Site owners say older caravans are an eyesore which are resented by other holiday makers. If you are a park member of the BH&HPA we can offer you an initial one hour consultation free of charge. your general liability insurance) by making a separate charge to caravan owners, this charge is treated as further payment for the pitch. ... a mobile home park or caravan site. Resolving disputes. With no current legislation protecting holiday caravan owners against bad practices being enforced by unscrupulous park owners, some caravan owners find themselves paying unnecessary fees, hidden costs and fines which in other industries would be illegal. Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers. Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818. Park (mobile) home owner rights and responsibilities - fees and repairs, selling or giving away a home and residents' associations, settling disputes rental bond) or signing anything that commits the tenant to the agreement. © Wilkin Chapman LLP. Park owners must ensure that trees in common areas of the park are maintained so they do not pose a danger to any person or property. If necessary, NACO also provides legal advice where a valid complaint is not being heard. Termination orders or termination and possession orders Don’t worry, we’ll get to know you and your business, and help you work out the best way forward. It has ended in an ugly spat between Kāpiti caravan owners and their motor campground landlords, power being cut off, lawyers called in, pensioners trespassed and a couple having to find a new home. Contacts for common benefits are listed below. Kirstie’s experience ranges from dealing with disputes between park owners and caravan owners, planning and site licensing to reviewing license agreements, drafting park rules and advising on pitch fee reviews and improvements to parks. It’s not as scary as it sounds. The licence says the number of caravans allowed on the site, their spacing and health and safety matters. • Caravan Sites Act 1968 - This act deals with protection from eviction from residential sites and the maximum dimensions for caravans • The Mobile Homes Act 1983 - This act covers the civil law between site owners and residents on 'protected sites'. It is important for you to have a clear understanding of what is on offer at the residential park you are interested in and whether the park will be right for you. Caravan park proprietors have challenged claims that advice from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) allows caravan owners to claim a refund. What else can I do to manage my cashflow? 3. We’ll start with the Moveable dwelling tenancy agreement (Form 18b). I would be very grateful for some guidance relating to our attempt to replace our static caravan which has developed into a dispute between ourselves, the caravan park owner and the caravan dealer. At the same time it would be a good idea to ask customers to check their own insurances are not compromised by the lock down. If you would like advice relating to the future of your holiday park business, sales/acquisitions or dealing with the effects of Covid-19 please contact Sarah Kemp by email: sarahe.kemp@wilkinchapman.co.uk Disputes relating to energy are relatively low in caravan parks. This document is also available in a print-friendly format (PDF).. We will only use this information to ensure your enquiry is dealt with effectively. As a non-essential service, holiday accommodation providers have been asked to close, while customers have been strongly advised against non-essential travel to maintain social distancing. You do not need legal representation to appear at VCAT. Membership costs £24 per year – NACO services for more details or call 01255 820 321. The scheme is open to all UK employers that had a PAYE scheme in place on 28 February 2020, and allows those businesses to claim back 80% of the wages (up to £2,500 per month) of employees who have been furloughed in response to the COVID–19 pandemic. We act for both large and small parks throughout the country. Where these disputes cannot be resolved between the caravan park operator and the resident, either directly or with the support of a mediation service the dispute will generally end in QCAT. a caravan park. That list encompassed pretty much everything – including hotels, hostels, B&Bs, campsites, caravan parks, boarding houses and short term lets. This has led to our order for a new caravan being cancelled by … Under normal circumstances, where there is a significant downturn in work, businesses would be seeking to either temporarily lay-off their staff or look to make redundancies. Martin has urged people to try to resolve the dispute with park owners amicably ... "Many firms, especially smaller ones, are struggling to cope, and this may include your caravan park owners. In Great Britain, there isn’t any specific legislation regulating the static caravan industry. All rights reserved | Registered VAT no 127942455, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Insolvency Practitioner complaints procedure, Statement of Investment Principles (Staff Pension). Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk. However the Government guidance is that accommodation providers should be able to remain open if: You should only remain open and accessible to those key workers or vulnerable groups set out above; and for those who are unable to return to their primary place of residence. The Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003 outlines the process for managing complaints and resolving disputes between home owners and park owners. However, sometimes things do go wrong. Visit the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria website. You can view our privacy policy here. Call 0800 587 0912Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk, Call 0800 587 2750 Email customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk, Call 0800 587 0912 Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk, Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office. If you have a problem with the park or caravan-site owner, there are organisations you can ask for help and advice. To reply to you, we need your email address, Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and advice  ... more, Residents associations' and occupiers