Bath MP Wera Hobhouse has renewed calls alongside local councillor Alison Born for the Government to intervene to prevent park home residents from facing soaring pitch fees.
A static home | Library image
Park homes residents, like those in Quarry Rock Gardens in Bath, are currently facing high pitch fees because of the way they are calculated.
Park homes are moveable homes in England that are placed permanently on private land.
The residents pay a pitch fee to the site owner which allows them to keep their home there.
Over 85,000 households in England live in park homes, and the majority of residents are over the age of 60.
Pitch fees are linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) rather than the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The Retail Price Index increases faster, leaving park homes residents facing increasing pitch fees during the cost-of-living crisis.
The Government previously said it would change the way pitch fees are calculated, committing to ‘introduce the required legislation when the parliamentary timetable allows’. This has already been done in Scotland and Wales.
The renewed calls come after the Government announced measures to support families living in rental or park homes.
Park Homes residents will receive the £400 grant from the Government plus equivalent price cap support through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme.
The Government has not yet announced how this will work in practice, how people will get or apply for the £400 or £100 payments, or when the law will change for landlords.
Moreover, there will be legislation to ensure landlords pass down the energy bill discount.
Originally, park home residents were not due to receive the £400 discount directly because many pay a ‘pitch fee’.
This includes many costs, such as electricity, which are then paid by the site owner.
Mrs Hobhouse has criticised the Government as park home residents are still facing higher pitch fees and is calling for the introduction of the promised legislation.
The Bath MP said: “Whilst I welcome the extra support from the Government they are completely ignoring the fact that park homes residents are facing soaring pitch fees.
“The Conservatives are asleep at the wheel and are leaving park homes residents like those in Quarry Rock Gardens vulnerable to massive bill increases.
“Park homes residents are facing rising pitch fees alongside the cost of living crisis. The Conservatives committed to reforming the way that fees are charged and have an ‘oven-ready solution’ yet they are refusing to find the time to introduce it.
“I am pleased that my colleague Cllr Alison Born raised these concerns with me months ago and I am hoping that the Government starts to listen.
“Park home residents have waited long enough. The Conservatives must stop burying their head in the sand and must introduce this legislation when we are back from recess.”
Cllr Alison Born commented: “Changing the way pitch fees increase will support residents during such a difficult period.
“I welcome the support for energy bills but the next step must be to change the way pitch fees are calculated. Residents in Quarry Rock Gardens are concerned about the impact of soaring pitch fees on their household budget.
‘We are in the middle of a cost of living crisis and the Government must act.
“Changing the pitch fees will not only support residents but will bring England in line with Wales and Scotland who have already made the change.”
