Wheels come off at caravan parks

THE Covid-19 pandemic created a staycation boom thanks to the strict safety measures affecting overseas travel.

This naturally encouraged many people to buy UK holiday homes and, to the uninitiated, static caravans and lodges based on holiday parks often look like an attractive and cost-effective proposition.

But what many people do not realise is that holiday parks are currently a horror show – a toxic sector where the consumer rights of van and lodge owners are ignored and many owners run roughshod through what are supposed to be the best consumer protection laws in the world.

This week I have filed a legal submission in full support of the Caravan Action Group’s own submission to the Competition and Markets Authority.

This seeks to highlight the many problems facing owners – with a view to the CMA stepping in and cleaning up the sector.

During my investigations I have heard and seen many disturbing things. At the heart of the issue are the licence agreements consumers enter into when buying a static caravan and pitch. These have been causing problems for years.

The agreements are vague as to what is included in the pitch fee. Before the pandemic, sales agents presented the fee on the basis that it included a whole array of things such as maintenance and security. However, when the pandemic hit and consumers started to claim a partial reduction due to maintenance etc. not being carried out, all of the sudden many parks had a change of heart, claiming that the fee included just the pitch and that everything else was “free” – meaning no refunds were due.

Most parks increase their pitch fees every year. However, the licence agreements are vague in this respect too. They do not spell out the formula for increases and the reality is that the park owners can push up the charges by any amount they wish. This breaches every rule in the book, in my view.

There is so much more, as has been outlined to the CMA, but this gives a flavour of the significant problem with this sector.

I should say, this does not apply to all park owners. Some do play by rules and treat their customers very fairly – but I believe they are in the minority.