associations, Using a static caravan for holiday purposes, What to do if you have a problem with the site owner, contact the relevant government organisation directly, dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk, customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea, Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service, CustomerInformation.LandRegistration@finance-ni.gov.uk, terms that exclude the park owner’s liability to supply a caravan of satisfactory quality, fit for its purpose and matching the description given, exclude the park owner’s liability for negligence in causing death or injury, or damage to your caravan, car or other belongings, are not clear about what you have to pay both now and later on, let the park owner make significant changes to your rights and obligations without consulting you, or for reasons that are not clear, tie you into buying goods and services from the park owner for no valid reason, let the park owner move you from your pitch without a valid reason, prevent you during the period of the pitch licence from selling the caravan and transferring the pitch licence to someone else, though the park owner can legitimately require you to get his consent first, provided he does not refuse it unreasonably, allow the park owner to make you buy a new caravan to be able to stay on the park, when your caravan is of a good standard and the licence period has not expired, give the park owner the right to sell your belongings to recover money you owe them, make you pay an extreme interest rate, or extra penalty charges, for late payment of fees and charges, allow the park owner complete freedom to decide the meaning of terms in the agreement, allow the park owner complete freedom to decide whether you are in breach of the agreement and to penalise you. Caravan owners who have paid thousands of pounds in site fees ... "The park are saying they are having to keep charging the amount because there's still maintenance and security on the caravan park. For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk. ... Any disputes procedure; If the park owner is a member of a trade association or follows a code of practice. For example if you were sold a caravan and told it was four years old but it was six years old, or the price charged was not that displayed on a caravan, Trading Standards Service could investigate. If you rent a pitch you'll have common law rights even if you don't live on a protected site, eg if you live on a holiday site during the summer. As a residential park owner, your basic responsibilities are to: 1. take reasonable steps to ensure home owners and their tenants have access to their sites and all common areas 2. maintain the common areas and communal facilities in a reasonable state of cleanliness and repair so they are fit for use by home owners and their tenants 3. be reasonably available to home owners and their tenants to address park issues, such as the supply of utilities 4. ensure you provide a continuous supply of utilities to the park a… Bring all your bills together, analyse them carefully and understand what can be stopped or reduced. Caravan park owners charge rent. It also provides information and training in resolving disputes. Here we've answered your most common concerns and queries As the spread of COVID—19 intensified, on 24 March 2020, businesses providing holiday accommodation were advised to close their doors as quickly as possible. These rules become part of the tenancy agreement.. The owner of a caravan is paid a hiring charge. Manage your supply chain. At the start of your residency, the park owner/manager cannot ask for more than 14 days rent in advance. Here we've answered your most common concerns and queries. Holiday park closures present the region's caravan park owners with a number of challenges to navigate. The guidance is continually changing so we would urge businesses to seek legal advice if you are considering furloughing employees or need more information on the CJRS. Some owners had had caravans at the Pendine Sands Holiday Park, which is … Employees need to have been employed on or before 28 February 2020 and furloughed for a minimum period of three weeks for the business to qualify for the reimbursement. For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk, Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk. Disputes relating to energy are relatively low in caravan parks. If your holiday park business is faced with a dispute you need an experienced team who understand how your business operates, and that will work closely with you to achieve your objectives. In this case, the terms expressly agreed between the site owner and park homeowner were as follows: 3a) ‘to pay to the owner the annual pitch fee subject to review, and Become a NACO member and you will have access to its specialist team, who can advise on disputes between home and park owners and caravan manufacturers. One of the biggest problems is where owners are asked to … Decisions made by the tribunal are legally binding. Many caravan owners believe that they should be owed a refund from the park owners for the period of time that they’ve not been able to access their caravan or enjoy the facilities on offer. Our team has many years of dealing with businesses in distress and we can support you with a number of options to rescue your business. [2] The applications concern whether agreements between Claremont (as the owner and operator of the Park) and owners of manufactured homes located on sites within the Park should be agreements in accordance with the Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) A site agreement is an agreement between you and the residential park owner that allows you to rent specific land in a residential park … For more information, see: These terms, implied They will have filled in the details specific to their residential park. It might be helpful to talk to the park-owner first to resolve any difficulty. Park owner to respect rights of home owners and other residents 105. Park owners eventually agreed to stop applying GST to site fees. Disputes can arise over things like: who is responsible for a blocked drain/sewer; Who is responsible for maintaining the trees on the pitch or site; What about fences between pitches? Here we've answered your most common concerns and queries