AQW 16914/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 17/10/2024
Answered On Date: 11/11/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities for his assessment of current legislative protections for those living in park homes, compared to other jurisdictions across the UK and Ireland.

Answer:

I consider the current legislative provisions contained within the Caravans Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 continue to be robust in providing protection for those living on residential caravan parks here and compare favourably overall with those provided for in other jurisdictions.

Section 4 of the 2011 Act places a statutory obligation on my Department to review the legislative provisions every five years to assess the legislation remains fit for purpose. The last review in 2021, and published in March 2023, found that the issues or concerns raised by respondents living in residential or holiday caravans already had a pathway for resolution under existing legislation or alternative mechanisms were in place. The follow-on action for my Department from the 2021 Review was to produce factsheets as a quick reference guide to inform both residential occupiers and site owners of their responsibilities under the legislation and provide signposting on the relevant pathway of recourse should difficulties arise. This work is nearing completion and has included engagement with representatives of those living in residential caravan park homes here to ensure the information provided is pitched to suit their needs.

One issue which was not raised during the review was that the 2011 Act references that a residential pitch fee shall increase or decrease by a percentage aligned to the Retail Price Index (RPI). My Department is proposing an amendment to the legislation to change this to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Although there is no evidence to date to suggest that the legislation as it currently stands is proving to be problematic for those living in residential caravans, the amendment will bring NI in line with other jurisdictions. Whether or not such an amendment is possible within this mandate depends on securing a suitable legislative vehicle.