Park Homes: Calling for Change to the 10% Commission Fee

Around 200,000 people in England live in park homes, a form of housing that has grown in popularity since the 1990s because of its lower purchase and running costs. For many people, park homes offer an affordable, secure, and enjoyable place to live. But that affordability comes with a catch. 

Under UK law, park home residents must pay a 10% commission to the site owner when they sell their home. So, a resident selling their home for £200,000 must pay the site owner £20,000 on top of estate agent fees. This makes selling unaffordable for many, effectively trapping them in a home they no longer wish to live in.  

I frequently hear from constituents who have been forced to rethink or abandon plans to move because of this extortionate charge. Their experiences highlight just how urgently reform is needed.

The Park Home Owners Justice Campaign (PHOJC) has been working with MPs to put the issue on the political agenda. After being overlooked by successive governments, a long-awaited review has been launched this year. Given that the site fee was reduced from 15% in 1983, it's clear that reform is possible.

With the review underway, I have been working behind the scenes to support residents’ calls for change. Along with several other MPs, I have supported a petition, taken part in a roundtable discussion, and pressed the minister directly on the matter. I will continue to challenge this unfair charge and keep park home residents updated as the review unfolds.