Residential Mobile Homes in Scotland - Scottish Government
Residential Mobile Homes in Scotland - Scottish Government
Residential Mobile Homes in Scotland - Scottish Government
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CHAPTER FOUR<br />
LIVING ON LICENSED PARK HOME SITES<br />
Introduction<br />
4.1 Chapter Four focuses on the views of the forty respondents who lived <strong>in</strong> park homes<br />
on licensed sites, and does not <strong>in</strong>clude the ten respondents who lived either <strong>in</strong> mobile homes<br />
that were either unlicensed or that were exempt from licens<strong>in</strong>g. Firstly, the chapter exam<strong>in</strong>es<br />
respondents’ op<strong>in</strong>ions on the layout of the sites where they lived and the way <strong>in</strong> which they<br />
felt the sites were ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed. Secondly, the chapter describes relations between the<br />
respondents and the park owner. Thirdly the chapter considers a variety of aspects of liv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
on licensed sites such as written agreements under the 1983 <strong>Mobile</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> Act, pitch fees<br />
and the legislation cover<strong>in</strong>g park homes.<br />
Site layout and ma<strong>in</strong>tenance<br />
4.2 The majority of respondents felt that the layout of the sites where their park homes<br />
were located, and the way that they were ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed were adequate,<br />
“This one’s really nice. I don’t th<strong>in</strong>k I could fault it at all. There are noisy<br />
kennels next door, but this was po<strong>in</strong>ted out when I viewed the property. The<br />
roads could do with a bit of upgrad<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> places, but then I’ve seen an awful<br />
lot worse <strong>in</strong> the town” (owner; rents a stance).<br />
“I’m quite happy with it. It’s a nice site and <strong>in</strong> a beautiful location. Some sites<br />
are very prim and proper, but it’s more relaxed here. I wouldn’t say it’s<br />
perfectly ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed, but it’s adequate” (owner; rents a stance).<br />
4.3 However, ten respondents noted particular problems about either the layout or the<br />
ma<strong>in</strong>tenance of their sites or both,<br />
“It was OK at first. It really is a mess now. It been allowed to deteriorate.<br />
You’re sat here <strong>in</strong> the middle of the country, you’re watch<strong>in</strong>g deer go past<br />
your w<strong>in</strong>dow <strong>in</strong> the fields. There’s a river out the back. You’ve got woods all<br />
around you. You couldn’t, on a day like today with the sun sh<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, ask for<br />
anyth<strong>in</strong>g better. But the mess here is unbelievable. You’d have to see it to<br />
believe it” (owner; rents a stance).<br />
“It’s a disgrace. There’s a new owner took over three years ago, and he’s<br />
us<strong>in</strong>g threaten<strong>in</strong>g tactics to get people off the site. He puts metal cages up<br />
around them when he demolishes them, and it’s worse than a build<strong>in</strong>g site just<br />
now” (owner; rents a stance).<br />
4.4 One problem identified by a couple of respondents was an <strong>in</strong>adequate power supply<br />
on their parks,<br />
“The ma<strong>in</strong> problem <strong>in</strong> the chalet is fluctuations <strong>in</strong> electricity. Every so often<br />
the lights trip. I had everyth<strong>in</strong>g electrical checked out, and it was OK. So I<br />
take it that it’s to do with the Park, and I know a lot of people here get it. A lot<br />
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