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Keeping your park home on its pitch

Your agreement with the park owner to keep your home on your pitch continues as long as you want unless:

• the park owner only has temporary planning permission
• the park owner has a ‘limited interest’ in the land, meaning they do not own it and are only leasing it for a certain time period
• a court or arbitrator decides the park owner can end your agreement – there are specific reasons the park owner would have to prove

You can end your agreement with the park owner at any time, as long as you give them 28 days notice.

If your agreement ends, you can get back what you have paid for pitch fees or charges that cover the time period after your agreement ends.

If the park owner does not own the land or have planning permission

If the park owner does not own the land the mobile home park sits on, but rents (‘leases’) it from someone, your agreement with them can only last as long as their lease.

If the park owner’s planning permission is only temporary, then the agreement you have with them can only be temporary.

If the park owner’s lease or planning permission is extended, your agreement should be extended as well.

If the park owner wants to end your agreement

The park owner can only bring your agreement to an end if a court gives them permission. The reasons (‘grounds’) they can ask a court to consider are:

• you are not using the park home as your only or main residence
• the condition of your home has a damaging effect on the park – the court may give you a chance to make repairs before they make a decision
• you have broken a term of your agreement – before applying to a court or arbitrator, the park owner must let you know what you have done and a give you a chance to put things right

A park owner can’t end your agreement without going to court for one of the reasons listed above and the court (or arbitrator) decides it is a reasonable thing to do. The park owner must also get an eviction order from a court before they tell you to leave.

If you think you may lose your home, you should get independent advice. You can contact the housing charity Shelter or Community Legal Advice to get help.

• Owning a park home - your rights and obligations

• Get free advice and find a solicitor in your area Opens new window

• Get housing advice - Shelter helpline Opens new window

If the park owner wants to move your home to a new pitch

The park owner can move your home to another pitch (known as ‘re-siting’) for necessary repairs and emergency works. They can only move your home for the time it takes to do the work. They can move your home for:

• repairs to the base where your park home sits
• works or repairs necessary to meet legal requirements, for example, licensing conditions set out by the local authority
• works or repairs needed because of damage caused by floods, landslides or other natural disasters

The only other way a park owner can move your home to another pitch is if they get permission from the court.

If the park owner moves your home, they must move your home to a similar pitch and pay any of your moving costs.

Changes in park ownership

Your agreement will not change if the mobile home park where you live changes ownership. You will still have the same terms in your written statement if the park owner sells the park or dies.

Entering your pitch – rules for the park owner

The park owner (or their staff) can only enter your pitch for certain reasons. They can enter your pitch to:

• deliver mail or other notices or to read meters (for example electricity) they are responsible for – they must only enter from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm
• carry out essential repairs and emergency works – they should give you as much notice as possible

If the park owner needs to enter your pitch for any other reason, they must give you 14 days notice in writing and give the date, time and the reason for the visit.

Harassment and violence by the park owner

It is a crime for the park owner to force you to leave your home if they do not have a court order.

It is also against the law for a park owner to:

• threaten or intimidate you
• stop you from entering or living in your home
• stop services, like water, gas or electricity
• carry out any other type of harassment

In an emergency, you should ring 999 for the police. You can contact Community Legal Advice, a Citizens Advice Bureau or charities like Shelter or Age UK if you think you are being harassed or have questions.

Certain kinds of harassment which are carried out to discourage residents from exercising their rights, or to force them to give up living in their homes, are offences under the Caravan Sites Act 1968. Such actions should be reported to the local council, which has the power to investigate and prosecute under the 1968 Act.

• Contact your local council Opens new window

• Get free advice and find a solicitor in your area - Community Legal Advice Opens new window

• Find your local Citizens Advice Bureau Opens new window

More useful links

• Get housing advice - Shelter helpline Opens new window

• Get advice from Age UK Opens new window

• Independent Park Home Advisory Service Opens new window

• National Association of Park Home Residents Opens new window