Barrister Ibraheem Dulmeer from www.parkhomeslaw.com takes us through some typical questions relating to pitch fees (sometimes referred to as ‘ground rent’) on residential park homes…

Q: What is a pitch fee?
A: It is a charge levied by the site owner, payable by the park home resident for the right to station the park home on the site.

Q: How is a pitch fee level set?
A: The written statement, the contract between the site owner and the park home resident, usually stipulates the pitch fee at the inception of the agreement between the site owner and park home owner, along with information when the pitch be should be paid.

There is no particular way in which pitch fee levels are set per se, so costs can vary from site to site and may even vary on the site between your neighbours.

Q: Do pitch fees include utility charges?
A: Pitch fees may include utilities if provided in the written statement. Therefore, if you are unsure of the position on this, you should consider the written statement and where the position is unclear, it is advisable to get specialist legal advice.

Q: How do pitch fee reviews take place?
A: There is a prescribed procedure that a site owner must follow in order to increase a pitch fee. Changes can only be made if two things have been satisfied:

1. The site owner has served a notice to inform the park home resident of the change/ increase (commonly referred to as the pitch fee review notice) and;
2. The site owner simultaneously serves a pitch fee review form.

The pitch fee review notice and pitch fee review form must be served together.

Q: How often does a pitch fee review take place?
A: The pitch fee can be reviewed or changed annually on or after the review date stated in the written statement. This means it cannot take place more than once a year.

 

Need advice?
Ibraheem Dulmeer, Barrister of Normanton Chambers is a specialist in park home matters.

He has expert knowledge of this legislation within this sector and his experience will provide individuals or companies with all of the necessary information, guidance and how they might be impacted by the new Regulations.

Ibraheem is qualified under the “Direct Public Access Scheme” which permits him to accept instructions directly from the public, be it a company or individual.

Freephone: 0300 0300 218
Email: info@ibraheemdulmeer.com
Website: www.parkhomeslaw.com
Address: Normanton Chambers,
218 Strand, London WC2R 1AT.

The information provided in this article serves as a useful guidance.
Please note that this is not intended to be comprehensive and should not be relied on in substitution for specific advice. If in doubt, you could seek specific advice from Ibraheem Dulmeer, who specialises in this area of law.

This material should not be replicated without the author’s consent. Ibraheem Dulmeer © 2021

Read the full story in the December 2021 issue of Park Home & Holiday Caravan