Pitch Fee Increases at Holiday Parks
Other than the initial purchase price, your pitch fee is bound to be the costliest part of your holiday caravan ownership. Even a small percentage increase will have an impact on you. It’s pretty much a
certainty your pitch fee will increase throughout your ownership, but it’s important that your park owner is fair and transparent about pitch fee review.
If your pitch fee has gone up, and you’re not happy with the increase, or the reasons behind it – what can you do?
BEFORE YOU START
- Check your contract or agreement
- Consult with your park owner or speak to your park manager
- Check to see if your park is a member of the National Caravan Council (NCC) or the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA)
Q: Have you got a written agreement?
A written contract will probably detail how and when the pitch fee review will happen and what reasons can be factored into the increase – for example:
- Changes to staffing levels or salaries
- The retail prices index (RPI) or ‘inflation’
- Improvements to facilities at the park
Q: We have no contract, what can we do?
You should write to your park about the increase and ask why your pitch fees have gone up – you are within your rights to ask questions about the reason behind the increase. NACO are happy to assist you with this.
Q: We have a contract, and the increase isn’t in line with its terms, what can we do?
The first thing to do is write to the park manager asking for an explanation, stating that you are objecting the increase. Make sure you keep a copy of the letter and send it recorded delivery.
Q: We have a contract what can we do?
If you have got a written agreement, we’d need to look at the terms before advising. However, most contracts ask that you object the increase in writing. If a certain amount on the park object, it may mean that an independent review is undertaken. All you need to do is demonstrate your objection to the increase. A polite letter stating your objection is all that’s needed. We can help you with this if needed or there are examples on our website.
Q: Ok, what’s a reasonable increase?
It’s difficult to quantify a ‘reasonable increase’ – especially in the current climate. The reasons given for the increase and your contractual relationship with the park will all affect whether the increase could be considered reasonable.
Q: My pitch fee has gone up and the park say it’s due to redevelopment, is this ok?
It’s accepted within the industry that park development and improvements can be used as justification for pitch fee increase. However, we believe that any improvements on park should be for the benefit of caravan owners. Once again, you’ll need to object in writing.
Q: Other people at the park are concerned too, what do we do?
The crucial thing for anyone that’s concerned about pitch fee increase is to send the park owner a written objection. A ‘majority vote’ on such an issue is the only way to tackle it.
Q: I don’t want to rock the boat.
Your objection to a questionable pitch fee increase might just be the one that sways the vote. It’s your right as a consumer to object an increase that you’re not happy with.
PLAN OF ACTION
Check your contract or agreement
Make sure that if you’ve got a contract and that you’ve checked to see if the item of enquiry is covered – or if there is a complaints procedure that should be followed.
Contact your park management.
All items of enquiry that we receive would benefit from being presented to the relevant party prior to our involvement, we feel that putting pen to paper is always the best approach.
Consult with your park owner or speak to your park manager.
Check to see if your park is a member of the National Caravan Council (NCC) or the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA)
Keep copies of everything!
Make sure that you keep copies of anything that you send to your park regarding the enquiry. Make sure that anything you send also gets sent to us in order that we can keep it on file should we need to intervene or follow-up.
Get in touch with NACO!
The National Association of Caravan Owners (NACO)
Leisurefame House
37 Clacton Road
St. Osyth
Essex. CO16 8PA
