park homes policy forum
utilities
We all need the utilities to service our homes, how this is done on a park home site is important to understand before entering into a contract.
Utilities can be received direct from the service provider or through the park owner, there is a clear difference which should be understood before signing a contract.
Who is responsible for the delivery of services to a pitch is the park owner and maintenance is paid for through the pitch fee, this needs to be checked.
key information on this page
1 written statement
2 basic contract terms
3 'in perpetuity'
4 utilities
5 park rules
the essentials
ALL UTILITIES
The resale of essential utilities can be be used as a vehicle for overcharging, so it`s essential to know what can and cannot be charged
Some park homeowners pay their bills directly to their energy supplier, or as part of their pitch fee. However, it is common for the account to be in the site owner’s name, with energy and water re-sold to residents on a pro-rata basis.
If so, there is a maximum amount the site owner can charge (the ‘Maximum Resale Price’). This applies to water and sewerage services too.
There is no Maximum Resale Price for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG or LP gas) in cylinders or bulk tanks. However, for gas and electricity, the Maximum Resale Price is the amount the site owner paid per unit of energy, including standing charges.
Your share of the total bill is calculated according to your individual consumption or, if you do not have a meter, other factors such as your floor space or household size. For advice on this issue, contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service.
Water Anyone reselling water or sewerage services should charge no more than the amount they are charged by the water company, plus a reasonable administration fee.
Maintenance costs for water or sewerage pipe work are not included in the resale price. These costs are usually recovered through the pitch fee or by separate agreement. For more information, see the Office of Water Services website which provides A guide to water resale - Information for household customers
FEES AND CHARGES
The resale of essential utilities can be be used as a vehicle for overcharging, so it`s essential to know what can and cannot be charged
Some park homeowners pay their bills directly to their energy supplier, or as part of their pitch fee. However, it is common for the account to be in the site owner’s name, with energy and water re-sold to residents on a pro-rata basis.
If so, there is a maximum amount the site owner can charge (the ‘Maximum Resale Price’). This applies to water and sewerage services too.
There is no Maximum Resale Price for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG or LP gas) in cylinders or bulk tanks. However, for gas and electricity, the Maximum Resale Price is the amount the site owner paid per unit of energy, including standing charges.
Your share of the total bill is calculated according to your individual consumption or, if you do not have a meter, other factors such as your floor space or household size. For advice on this issue, contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service.
Water Anyone reselling water or sewerage services should charge no more than the amount they are charged by the water company, plus a reasonable administration fee.
Maintenance costs for water or sewerage pipe work are not included in the resale price. These costs are usually recovered through the pitch fee or by separate agreement. For more information, see the Office of Water Services website which provides A guide to water resale - Information for household customers
OVERCHARGES ?
DID YOU KNOW? - That if you have good reason to believe you`ve been overcharged for your utilities or for any fee associated to your written contractual obligations - and your own written requests for a full written explanation of their calculations have not been provided within a reasonable period, then you may withhold what you legitimately believe to be the excess, until it`s received.
It`s important to retain a record of your requests and any written response if you get one. Also that you notify the site owner of your intentions - but here are the key points.
* It is the site owner who is breach of their obligation which includes the requirement to account for their charges.
* If your site owner tells you that if you don`t pay in full then you`ll incur financial penalties, these will not generally be enforceable because it`s the site owner who has breached your contract
* If they tell you they `ll take you to a County court, remind them that such disputes fall under the jurisdiction of a First Tier Tribunal - and not a Court.
* Should they try to do so and you served any papers by a Court, rather than by a Tribunal, contact the court direct to explain your belief that that the site owners application is an abuse of process.
* If the site owner then wishes to pursue the difference, they`ll need to file an application with a First Tier Tribunal when they`ll need to pay their own application fees. If they are later found to be in breach of youe contract, then it`s more than highly unlikely they`ll ve able to recover them
ADMIN/SERVICE CHARGES/PITCH FEES
Park home residents in the UK are subject to specific fees, primarily a monthly pitch fee for occupying the land, alongside potential utility charges and a commission fee upon selling the home. These costs are regulated under the Mobile Homes Act 1983 (as amended) and, for residential sites, are typically aimed at covering the maintenance of common areas, roads, and infrastructure.
Key Charges and Costs Pitch Fees: These are paid to the site owner for the right to keep your home on the pitch and for the maintenance of common areas. They vary, generally depending on the site's location, amenities, and sometimes size of the home.
-
Utilities: Residents usually pay for water, electricity, and gas separately from the pitch fee. Site owners are regulated and cannot charge more for gas and electricity than they pay to the provider. For water, a "reasonable" administration fee may be added.
SEPARATE FEES.
-
Admin Fees: While pitch fees cover general maintenance, separate admin charges are generally NOT allowed UNLESS expressly included in the written agreement.
OTHER CHARGES are generally NOT allowed UNLESS expressly included in the written agreement.