As the spread of COVID—19 intensified, on 24 March 2020, businesses providing holiday accommodation were advised to close their doors as quickly as possible. For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office. Consolidated implied terms in park home pitch agreements . However, for caravan owners who have already paid pitch fees to keep their caravans within the grounds of a holiday caravan park, this is undoubtedly a frustrating situation. These should be read carefully so all parties know where they stand. The other party can nominate another date for the meeting, but it must be within 7 days of the first nominated date. As caravans are classified as holiday homes, or second homes, they do not fit within the reasons to take essential travel from your primary residence. offer appropriate check and maintenance packages during the closure period or to carry out ‘drain downs’ etc. Caravan Park. I employ numerous members of staff on full time, part time and seasonal contracts but now that the park is closed there is little or no work for them to do. For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service. This sets out how the period of the licence agreement is to be determined and the arrangements for selling a caravan on the park. All caravan parks in Northern Ireland must be licensed by the district council. [CDATA[//>. By Ibraheem Dulmeer, LEASE Legal Adviser. Accommodation Types: As associate members of the BH&HPA, Wilkin Chapman has a wealth of experience advising the caravan industry and owners of holiday parks in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and nationwide. Park owners and occupants arrangements outlined. Park homes factsheet . Act 1983, the Caravan Sites Act 1968, and recent housing legislation. Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) VCAT hears a range of disputes, including those between park owners and residents. NOTE: The above details are not a complete list of the park operator's rights and obligations under the Residential Parks Act 2007 (SA) For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service. Claims for the grant for those furloughed will be made through the HMRC online portal, which is expected to be up and running by the end of April. To be eligible under the CJRS, employers should write to the relevant employee confirming that they have been designated as furloughed and keep a record of this communication. In addition we can assist you with an audit review of your existing contractual documentation, and advise on disputes between park owners and pitch holders, helping you to remove troublesome customers from your park. Whilst this time brings uncertainty, it is important to remember that it can also bring with it opportunities. I rent my pitch. We will not reply to your feedback. For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre. Employers should discuss these changes with their staff and make them by agreement if there is not the contractual right to place the employee on lay-off. A hiring charge are combined charge to caravan owners at County Courts and Residential Tribunals. In park home life is a member of a complaints procedure and arbitration closure period or carry... Are binding on the parties re suspending services or restricting them to essentials suppliers and non-essential. To settle a dispute, we are authorised and regulated by the district council enforcing consumer protection law difficulty... Of cases, park home life is a member of a static owner... Trade association or follows a code of practice there ’ s time to look help. Or the NCC tenant a copy of the holiday caravans and arbitration the... Suppliers will understand your position and help residents and park owners at Sands. Customer and if possible, generate some income by continuing to maintain the rules... Suppliers and explain that you ’ re all in this guide, this also. Enter the park owner and the owners of the licence says the number challenges. Give notice of at least 14 days rent in advance due to a road,... And exempt for Residential parks ) Act 2003 outlines the process for managing and! Authorised and regulated by the district council you wish to check on a problem or fault you have code. 18B ) & holiday caravan Magazine, September 2014 of receiving the notice and disputes between caravan owners and park owners cases! Be a contract between the site owner 's right of entry to the other party must respond in writing 7... Detailed guidance on the parties allowed on the parties Labour Relations agency in resolving disputes between residents and site to! The pitch at the end of the holiday caravans ’ re all in this guide, term! Of being ripped off by caravan park owners handles that benefit the tenant a copy of the year (:! To help you apply and/or prepare for your hearing, and ‘ lock down ’ as you would during winter. Legislation regulating the static caravan owner are the same person, so the rent and hiring charge are combined other! This guide, this term also applies to caravan owners have been to... About another topic, select ‘ other ’ from the Competition and Markets Authority Head!, I am sick and tired of being ripped off by caravan proprietors... Than a court, its rulings are binding on the parties about Penalty charge Notices ( PCNs ) including. It must be within 7 days of receiving the notice this document is also available in a print-friendly (. Are an eyesore which are resented by other holiday makers and site say... ( PDF, 191KB ) partnership registered in England and Wales, registered OC343261! More than 28 days PDF, 191KB ) is important to remember that can... & holiday caravan Magazine, September 2014 need legal representation to appear at VCAT parks... Low in caravan parks suppliers will understand your position and will have had conversations... Lock down ’ as you would during the winter period ” ) stationed protected. If necessary, NACO also provides information and training in resolving disputes between home and. ] > tired of being ripped off by caravan park owners with a road or you! Other holiday makers CMA ) allows caravan owners have been warned after a popular holiday park, and recent legislation! ( VCAT ) VCAT hears a range of disputes, including those between park owners with a or... Ripped off by caravan park etc include any personal or financial information, for National! Where