010 General Election.
The Coalition Government published A better deal for mobile home owners on 16 April 2012. The Communities and Local Government Select Committee conducted an inquiry into the park homes industry and published its report, Park Homes, in June 2012. The Committee found “widespread malpractice” in the sector and concluded that the existing legislative framework was “inadequate.”
Following a review carried out by a Park Homes Working Group in 1998, some of the short-comings identified were addressed by the Housing Act 2004. Concerns around malpractice in the park homes sector persisted. These focused on complaints about unfair fees and charges; poor standards of maintenance; and site owners obstructing the ability of home owners to sell. The Labour Government conducted a further consultation exercise in 2009, following which detailed proposals to strengthen the site licensing system were set out in Park homes site licensing reform: The way forward and next steps. These measures were not implemented prior to the 2010 General Election.
The Coalition Government published A better deal for mobile home owners on 16 April 2012. The Communities and Local Government Select Committee conducted an inquiry into the park homes industry and published its report, Park Homes, in June 2012. The Committee found “widespread malpractice” in the sector and concluded that the existing legislative framework was “inadequate.”
The Mobile Homes Act 2013
After drawing fifth place in the 2012 Private Members’ Bill ballot, Peter Aldous used this opportunity to introduce the Mobile Homes Bill 2012-13. The Bill secured Government support and amended the existing legislation to strengthen the protection offered to mobile home owners. The Mobile Homes Act received Royal Assent on 26 March 2013. The 2013 Act implemented many of the proposals contained in A better deal for mobile home owners and recommendations made by the Communities and Local Government Select Committee in Park Homes. The Coalition Government issued detailed guidance on the rights and obligations of site and mobile home owners. In addition, the remit of the Leasehold Advisory Service was extended to provide free information and advice to “owners of mobile homes, site owners, local authority officers or anyone else with a question about the law on park homes.”
Continuing concerns
Despite legislative activity in this area, mobile home owners are not content that all of their issues have been resolved. For example, there is particular dissatisfaction about the continuation of the requirement to pay a commission fee of 10% on the sale price of a mobile home to the site owner. A separate Library Briefing Paper, 7003, Mobile (park homes): 10% commission on sales provides detailed information on this charge.
Mobile homes Policy Review 2017
As noted above, mobile home owners are not content that all of their issues have been resolved.
In 2015, the Government set up a Park Homes Working Group “to identify evidence of poor practice where it exists, and investigate how best to raise standards and further tackle abuse”. The Group, which included national resident groups and industry trade bodies, concluded its work and put forward its recommendations to Government.
The 2015 Conservative Government launched a two-part review of park homes legislation in April 2017. Part 1 of the review concerned wider practices in the park home sector and called for evidence on: the fairness of charges; the transparency of site ownership; and experience of harassment. The call for evidence closed on 27 May 2017. Part 2 of the review, which was to be published at a later date, was aimed at gathering evidence around the effectiveness of the Mobile Homes Act 2013.
In 2015, the Government set up a Park Homes Working Group “to identify evidence of poor practice where it exists, and investigate how best to raise standards and further tackle abuse”. The Group, which included national resident groups and industry trade bodies, concluded its work and put forward its recommendations to Government.
The 2015 Conservative Government launched a two-part review of park homes legislation in April 2017. Part 1 of the review concerned wider practices in the park home sector and called for evidence on: the fairness of charges; the transparency of site ownership; and experience of harassment. The call for evidence closed on 27 May 2017. Part 2 of the review, which was to be published at a later date, was aimed at gathering evidence around the effectiveness of the Mobile Homes Act 2013.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Housing policy is a devolved matter in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each of the devolved Nations has introduced specific legislation to regulate activities on residential mobile home sites. The Welsh Government has said it intends to act on recommendations contained in research into the economics of the park home industry. Consultation on commission fees on the sale of park homes in Wales in underway (closing on 17 August 2017).
