About Us

Investigations Team

Current work

Park homes

Consumer Focus Investigations and Consumer Focus Wales, with the support of Consumer Focus Scotland, have recently launched a major piece of research to try and identify the issues faced by residential park home residents across Great Britain. The research will examine the extent of their difficulties and explore how the issues they face may be addressed.

‘Park homes’ are detached bungalow-style homes which are known as mobile homes. They can be found in residential parks and are used by their owners as their permanent home. Thousands of people in Great Britain live in park homes all year round. In the coming months, we will be working to develop a robust evidence base with which to influence the Welsh, Scottish and UK Governments, local authorities and other key stakeholders. As part of this we are undertaking research to gather the experiences of residents and local authorities.

We would therefore like to hear from you about any problems you may be having on your park home site. If you would like to speak to us about your experiences of living in a park home or to take part in this project, please email parkhomes@consumerfocus.org.uk.

Park home residents’ rights – Your basic rights as a park home resident living in England (PDF 1.2MB) (Please note this is set up as a leaflet. It has six pages and is folded twice. If you are reading on screen the first page is the one on the far right. If you are printing double-sided you may need to change your print properties to duplex ’Open to top’ otherwise the inside pages of the leaflet will be upside down).

Communities and Local Government inquiry into park homes

Consumer Focus has recently provided written evidence (PDF 338KB) to the Communities and Local Government inquiry into park homes. The Committee has requested submissions from interested parties, for example park home residents, site owners and local authorities, on the adequacy of the operation of the law as it affects park homes.

Consumer Focus has provided evidence on the following areas:

• Resale of Park Homes and resale fees
• The protection of occupiers of park homes against harassment and illegal eviction
• The regulation and enforcement of site licence conditions

For further details concerning the Committee please see the following link: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/communities-and-local-government-committee/news/park-homes/

At the end of April we submitted further evidence (PDF 471KB).

Private car park operators

The investigations team has found evidence of serious concerns from motorists. These range from the excessive nature of the charge when motorists overstay in a private car park, inaccurate information from ANPR software and aggressive debt recovery tactics when companies are chasing payment of parking charges. 

As part of the investigation the team has considered the impact of the proposed Protection of Freedoms Bill which looks set to ban the clamping of motorists on private land. The Bill is had its report stage in October 2011. Consumer Focus Investigations, Citizens Advice and the Trading Standards Institute prepared briefings for each stage of the bill.

These can be viewed here:   

• Protection of Freedoms Bill briefing – February 2011 (PDF 75KB)
• Protection of Freedoms Bill Committee Stage briefing – March 2011 (PDF 83KB)
• Protection of Freedoms Bill Report Stage briefing (PDF 91KB)
• Protection of Freedoms Bill Report Stage briefing FINAL (PDF 77KB)

There are many organisations that have an interest in making the private parking industry a fairer place for consumers and as part of the overall debate on how best to regulate the industry Conservative MP Henry Smith held a 10 minute rule debate in parliament calling for greater regulation and scrutiny of private car park operators. Consumer Focus Investigations and Citizen Advice have also briefed Tom Watson Labour MP for West Bromich East about the issues that motorists face when using private car parks. Tom Watson laid amendments to the Protection of Freedoms Bill and debated issues, such as the need for a fair and independent appeal service for motorist to dispute private parking tickets, over two sessions on 28 April 2011. The team has also engaged with key players in this industry such as the RAC Foundation, the British Parking Association and the DVLA.

Right To Manage Assessment Tool

Consumer Focus Investigations and CF Labs have developed an online tool to assist leaseholders who are considering taking over control of the management of their flats. The tool will guide you through the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, to establish whether you and your fellow leaseholders might be able to exercise your Right To Manage. It is essential that you have already made contact with your neighbours to find out how many leaseholders are of a similar mind to you before starting.

By answering a series of YES/NO questions, the on-line tool will provide you with an answer to whether your particular group of qualifying leaseholders would be in a position to form a RTM Company under the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.