Caravan Sites

(asked on 18th May 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department plans to take to (a) regulate the holiday park industry, (b) ensure that practices of park owners are fair towards caravan/lodge owners on holiday parks and (c) ensure similar protection to that available to owners of residential mobile/park homes; and whether he plans to introduce an (i) ombudsman and (ii) independent regulator to consider grievances in the holiday park sector.


Answered by
Christopher Pincher Portrait
Christopher Pincher
This question was answered on 26th May 2020

The Government has taken steps to regulate all businesses, including holiday parks, to ensure they are run responsibly and that the right regulatory frameworks are in place to meet business and consumer needs. No further regulation of the holiday park sector is planned.

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects consumers including owners of holiday caravans and lodges on parks licensed for holiday use, against unfair contract terms. Other consumer law protects against mis-selling of goods and services and prohibits unfair commercial practices against consumers, primarily in the course of marketing and selling.

Consumers in England and Wales can obtain free advice on their rights and how to seek redress by contacting the Citizens Advice consumer service (0808 223 1133) or through its website. In Scotland consumers can call the Advice Direct Scotland line (0808 800 9060).

Holiday sites are required to maintain their parks and ensure they are safe to use. Local authorities have powers to take enforcement action against site owners who breach those requirements.

Given these existing protections, the Government does not plan to give caravan/lodge owners on sites with planning permission for holiday use, similar protections as those on residential sites, or introduce an ombudsman or independent regulator.

However, we are aware of examples of poor practice in the sector and my department will continue to work with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which has responsibility for general consumer protection, to explore how messages about rights and responsibilities can be communicated more effectively.

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