Commons Briefing papers SN01080
Authors: Wendy Wilson; Hannah Cromarty
Topics: Housing, Owner occupation
Authors: Wendy Wilson; Hannah Cromarty
Topics: Housing, Owner occupation
Download the full report
Mobile (park) homes ( 
PDF, 751.67 KB)
Mobile (park) homes ( PDF, 751.67 KB)
PDF, 751.67 KB)Supporting documents
The Mobile Homes Act 2013 ( PDF, 176.44 KB)
The Mobile Homes Act 2013 ( PDF, 176.44 KB)
PDF, 176.44 KB)CONTINUING TO PUSH THE 10% FORWARD
A meeting of the Working Group is to be held soon to discuss the scope of the 2017 review. As I will have just undergone an operation I will be physically unable to attend; however, the DCLG have very kindly organised teleconferencing so that I can take part in the meeting. I am very thankful to them for this as it will ensure that I can voice what I know Justice Campaign members think about the points on the table and I will do my best to make sure that your voice is heard. Therefore, I have now sent the following letter to the Housing Minister. Thank you to all who helped me to put together the revenue/income statistics of site owners. These have now been done and whilst anecdotal, do show the vast levels of income they enjoy. A copy has gone to the Housing Minister and all sitting MPs will receive copies. I am not allowed to make them public as I have named names and parks - but the people that need to know and can help us, are getting copies.
Thanks go to Paul Baker of PB insurance for his financial support of these statistics.
LETTER JUST SENT TO THE HOUSING MINISTER RE: 10%
The Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign
President: Lord Graham of Edmonton
Founder: Sonia McColl OBE
Dear Minister
Firstly, may I convey my warm congratulations on your appointment as Housing Minister and the hope that in the scope of the impending 2017 review you will agree to progress the need for an Independent and Transparent Review of the 10% Commission Charge. This charge is currently paid to the Site Owner when a resident's property is sold. In addition a change from RPI to CPI on the pitch fee increase that park home residents pay on a monthly basis is also required. This is already in operation in Wales and as fairness to all is a pledge of this government, we ask that CPI (which is the increase by which the residents pensions increase) is adopted in England.
Whilst I believe the scope of the 2017 review is to look at the effectiveness of the Mobile Homes Act 2013, may I respectfully bring to your attention the park homes debate in the House of Commons on 30th October 2014 when all MPs unanimously voted for an Independent and Transparent Review of the 10% commission charge.
HANSARD. " Question put and agreed to - Resolved "That this House calls on the Government to set up a review of the current fee of up to 10% of the sale price of a park home."
The Minister, Brandon Lewis MP said: : "He would be very happy for the working group, under its own auspices to consider a wider review of the issues that were raised today" when putting forward recommendations for the 2017 review of the new legislation. (THE ISSUES RAISED WERE THE 10% COMMISSION CHARGE.)
At the invitation of the Minister, I, Sonia McColl, founder of the JUSTICE Campaign was invited to be a member of that Working Group and although I tabled the 10% issue at the working group, it was largely ignored. Why? because the Industries trade bodies, who were also members of that group were never going to recommend the Independent Transparent Review that all the debating MP's had requested. THEREFORE, NO AGREEMENT OF RECOMMENDATION WAS EVER - OR - COULD HAVE EVER BEEN REACHED. The subject was effectively side stepped by the Minister and disposed of an awkward problem - which was not the will of the voting Parliamentarians.
At the last All Party Parliamentary Group Meeting for Park Homes; the Minister Gavin Barlow said that the 10% commission would not be part of the 2017 review. I was able to direct the Minister to HANSARD (as quoted above) and the unanimous vote of the Parliamentarians.
THE MINISTER THEN AGREED TO RECONSIDER.
Following the last election, Mr. Barwell was not re-elected, however, after making some progress with your predecessors I now hope to continue that progress with your good self and look to you to make sure that the 10% Commission Charge (as voted for by Parliamentarians) is set out in the scope of the 2017 Review along with the change from RPI to CPI on the pitch fee.
A little Background Information to keep you fully informed.
