Parkhome selling advice please.

andygb

Relations of mine have inherited a parkhome as part of a deceased relative's estate. The problem seems to be how do they sell it?
I know nothing about laws/rules covering parkhomes, but I do know that site owners generally have a bad reputation, if programmes such as BBC Watchdog are anything to go by.
The parkhome in question is up for sale and very keenly priced compared to others on the same site, however the site owner seems to be putting all kinds of obstacles (financial ones) in the way. A couple of offers have been made, but fell through when the site owner advised the would be buyers that they would have to pay him between £10K and £20K commission if they bought from an individual rather than him. He has told another resident whose parkhome was destroyed by floods, that he would have to pay £15K for the removal of the damaged building if he decided to buy our relation's property, but nothing if he bought one of the site owner's properties, which are nearly twice as much.
Has anyone else had direct experience of these tactics or know anyone else who has suffered at the hands of parkhome site owners?

more_money_for_me

www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN01080.pdf

The above might be relevant? On the basis that government seems to be taking an interest I would probably try to get my local councillor/mp involved. Dodgy park owners are likely to be a lot less dodgy if they know they are being watched.

gayleanne

Park owners are a law unto them selves, when my Mother tried to sell hers, they told her that as it was 10 years old they would not consent to selling, they wanted her to pay to get it off the site, it was immaculate. The do take a percentage of the sale price of the home, and they can also decide who can buy the home, by interviewing the buyers first, I hope that you can get it sorted out, and that there are new laws to bring them into line.

andygb

Thanks for the information folks, I have been Googling away in the meantime, and there are many horror stories out there. "Sale blocking" is the most common tactic being used, and the law has to change to stop it.

mysterywoman10

If it is a "residential" park home that it should be covered under the Mobile Homes Act 1983, whilst yes owners can still try and put people off and have to agree them, in addtion they would have to meet for example age rules of the park, not sure about the 10K lump sum business my understanding is that they can only claim 10% of the sale value in these circumstances. They cannot add any commissiion they like on top.

Clearly the Gov proposals and changes they are planning to bring in will radically improve things.

But even so owners still have certain rights and there is a right of appeal it explains it here.

https://www.gov.uk/park-mobile-homes/selling-or-giving-away-a-park-home

If it is a non residential park home i.e. a holiday home then basically you have no rights and the owner of the park can do what the hell they like.

Have you got a copy of the original agreement that the deceased signed?

theartfullodger

Good advice here...

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/finding_a_place_to_live/mobile_homes#4

mysterywoman10

The 10% would be paid by the seller not by the person buying.

Also the new bill isn't law yet you can track it here.

http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2012-13/mobilehomes.html

Hopefully though as it's in 2nd reading of House of Lords shouldn't be long.

mysterywoman10

Once the new law comes into effect (hopefully they won't amend) the clause that

[*]B - the purchaser would be deemed to be approved unless, on application of the site operator, a residential property tribunal declares him unsuitable.
This will make a massive difference to rights of Park Home Owners because they will be able to sell without the Site Owner interferring in the process unless he can prove someone is really unsuitable.

andygb

The property is indeed on a residential site, but I am unfortunately not privy to all the facts.