Frequently Asked Questions
Our most frequent questions
Many residents comment that living in a park home seems like a perpetual holiday. Some enjoy the countryside around them which they missed during their working lives, while others particularly appreciate the companionship of those of similar ages and circumstances to themselves.
Freeing up capital tied up in bricks-and-morter property is another reason for choosing the park home lifestyle.
Yes. This document is referred to as a Written Statement. The Written Statement is the agreement between the home owner and the park owner and sets out the rights and responsibilities of each party. A park owner is required by law to give you a copy of the Written Statement 28 days before you are committed to purchasing the park home. This time allows you to review the terms so that you understand what owning a park home and living on the park will mean. You can agree to shorten this period of time if you want to proceed more quickly. You can view the Written Statement by clicking on the link for each park page via our website.
Yes, there are park rules for each individual park. You can view the park rules using the link on each park page on the website. You will be given a copy of the park rules with the Written Statement.
The park owner is not involved in the sale of a privately owned park home. However the law also requires that the private seller give to the buyer a copy of the Written Statement together with a copy of the park rules. They are also required to complete sales documentation at certain stages in the process.
No, park homes are treated differently to bricks and mortar property and there is no requirement to pay stamp duty.
Yes. In fact it is a requirement that you do so. That is because all Hartley Parks have the benefit of full permanent residential planning permission and a residential site licence issued by the Local Authority. This means that they are not holiday parks and the occupier (that is the person or persons named on the Written Statement) must live in the park home as their main or only residence.
You will pay a rent usually called a pitch fee, to the park owner for the use of the land on which your park home will be sited (called a pitch) and also the services provided by the park owner. Pitch fees are paid monthly by standing order from your bank account.
Yes. Many park homes are rated in Band A for Council Tax purposes. This is the lowest band and usually equates to a charge of approximately £90 per month. However, Council Tax charges are set by individual local authorities and we advise that you check with the relevant local authority to establish the exact amount you will be required to pay.
Gas is supplied to each individual park home either by way of mains gas, LPG storage tank or bottled gas. The provision of gas varies from park to park, however, the majority of park homes now have LPG storage tanks.
Electricity is supplied to each individual park home and is billed directly by the electricity provider except in the case of Woodside Park where electricity is billed directly by Hartley Park Homes.
Charges for water will be either billed directly by the Water Authority or by Hartley Park Homes. If you are billed by Hartley Park Homes, you will pay no more for the use of water than you would if you were billed directly by the Water Authority.
If you are purchasing privately, you will need to ask the seller about that. If you are purchasing a new park home then you will need to arrange your own telephone service. We recommend that approximately two weeks before you intend to move into your home you contact your chosen telephone provider to make any necessary arrangements for installing a telephone line to your home.
The park owner is responsible for the maintenance of the infrastructure (services supplied to the pitch) and common areas of the park. Common areas include roads and pavements. The home owner is responsible for maintaining the pitch. The details and a plan of your pitch will be set out in your Written Statement if you are buying from the park owner. If you are purchasing a privately owned home you should contact the seller about the details of the pitch.
The home owner is responsible for maintaining everything within the boundary of the pitch, including any boundary walls or fencing, in a clean and tidy condition.
Firstly, it is your responsibility to ensure that your park home is adequately insured. You should be clear when you talk to your home insurance provider about the fact that the home to be insured is a park home and not a bricks and mortar property. There are a number of specialist park home insurers, some of them can be found by clicking on the links on our webpage.
Yes, that should not be a problem. We do however request that, where possible, the satellite dish is fixed to the rear of the park home or at least out of sight of the park roads.
The Mobile Homes Act which governs the agreement between the home owner and the park owner, gives home owners important rights and responsibilities and it is therefore in your interests to ensure that you understand your purchase. If you are purchasing a park home privately, then there is a new procedure in place which must be followed by the buyer and seller. A professional advisor such as a solicitor can help you with this. You can also obtain independent advice from the Government advisory service known as the Leasehold Advisory Service who can be contacted on 0207 8322525. You can also obtain further information on the Government website www.gov.uk.
Yes from one of the major lenders who specialise in this area of finance, subject to their terms and conditions.
The park rules limit the number and type of pet you can bring on to the park. The park rules vary from park to park. You can review the park rules on our website.
Yes, all people living on a Hartley Park must be over 55 years old.
No, the park rules provide that you must not keep a caravan motorhome, campervan or other similar type of leisure vehicle, permanently on the park. However, you may bring such a vehicle onto the park from time to time, for a maximum period of 36 hours.
No, commercial vehicles are not permitted to be kept on any Hartley Park.
Yes, you can make alterations to your park home, however, there are limitations about the type and extent of the work you would be permitted to carry out. Before planning to carry out any alterations you should check that the works comply with the planning permission for the site, the conditions of the site licence and the park rules.
You must obtain our permission in writing before carrying out any works to the pitch. Our permission will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.