Following the initial rally/presentation to Downing Street of in excess of 30,000 signed petitions from park home residents throughout the length and breadth of our country and a meeting in the Palace of Westminster with MPs and Peers; a debate was held in the House of Commons on the 30th October 2014. That debate was led by the then MP Dame Annette Brooke OBE with many MPs and the Housing Minister Brandon Lewis MP present. It was unanimously agreed by all MPs that an Independent and Transparent Review of the 10% Commission Charge should take place and was quoted as such in Hansard.
A Further Three Nations Rally organised by the Justice Campaign took place in March 2017. Following that rally and further presentation of signed petitions to Downing Street a meeting took place in Portcullis House. Many MP's and Peers attended and much support was given verbally and in writing for the Independent and Transparent Review that we are requesting.
A further change of Government has ensued and the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign and its Park-help-Line continues to receive distressing calls from Residents who feel TRAPPED in their homes because after giving 10% of their equity from the sale of their homes; they can only afford to move into a cheaper home of inferior quality. Park home ownership is generally for the retired person; those who need to sell their home to move into care are also seriously limited to the amount and quality of care they can afford. The Justice Campaign is constantly urged by park home residents to continue the 10% fight against this outdated and inequitable charge.
Many Site Owners live in mansions, drive luxury cars, fly helicopters and are prominent in the "Rich List." Cash strapped residents watch on TV as a certain site owner who owns in excess of 40 parks flaunts his luxury mansion, expensive cars and purports to have a 250 million pound fortune while still requiring 10% of home owners equity when they sell their homes - and he is not alone. There are many just like him and even the smallest site owner is a millionaire in land value.
I have attached an anecdotal statistics of the income and revenue of the site owners that has been produced from a questionnaire provided to park home residents. It names the Parks, Park Owners (some of whom are on the rich list) and gives a good indication of the revenue in question. Whilst these anecdotal statistics cannot be published in the public domain, the income and revenue statistics will be provided to every sitting MP as we seek to bring fairness to the 10% Commission Charge.
The Industry states the 10% Commission Fee is a necessary income strand for the site owners business, without which businesses would flounder. Residents challenge this statement and demand proof of the likely business failure.
Site owners do absolutely nothing for the 10% that home owners are forced to pay them when they sell their home. The average Park Home will sell for two hundred thousand pounds - that produces a gift to the park owner of twenty thousand pounds. On the initial sale of the average home, site owners will make at least 60.000 pounds profit. When the home is sold they receive 10% of their own profit. (WHERE IS THE FAIRNESS IN THAT?)
The Prime Minister regularly informs us of her Governments pledge of fairness to all. PENSIONER Park Home Owners demand PROOF THAT MILLIONAIRS NEED their equity to prevent their businesses from failing. They want the Independent and Transparent Review of the 10% charge that MPs called for in the 2014 debate and it needs to include sight of the site owners certified audited accounts. I feel sure that you will agree that only a thorough investigation by Government will provide proof that site owners such as the millionaire with a two hundred and fifty million pound fortune will suffer without 10% of the pensioners equity. It should also be know that certain supposed cash strapped Site owners are now sponsoring TV programmes. I am told that "Posh Pawn" is one of them.
No previous review has ever done a thorough independent inspection that looked at certified proof of accounting. At a recent PACEC review in Wales, site owners were provided with a form and asked to fill it in. Therefore, that report was part based on the site owners honesty!!! as they could write exactly what they liked with no given proof. A fact referred to by researchers of that report.
Our petition signed by park home owners from over 1000 parks demands an Independent, Transparent Review of the 10% Commission Charge with sight of the site owners certified accounting - along with a change from RPI to CPI on the annual increase to the pitch fee.
The Welsh Government are already leading the way and have already accepted the change from RPI to CPI on the pitch fee increase that is inline with the CPI increase to residents pensions. They are also consulting on the 10% commission charge.
Therefore, as the new Housing Minister, I would respectfully ask you to honour the will of the MPs who voted for an Independent and transparent review of the 10% commission charge on the 30th October 2014 and in addition the many MPs who, since the last Three Nations Rally organised by the Justice Campaign in March 2017 have added their names to those MPs already calling for this review.
