4 November 2014
Alok Sharma, the Member of Parliament for Reading West, on Thursday 30th October 2014, took part in a Parliamentary debate on the sale of park homes.
Alok supported the motion which called on the government to set up a review into the fees payable to park site owners upon the sale of a park home pitch. During the debate, Alok expressed concern about the high level of fees incurred by residents, which can be up to ten percent, and the lack of transparency in the accounts of park owners.
Following the debate Alok Sharma said: “I was pleased to have an opportunity to back a review of fees on the sale of park homes, which affects a number of my constituents who live in Garston Park. I cannot think of any other situation where an individual would be expected to pay a mandatory ten percent fee on the sale of their property, so I am pleased that there will be a full review carried out.”
Alok made the following contributions to the debate:
Alok Sharma (Reading West) (Con): I have had representations from residents of Garston Park caravan park about their concern that 10% is indeed a very high figure. The Mobile Homes Act says that the charge on the sale of a home can be up to 10%. Does the right hon. Lady have any statistics—or perhaps the Minister can give them when he responds—on how many park home owners are charging 10% as opposed to a lower figure?
Annette Brooke: I think we will have to rely on the Minister being informed of that number. It has not been drawn to my attention that anybody charges less than the maximum, as is usually the case when a maximum is set.
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Alok Sharma: The right hon. Lady makes an interesting point about transparency. A lot of these park homes are owned by individuals and private companies, so there is not the level of transparency in the accounts that one would expect. Does she agree that as part of a review, we should ask park owners to be a little more open to demonstrate whether a reduction in the 10% charge would really hit their bottom line as much as they say?
Annette Brooke: I absolutely agree. Transparency is the key to finding the right answer for everybody in this scenario.
| Hansard
Alok supported the motion which called on the government to set up a review into the fees payable to park site owners upon the sale of a park home pitch. During the debate, Alok expressed concern about the high level of fees incurred by residents, which can be up to ten percent, and the lack of transparency in the accounts of park owners.
Following the debate Alok Sharma said: “I was pleased to have an opportunity to back a review of fees on the sale of park homes, which affects a number of my constituents who live in Garston Park. I cannot think of any other situation where an individual would be expected to pay a mandatory ten percent fee on the sale of their property, so I am pleased that there will be a full review carried out.”
Alok made the following contributions to the debate:
Alok Sharma (Reading West) (Con): I have had representations from residents of Garston Park caravan park about their concern that 10% is indeed a very high figure. The Mobile Homes Act says that the charge on the sale of a home can be up to 10%. Does the right hon. Lady have any statistics—or perhaps the Minister can give them when he responds—on how many park home owners are charging 10% as opposed to a lower figure?
Annette Brooke: I think we will have to rely on the Minister being informed of that number. It has not been drawn to my attention that anybody charges less than the maximum, as is usually the case when a maximum is set.
| Hansard
| Parliament TV
...
Alok Sharma: The right hon. Lady makes an interesting point about transparency. A lot of these park homes are owned by individuals and private companies, so there is not the level of transparency in the accounts that one would expect. Does she agree that as part of a review, we should ask park owners to be a little more open to demonstrate whether a reduction in the 10% charge would really hit their bottom line as much as they say?
Annette Brooke: I absolutely agree. Transparency is the key to finding the right answer for everybody in this scenario.
| Hansard
