Meeting The Minister

Tuesday 20 November 2007

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Hopes of national residents’ association representatives were dashed when Iain Wright MP, the new Minister for Housing addressed the All Party Group for the Welfare of Park Home Residents in late November.

 He claimed that the problems with the new legislation were ‘teething troubles’ and needed more time for ‘bedding down’. He also told the Group that there was nothing in the Housing and Regeneration Bill about park homes (something that many interested parties had hoped would be a means whereby rules about site licensing would be dealt with).

 He disappointed them, too, on the subject of commission. He stressed that the decision to keep the rate at 10% on the sale of park homes was based solely on evidence provided in response to the consultation exercise.

Hearing that there were difficulties concerning park owners’ recognition of residents’ associations, he put this down to ‘teething troubles’ too, but acknowledged that residents’ associations on parks had vital roles to play. He even implied that the current legislation was sufficiently robust to deal with unscrupulous park owners and that there was no need to bring the Mobile Homes Act within the scope of criminal law.

 There was a little good news, though. First of all, the long-awaited revised Model Standards (which relate to such things as the layout of parks, provision of facilities, services and equipment) are to be issued in 2008. These are taken into account by local authorities when considering what (if any) conditions should be attached to site licences. Iain Wright said that a final version of the revised Standard and associated guidance would be available for consultation early in the New Year with publication before March 2008.

The most significant good news concerned the current practice of residents having to go to court to obtain redress against park owners. Iain Wright fully appreciated that this course was expensive, time-consuming and stressful for residents and said he would explore alternative dispute resolution system (through the Residential Property Tribunal Service) and he hoped to have that in place by April 2009.

 There were 33 MPs present at the meeting and most related details of instances on parks in their constituencies where park owners had been guilty of unscrupulous and unfair behaviour towards their residents.

 IPHAS was represented at this meeting by Alan Savory who gave the Minister a list of the areas where rogue park owners were exploiting loopholes in the new legislation. Alan expressed disappointment that there was nothing in the Housing and Regeneration Bill about park homes. ‘We hoped to get something about site licensing for “fit and proper” persons to own parks and a change in the wording to impose a “duty” on local authorities to enforce site licence conditions,’ he said.

Ros Pritchard from the British Holiday & Home Parks Association welcomed the news concerning the setting up of a tribunal for settling disputes. She added that ‘rogue’ park owners should not be allowed to get away with their activities but that regulations should not be so harsh that good park owners were deterred from buying and running parks in future.

Following the meeting Alan Savory paid tribute to all IPHAS members who had contacted their MPs and Lord Graham about the various ways in which some park owners were exploiting the new legislation to their own advantage. He added that the number of MPs attending this meeting was very encouraging and their input would certainly have alerted the attention of Iain Wright and his Department to the fact that the problems experienced by residents were not ‘teething troubles’ needing ‘time for bedding down’ but were very acute and needed urgent action.

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PARK HOMES

The All Party Group meeting held on Tuesday 20 November in the House of Lords was attended by the Minister for Park Homes, Iain Wright MP. There was a very full turnout of Members of Parliament and I can tell you that as the meeting went on for 1½ hours it gave all present the opportunity to give the Minister their views.

Now, I want to be very open with you and your fellow residents. I sincerely believe that the Minister wants to see the end of practices under which you suffer and that he is determined to work with his officials and all others to see if easement can be obtained. This will take time, but our meeting on 20 November was a start.  ALL submissions from you and other residents have been forwarded to the Park Homes Department.

 What to do now? Many of you had already contacted your local Member of Parliament and in many cases he or she was or is actively seeking to alleviate your problems. You will see that the Minister lays great store on hearing from Members of Parliament on behalf of their constituents and, as a former constituency MP, I can assure you that YOUR Member of Parliament is best placed to advance your views. USE THEM! If you are able to well-brief them they will be invaluable in your onward dispute (if any) with your Park Home owners and, as your conduit to the Minister, he or she will be helping the Minister to make progress towards solving some of your problems. .

The All Party Parliamentary Group meets next year after the New Year, and we will be making progress reports flowing from the actions taken by, amongst others, the Minister and his officials. It would be enormously helpful if you could encourage your local Member of Parliament to attend our meetings, notice of which is sent direct to those registered with me as interested in Park Home matters and, for others, notice is given on the All Party Whip which is circulated to every Member of Parliament.

 PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO KEEP ME INFORMED, BUT YOUR BEST AVENUE FOR ACTION WILL COME FROM A CLOSE LIAISON BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.  BE ASSURED THAT YOU HAVE FRIENDS AT WESTMINSTER WHO CARE FOR YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBOURS.  WE SHALL OVERCOME!  BEST WISHES

Yours Sincerely,

Lord Graham

Secretary

All Party Parliamentary Group for Park Homes