May I ask that you please reconsider the Hansard Vote and the will of Parliamentarians at the October 2014 park homes debate and allow the 10% commission charge to be included in the scope of the 2017 review of the park home industry.
Thank you for reading this email. I look forward to hearing from you in due course and will be happy to provide any further information that you may need. The attached Income/Revenue Stats at the bottom of this email are sent to you in confidence and will be sent to every sitting MP.
Yours Sincerely
Sonia McColl
Sonia McColl OBE Founder of the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign
Tel: 01929 553110. email: sonia.mccoll.phojc@gmail.com Web Site: www.parkhomeownersjusticecampa
THREE NATIONS PROTEST RALLY
The Park Home Owners JUSTICE
Campaign
President: Lord Graham of Edmonton.
Founder: Sonia McColl OBE
Sadly, following the election results it is with much regret that our
Vice President Natascha Engel
has lost her seat.
On behalf of our JUSTICE Campaign
sincere thanks are sent in recognition of Natascha's
unstinting help to Park Home Residents
and we wish her well for the future.
Our Campaign to change the 10% Commission Charge continues
and when the new Government is firmly in place, we will continue to push forward
and every MP will be provided with NEW information that has been prepared
by your JUSTICE Campaign.
This photo of Lord Graham (fondly known as Lord Ted) was taken today 8th June 2017 exclusively for the JUSTICE Campaign by Susan Mintram-Mason
Sue, a stalwart member of our JUSTICE Campaign visited Lord Ted today and I am told they had a lovely chat. Lord Ted told Sue that he will always do all that he can to help our campaign and certainly answered the questions that I had passed to Sue for Lord Ted's advice.
Sue lives in close proximity to Lord Ted and I am told she will be visiting again and taking her beautiful Labrador as those dogs are a firm favourite of Lord Ted.
Looking extremely well, Lord Ted continues to want to know everything that our JUSTICE Campaign is doing and we are so lucky to receive his valuable help and advice; we will of course keep him fully informed of all JUSTICE Campaign business
Lord Ted expressed his thanks for the many get well messages that he has received and has said that in due course he will answer them all.
GOVERNMENT CALL FOR EVIDENCE
You have until the 27th May to take part in this consultation and a copy of the Consultation Document is available at:
Many of you have contacted me because you were understandably concerned at providing your name to the evidence you may give in the consultation. I have emailed the DCLG with regard to this. The DCLG have stated that you should have no fears in providing your name to any evidence you may give. Your submission will only be seen by DCLG and NO members of the Working Group, APPG or the Industry will have sight of your submission. If any of your evidence is used, all personal names will be redacted.
You have also asked what the section in the consultation paper regarding FAIRNESS OF CHARGES means - and if it includes the 10% commission charge.
Although that section does not specifically mention the 10% commission charge, I strongly recommend that you add your feelings on the 10% charge to anything that you might write in your submission regarding FAIRNESS OF CHARGES. I say this because in answer to my letter to the Minister following our rally in London, which asked the Minister for an Independent and Transparent Review of the Commission Charge with sight of the site owners certified accounting - and following my comments to the Minister at the APPG which reminded him of the 30th October debate in 2014 when MPs unanimously voted (without division) for an Independent and Transparent review of the commission charge, as reported in HANSARD - I received on 26th April the following letter from the Minister's office.
Dear Ms McColl
Thank you for your email of 22nd March to Gavin Barwell MP about the commission paid to a park home site owner on the sale of a mobile home. I have been asked to reply.
The Minister has noted your concerns in addition to your comments raised at the recent APPG meeting. As you are aware, as part of the review of the Mobile Homes Act 2013 the Government has published a call for evidence on fairness of charges, the transparency of site ownership and on experience of harassment.
From the Minister's above reply; although the consultation document does not specifically mention the 10% Commission Charge. I strongly recommend that you include reference of your views on the 10% Commission in the section that deals with FAIRNESS OF CHARGES and the need to change the RPI pitch fee increase to CPI (which is inline with your pension increase.)