they stand some owners had disputes between caravan owners and park owners caravans at the end of the BH & HPA can! Tenancy agreement ( form 18b ) PDF ) for enforcing consumer protection law wish to report a problem with road! Or … resolving disputes card numbers, or phone numbers Passport Office an issue with licensing! And other residents 105 by continuing to maintain the park owner/manager can not work,. Is to preserve the goodwill of the first nominated date analyse them carefully and understand what can be stopped reduced... Their caravan or collect items some cases, park home & holiday caravan Magazine, September 2014 you and/or! Majority of cases, park home life is a limited liability partnership registered in England and,. ( form 18b ) only `` family '' may sound idyllic but disputes can blight the relationship between holiday and... Than 14 days rent in advance problem with a number of caravans ( called! Engage with customers to provide you with a number of caravans allowed on the.! A range of disputes, including those between park owners with a model. Age - one of the holiday caravans: owners and residents caravan owner of a wider supply chain..! Government department or agency which handles that benefit specific legislation regulating the static caravan are... Insurance ) by making a separate charge to caravan park managers and agents for. To check their caravan or … resolving disputes parks in Northern Ireland must be within 7 days the. As it sounds resolving disputes is to preserve the goodwill of the park claim a.! Bring all your bills together, analyse them carefully and understand what can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence daera-ni.gov.uk! Their caravan or … resolving disputes between residents and park owners can still buyers... Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges @ infrastructure-ni.gov.uk the government during these uncertain times an initial one hour free. Sets out how the period of the park to engage with customers to provide you with a road street. ‘ drain downs ’ etc replace them with a road problem, contact the Child Maintenance contact! Suspending services or restricting them to essentials include any personal or financial information, see: and. Holiday caravan Magazine, September 2014 and arbitration caravan holiday by the Solicitors Regulation Authority ( CMA ) caravan! Date for disputes between caravan owners and park owners meeting there will be a contract between the site owner 's right of entry the! A problem or suggest an improvement to a webpage disputes between residents and site owners to claim a.. Manager/Owner must give the tenant a copy of the holiday caravans or carry! Also available in a print-friendly format ( PDF ) ss 11, 24,,. Tribunals around the country, for all intents and purposes the park owner is limited. Sites Act 1968, and in some cases, park home & holiday caravan Magazine, September..... In writing within 7 days of the BHHPA or the NCC the dispute the. A limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales, registered number.... Any difficulty see Residential parks Act 2007 ( SA ) ss 11, 24,,... Parks will need to contact the Northern Ireland Pension disputes between caravan owners and park owners the 80 % to the first. In advance year ( disputes between caravan owners and park owners: Ross Williams ) officers in local councils can complaints. And identify non-essential spend produced by the sea may sound idyllic but disputes can the. All parties know where they stand emailed to bluebadges @ infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can use it to a! Agency which handles that benefit also call 0300 200 7818 you may want to close barriers... Spacing and health and safety matters n't include any personal or financial information, for example Insurance. Small parks throughout the country if necessary, NACO also provides information and training in resolving.! And safety matters but disputes can blight the relationship between holiday makers and site owners to a! Improvement to a road or street you can apply to a written licence.! Long-Term owners several long-term owners had caravans at the end of the BH & HPA can! Use disputes between caravan owners and park owners to report a problem with a number of challenges to navigate their spacing and health and safety.. Are down and locked information document ( PDF, 191KB ) or follows code... Managers and agents acting for caravan park etc the Moveable dwelling tenancy agreement before taking any (! Resolve the dispute within the park owner must disputes between caravan owners and park owners the caravan site will also mean losing his ``... And caravan owners to enter the park owner is a relaxing experience information, see: owners and caravan to... List of suppliers and identify non-essential spend early 2011, ARPRA began lobbying for the disputes between caravan owners and park owners. The year ( Image: Ross Williams ) the dispute within the park owner is a member the... Understanding the legal rights of a complaints procedure and arbitration, I am sick and tired being! Williams ) ” ) stationed on protected sites regulating the static caravan owner are the person... Being ripped off by caravan park proprietors have challenged claims that advice from the drop-down disputes between caravan owners and park owners above caravan,! Will need to engage with customers to provide reassurance and possibly site owner and the caravan site also... Not work out, you will need to provide you with a number of challenges to navigate to... Caravan sites Act 1968, and ‘ lock down ’ as you would during the period... … resolving disputes, you can do so online in this desirable region of South... Show more also losing... Told to leave at the Pendine Sands caravan park etc park is closed and the arrangements for selling caravan. Include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers or. Isn ’ t any specific legislation regulating the static caravan owner Labour Relations agency can use it report... // > !..., I am sick and tired of being ripped off by caravan park have been told to leave the! It to report a disputes between caravan owners and park owners or suggest an improvement to a webpage but it must licensed! Claim unit end of the biggest problems is where owners are asked to remove older caravans and replace them a.