A Guide to Park Home Pitch Fees

What are Park Home Pitch Fees? 

A pitch fee is a cost paid to a park owner by the park homeowner for the use of their site, which will include the pitch that a home is sited on. The costs vary from site to site and as well as individual pitches.

A park home buyer will be informed of the pitch fee before moving into a park home, whether it is a new or pre-loved park home. The pitch fee will be part of your park home agreement and is a legal requirement. 

What does a Park Home Pitch Fee Cover?

A park home pitch fee covers many things. Some of these things include ongoing maintenance of the park, whether communal grounds, gardening or the roads.  The pitch fee also covers the cost of the off-site staff relating to the upkeep of the park, especially when safety and security are concerned. Pitch fees also cover administrative costs and other charges that site owners face, like site licenses to local authorities.  Think of it in a similar way to paying council tax or national insurance.  You are paying small amounts to make sure you benefit from local services and hospitality. 

However, park owners cannot legally include the costs of license changes or park expansion costs they need to pay to local authorities. The council tax won’t be included, and often utilities are separate.  This can vary from park to park, but on the whole, you should expect to pay gas and electricity costs separately.  They may even set you up on direct debits paying directly to the suppliers.  What you choose to pay at your property can also vary depending on how your energy connects.  Some properties use gas canisters, for example.

You should also remember that the pitch fee will not cover you for insurance or TV licensing.  Your park home ownership agreement will likely tell you that you need to arrange for these services separately, as they fall under your name.  While you will not find them in your pitch fee payments, site owners will often be happy to make recommendations to you. 

What Are Pitch Fee Reviews?

Pitch fees will be subject to a yearly review unless stated in the contract when you purchase your park home. On 26th July 2013, the government introduced a prescribed procedure a site owner must follow in order to increase a pitch fee. The pitch fee has to be changed by:

The site owner serving a notice to inform the park home resident of the change/increase; and,
The notice outlined in “1” must be accompanied by a pitch fee review form (or a form substantially to this like effect).

• The site owner serving a notice to inform the park home resident of the change/increase; and,
• The notice outlined in “1” must be accompanied by a pitch fee review form (or a form substantially to this like effect).

As most things change in price automatically with inflation, most homeowners expect this.  Park site owners check the Retail Price Index, for which the Official of National Statistics is responsible when adjusting fees.

Pitch fee changes that take into account maintenance, repair or improvements must go before site owners before they take effect.  In cases where site ownership associations are in place, such changes may need to go before a full consultation.

What’s more, the site owner should always take into account any opposition to changes in pitch fees.  Even if the fee changes still go ahead, site owners must physically show they have listened to the debate.  For fee review to still go ahead, the majority of owners must, naturally, be happy with the situation.  Again, site owners must show this.

Site owners will approach homeowners and residents in writing when pitch reviews emerge.  This way, you will always have a written warning if the prices you pay are likely to rise in the coming year.  If you disagree with fee hikes for any reason, you have the right to oppose them.  The best way to do so, of course, is via owners’ association or in writing.

What Can and Can’t Park Owners Review Fees For

There are certain things, some of which are obvious, those park owners can and can’t adjust pitch fees for.  Many of these go without saying but do be ready to oppose rising charges if park ownership includes review costs in their actual review.  As mentioned above, owners also have no legal reason to charge you for licence changes!

Even if a park owner faces charges from the local authority to expand the park itself, you shouldn’t face costs in your fees review.  It’s worth knowing what to look for when reviews arise, particularly as you do have plenty of rights if you don’t feel comfortable paying them. 

You should always agree to pay pitch fees in principle.  It will be part of your legal agreement!  However, park owners will review fees for various reasons, and it is here where you have a bit more sway.

Understanding Pitch Fee Review Notices

So, to recap, site owners should tell you what fee reviews are going to cover.  You’ll receive a pitch fee review notice in writing, and the site owners should tell you everything you need to know.  Law changes now mean sites have to detail everything.  This is a very good thing for homeowners.  While most residential park owners will ensure everything is above board, a little more protection certainly will not hurt.

Along with a notice, you will also receive a pitch fee review form.  This is an extra document that gives you more of a breakdown of what to expect.  It is also a legal requirement that owners serve these documents.  Once again, it’s another way for homeowners to claim back a little more power and control.  It also helps to answer more than a few tricky questions along the way!

You can take a look at an example pitch fee review form by downloading a copy from GOV UK here.  This will give you an idea of what to expect from the form template when you receive a notice.  It pays to prepare!

When Do Pitch Fees Receive a Review?

You will normally face a pitch fee review every year.  This is traditional in many cases, however, different factors can change when reviews need to take place.  Therefore, providing a park owner offers you notice, you can expect fee changes at any time.  This will be something you agree to in your initial contract.

It’s always important to read your park home agreement in full and to check it over with a solicitor if you are unsure of the terms you receive.  This agreement is going to stay with you for the whole of your tenure as an owner, so make sure you read and understand it before you sign on the dotted line!

Park Home Pitch Fees; Conclusion

All park homeowners will need to clear pitch fees if they want to stay at a residential park.  It is just a simple fact of the park experience!  However, most park site owners will be more than upfront and transparent on the costs you incur with them.  The law now offers homeowners less to worry about, meaning you will always receive notice should charges increase.

Sell My Group regularly publishes guides and features on what to expect when owning and running a park home.  Take a closer look at our other posts, and make sure to search for a residential park in your area if you are keen to sample the park home lifestyle for yourself!