Many of you have contacted me to say that the wording of the consultation document is not very easy to understand. Certainly if you are members of IPHAS or NAPHR and feeling a little unsure of the wording of the consultation document, may I suggest that you ask for their help if there are areas that you are not entirely sure about.
Due to the effort that all Justice Campaign Members have made, our 10% Rally and call for the change from RPI to CPI on the Pitch Fee Review went very well and many MPs supported us. Now, until the general election is over, we can only wait to see which MPs will be re-instated and then target them again.
However, before our Rally; RPI to CPI was definitely not on the table and the 10% Commission Charge had been effectively buried. Together, we have turned that around and I hope you will agree that it is now very important that we all put our views forward to the requested questions in Part 1 of the consultation as this will no doubt be our last chance to do so. (Don't worry if you can not answer all the questions - but please do put forward the 10% and RPI to CPI as we must not give them any opportunity to say that you did not respond regarding those topics.
Apart from trying to convince the MP candidates - who will be calling on you - about our need for their support (if elected) of the 10% and RPI to CPI issues, there is little that we can do until after the general election - and I will write to you with a full update of the information that your JUSTICE Campaign will be sending to all the elected MPs.
If you do have a problem or want to talk to someone in confidence, please call our
Park-help-Line on 02038466601.
Our Free, Friendly and confidential service is open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Park-help-Line is sponsored by Paul Baker of PB Insurance Services. You can call for a free insurance quote on 0800 0385033 and if you mention that you are a member of the Justice Campaign you will get a 15% discount.
Although our JUSTICE Campaign is not political, may I take this opportunity to thank our Vice President Natascha Engel for her valued assistance to our JUSTICE Campaign. Natascha was the MP for N.E. Derbyshire and I am sure that as our Vice President, we all hope that she will retain her seat in the coming election.
Sonia
PLEASE NOTE
As from 2nd May 2017
The New Email Address
for the JUSTICE Campaign will be:
MP's attending the contentious 10% Commission Charge Meeting
in Portcullis House on 21st March 2017
gave important advice to
PARK HOME RESIDENTS
who voiced concerns that their MP's and Local Authorities
did nothing to help them with their
problems arising from Site Owners not fulfilling their obligations
regarding Park Home Living.
Many JUSTICE Campaign MEMBERS said they were fed up with being fobbed off by MP's and Local Authorities.
They were told by attending MP's
that they were NOW a very strong lobbying group and to
NAME AND SHAME THEM.
Our Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign applauds those MP's
and
whilst it will be vitally important for residents to show evidence of this lack of support by MP's and Local Authorities
IT IS TIME FOR YOU ALL TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MEDIA IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO YOU
AND DO AS THE MP's SAY.
NAME AND SHAME THEM.
THE COMMITTEE MEETING IN THE
TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED WITH THE NECESSARY IDENTIFICATION
Any Park Home Residents who still wish to come to London
If you should wish to attend the Rally's in Cardiff or Scotland
the Welsh and Scottish Co-ordinators.
Press Release.
Press Release.
The THREE NATIONS PROTEST RALLY (England , Scotland and Wales
Organised by Sonia McColl OBE, founder of the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign
At 11.30am on the 21st March 2017, hundreds of retired park home owners will PROTEST outside of Downing Street when their petition to challenge the 10% commission charge paid to site owners on the sale of a park home is delivered to number 10 at 12 noon. Conservative MP for Christchurch, Christopher Chope OBE who is also the Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Park Homes will accompany Sonia McColl and Park Home Owners for the presentation.
At 12.15, protesting banner waving retired park home owners from every part of our country will march (some in wheelchairs) to the Palace of Westminster East Derbyshire and Deputy Speaker.
