Resolving disputes with the site owner

Your pitch agreement is the agreement between you and the site owner that sets out your legal rights and responsibilities. It includes a standard set of rights, known as the implied terms. These cover things like:

• your right to “quiet enjoyment” of your home and pitch without unnecessary interference from the site owner
• your rights if you sell or give away your park home
• rules about how your pitch fee can increase
• the site owner’s responsibilities for maintaining the site and providing services

There may also be site rules that residents must follow. The site owner is responsible for enforcing the site rules, but they do not have to follow the rules themselves, even if they live on the site.

The site will also have licence conditions, set by the local council, that the site owner must meet.

Check if the site owner is breaking any of the terms of your pitch agreement or the site licence conditions.

It’s important to keep records about the issue, including:

• dates and times of incidents
• any communications you have with the site owner
• photos if appropriate

Keeping good records is helpful if the problem continues or gets worse, or if you need to take formal legal action.

It’s usually best to try to resolve the problem informally with the site owner first.

Contact the site owner and:

• tell them what your concerns are
• explain which rules you think are being broken
• tell them what action you want them to take, such as making repairs
• ask how long it will take for them to resolve the issue

Check if your site owner has a process to use for reporting issues or making complaints.

You could also get help resolving the issue by going to your residents’ association if there is one - particularly if other park home owners are also affected.

If you cannot reach agreement with the site owner you could try mediation. This is where an impartial professional (mediator) helps both sides work out an agreement. You may have to pay for this.

Ask your local council if they provide a mediation service. You can also find a mediation service on the Civil Mediation Council website.

If raising your concerns with the site owner has not worked, the next step will depend on what this issue is.

Reporting a problem to the local council

Your local council can take action if the site owner is:

• breaking the conditions of the site licence, such as not maintaining the site properly
• interfering with your rights to sell your home (sale blocking)

Find out how to report a problem to the local council

Taking legal action

If the dispute is about your rights as a park home owner under the Mobile Homes Act 1983 or the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013, you can apply to a tribunal.

The tribunal can settle a range of disputes about park homes, including site repairs, pitch fees, site rules and any issues relating to your pitch agreement.

You may want to get advice from a solicitor first. Sometimes they can help resolve a problem without going to the tribunal, for example by writing a formal letter to the site owner. They can also advise on whether a tribunal application is likely to be successful.

The tribunal process is designed to be accessible and informal. You may have to pay a fee, but you can get help with fees if you’re on a low income.

You’ll need to apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) in England, or the Residential Property Tribunal in Wales.

Find out more: tribunals for park home cases

Withholding an increase in your pitch fee

If you think the site’s condition or services have got worse, you could refuse to pay the proposed increase in your pitch fee when it’s next reviewed. You must continue to pay the current pitch fee, but you can withhold any increase.

Explain to the site owner why you disagree with the increase. This could help prompt them to fix problems with the site.

Find out more about pitch fee reviews