Mobile Homes Act 2013

On 22 May 2012 Peter Aldous secured fifth place in the Private Members’ Bill ballot. He subsequently announced his intention to use the opportunity to introduce a Bill aimed at improving the rights of mobile home owners, an issue on which he had campaigned for some time. The Bill was presented on 20 June 2012; it completed its parliamentary stages and received Royal Assent on 26 March 2013. In the House of Lords the Committee Stage of the Bill was discharged and it passed its Third Reading without debate.

The Bill attracted Government support and implements many of the proposals contained in the consultation paper A better deal for mobile home owners (April 2012) and recommendations made by the Communities and Local Government Select Committee in its report Park Homes (June 2012). The Committee found “widespread malpractice” in the sector and concluded that the existing legislative framework was “inadequate.”

The Act extends to England and Wales but does not alter the legal position in relation to Wales. The new provisions in the Act only apply in England. Sections 1-7 came into force on 1 April 2014 – related regulations were laid on 27 February 2014. Sections 13 and 14 also came into force on 1 April 2014. Section 8 will be brought into force on a date to be appointed by the Secretary of State. The remaining sections came into force on 26 May 2013. Regulations are in force in respect of the sale and gifting of mobile homes (section 10) and have been made in relation to section 11 (pitch fee reviews – in force on 26 July 2013) and section 9 (in force on 4 February 2014).

This briefing paper will not be updated.