Pensioner park home owners on static incomes that increase by CPI will attend this meeting and voice their views to MP's on the 10% Commission Charge (that TRAPS them in their homes) and call for their ground rent increase to change from RPI to CPI. A CPI increase is already enjoyed by(Park home owners in Wales
Simultaneously to the London Protest; under the banner of the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign, park home owners in Wales and Scotland will protest and attend Committee Room meetings in Cardiff
Background
In 2014 the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign - who initiated the need to stop "Sale Blocking" by site owners which ultimately brought about the New Mobile Homes Act 2013 (as amended) - delivered its first petition for an Independent Transparent Review of the 10% Commission Charge to Downing Street. A Commons debate led by Dame Annette Brooke OBE took place on 30th October 2014. MP's voted unanimously for an Independent and Transparent Review of the Charge.
HANSARD QUOTED. " Question put and agreed to - Resolved "That this House calls on the Government to set up a review of the current fee of up to 10% of the sale price of a park home."
The Minister side stepped the issue saying: "He would be very happy for the working group, under its own auspices to consider a wider review of the issues that were raised today" when putting forward recommendations for the 2017 review of the new legislation.
This was not what MP's had unanimously requested. Sonia McColl. founder of the JUSTICE Campaign was invited to be a member of that Working Group. Although she tabled the 10% issue, it was largely ignored. Why? because the Industries trade bodies, as members of that group were never going to recommend the Independent Transparent Review that all the debating MP's had requested. Therefore no agreement was ever or could have ever been reached. The subject -effectively side stepped by the Minister - disposed of an awkward problem.
A change of Government ensued and all that MP's and thousands of park home owners had worked for on the 10% issue would be effectively buried - but the Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign and its Park-help-Line continued to receive distressing calls from Residents who felt TRAPPED in their homes because after giving 10% of their equity from the sale of their homes; they could only afford to move into a cheaper home of inferior quality. Park home ownership is generally for the retired person; those who need to sell their home to move into care are also seriously limited to the amount and quality of care they can afford. The Campaign was urged by residents to continue the 10% fight against this outdated and inequitable charge.
Many Site Owners live in mansions, drive luxury cars, fly helicopters and are prominent in the "Rich List." Cash strapped residents watch on TV as a certain site owner who owns in excess of 40 parks flaunts his luxury mansion, expensive cars and purports to have a 250 million pound fortune while still requiring 10% of home owners equity when they sell their homes - and he is not alone. There are many just like him and even the smallest site owner is a millionaire in land value.
The Industry states the 10% Commission Fee is a necessary income strand for the site owners business, without which businesses would flounder.
Residents challenge this statement and demand proof of the likely business failure. Site owners do absolutely nothing for the 10% that home owners are forced to pay them when they sell their home. The average Park Home will sell for two hundred thousand pounds - that produces a gift to the park owner of twenty thousand pounds. On the initial sale of the average home, site owners will make at least 60.000 pounds profit. When the home is sold they receive 10% of their own profit.
PENSIONER Park Home Owners demand PROOF THAT MILLIONAIRS NEED their equity to prevent their businesses from failing. They want an Independent and Transparent Review of the 10% charge that includes sight of the site owners certified audited accounts. Only a thorough investigation by Government will provide proof that site owners such as the millionaire with a two hundred and fifty million pound fortune will suffer without 10% of the pensioners equity.
No previous review has ever done a thorough independent inspection that looked at certified proof of accounting; At a recent PACEC review in Wales
Our petition signed by park home owners from over 1000 parks demands an Independent, Transparent Review of the 10% Commission Charge with sight of the site owners certified accounting - along with a change from RPI to CPI on the annual increase to the pitch fee.
Sadly, because I have heard that Site Owners have threatened to pull their advertising from certain industry magazines if they publish our protest rally, they will not report fully on this subject.
This is an affront to the elderly Park Home Owner who is being ripped of by an Industry that wants to paint a very different glossy picture of park home living.
That is why the Park Home Owners of England , Scotland and Wales
WARM HOME DISCOUNT ANNOUNCEMENT
Last winter Charis Grants administered a government backed pilot scheme which gave park home residents the chance to apply for a £140 rebate for their electricity bill.
More than 1600 park home residents received rebates last year (including many supporters of the Justice Campaign).
From 5th December 2016 the scheme will be open again for applications, including those people who received an award from the pilot scheme earlier in the year.
For more information about the scheme and to apply for your £140 rebate, please visit www.parkhomeswhd.com or call the Charis team of dedicated agents on 0330 380 1040.
More than 1600 park home residents received rebates last year (including many supporters of the Justice Campaign).
From 5th December 2016 the scheme will be open again for applications, including those people who received an award from the pilot scheme earlier in the year.
For more information about the scheme and to apply for your £140 rebate, please visit www.parkhomeswhd.com or call the Charis team of dedicated agents on 0330 380 1040.
President of the National Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign
The Rt. Hon. Lord Graham of Edmonton (Lord Ted)
Quoting Hilaire Belloc.
26th March 2013
Such a bitter/sweet day. The day we had all worked for. The day when Her Majesty the Queen gave Royal Assent to the Bill. The day that brought about the legislation to stop “Sale Blocking” and the day we received the new Mobile Homes Act 2013 (as amended.) A momentous day for all Park Home Residents – but I have to say that it was a day I will never forget and I can honestly say that I had no thoughts on that day of the Bill that had consumed my days for some years. It was sadly the day my husband Tony McColl - who was the rock behind me and the mountain behind our JUSTICE Campaign - passed away.
From the many cards received, I found comfort in the messages from park home residents throughout our country and the simple words of Lord Best will remain with me: “Tony’s name will be forever enshrined with the Mobile Homes Act 2013.”
Since that day (as Tony would have wished) our JUSTICE Campaign has listened to the plea from so many residents who asked if we could try to do something about the 10% commission charge - and we are trying to do something about it.
We have already delivered a 30,000 plus petition to Downing Street and this was followed by a debate in Parliament in October 2014; when all MP’s unanimously voted for an independent transparent review of this charge. Sadly, the Minister did not grant this (but after all, he is only one man) and we are not going to accept this; notwithstanding that we now have a new Housing Minister. We had to fight to get “sale blocking” stopped and we will have to fight to get justice on this front.
Sadly, there has been some scaremongering that if we should get a reduction or an abolishment of the 10% that it would be added to the pitch fee.
This is absolute rubbish because if MP’s know that an independent body - after completing a transparent review of the 10% (which looks into the audited accounting of park owners) - then declares that the 10% is not the necessary income strand without which the site owners business’s would go bankrupt; they would have no grounds to make any additions to your pitch fee. AND LETS NOT FORGET THE MANY SITE OWNERS WHO FLAUNT THEIR WEALTH ON TELEVISION, FLY HELECOPTERS, LIVE IN MANSIONS, OWN MANY PARKS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND DRIVE LUXURY CARS. They are not reliant on 10% of your equity (which is also a totally unquantifiable charge as no one can guarantee how many homes would be sold in any one year.) We must also not forget the site owners of single parks. They are not poor as many purport to be; and I would take a guess that all are millionaires simply in the value of their land.
So, it is put our best foot forward. Our fellow park home owners in Wales have already obtained a transparent review of the 10% charge and are awaiting the outcome. Their pitch fees also rise by CPI (which is what our pensions increase by) and not RPI which we in England have to endure. Therefore, we are asking Government to do the right thing by us and change the rise in our annual pitch fees from the current RPI to CPI.
However, we must keep the pressure up and to that end; if you have not already signed the 10% petition, please download it from this site and get all your friends and relatives to sign. The closing date for this petition is August 31st 2016.
Following this. The presentation of this petition will take place at Downing Street in the spring of 2017. This is being arranged with the police and a rally of banner waving park home residents will accompany it to the Palace of Westminster. Not only will this be a fun day; but more importantly, it will show those at Westminster that we are not going away. I believe this is the only way forward. We have done it before and together we can do it again – but it will need park home residents from every part of our country to make the effort and come to London and I will publish the actual date on the 10% page of our JUSTICE Campaign as soon as it is confirmed.
For the moment, our story lingers here and hopefully, very soon, the final chapter can be added. One which I hope will see justice for all park home residents. A change from RPI to CPI and a change in the crippling, outdated and inequitable 10% commission charge.
