MEETING AT WESTMINSTER MAY 15th 2025
PHOJC proudly announces: Cross-Party Support for our 10% Commission Campaign
In addition to our ever-growing gallery of supporting MPs, we are thrilled to have secured excellent cross-party support for our upcoming Presentation to Downing Street and the Park Home Residents’ Meeting at the Palace of Westminster on 15th May.
We are proud to confirm that three MPs will be accompanying us to Downing Street:
Josh MacAlister (Labour)
Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat)
Dr. Ben Spencer (Conservative)
All three will also be attending the Park Home Residents’ Meeting in Parliament.
But the good news doesn’t stop there — invitations have now been sent to every MP in Parliament by the MPs' offices - and PHOJC thanks them for it. While not all Parliamentarians will be able to attend, this crucial step ensures that every MP is now aware that you, the residents, are coming to Westminster to share how the 10% commission charge is affecting your lives.
PHOJC has long been respected in Westminster, and we are heartened to see that this continues with support from new MPs. The distribution of our 10% Commission Campaign to every MP guarantees broad awareness of the challenges park home residents face.
We are also pleased to share that the BBC has already spoken with several MPs about the issue.
Best wishes and we look forward to meeting you in London.
Sonia and the PHOJC team.
Successful Meeting
Although the weather in London was cold and grey for PHOJC’s presentation to Downing Street and the PHOJC members meeting in the Palace of Westminster – the spirit of the Park Home Owners and the MPs was nothing short of sizzling hot.
At 12noon, three members from the PHOJC Team – David, Iris and Sonia – joined Joshua Reynolds MP, Dr. Ben Spencer PM and Josh MacAlister MP to present PHOJC’s “10 reasons for No. 10 to change the 10% commission charge and the Park Home Owners 10% petition” to Downing Street for the attention of the Prime Minister. We were then interviewed by BBC South.
Following the presentation to Downing Street we headed for the Palace of Westminster to meet the loyal members of PHOJC who had travelled to London from all parts of the country – the furthest coming from Scotland. Before heading to committee room eleven, we had a group photo with cross bench MPs on the steps inside Westminster Hall.
Once the PHOJC home owners were seated in the ornate committee room, they were welcomed by Joshua Reynolds MP, co-chair of the meeting with Dr. Ben Spencer and our President Sir Peter Bottomley - who opened the meeting.
Then, it was the turn of the park home owners – and boy, did they do us all proud. Indeed, every speaker pulled at the heartstrings of the listening MPs, simply because they told the truth about how the 10% impacts their lives. Similar tales of woe from across the country filled the room as each resident delivered their feelings. They spoke of the 10%, rogue owners, intimidation, continued sale blocking and the fear that still exists in park home living. Distressing problems that could only be felt and transcended by people who truly understood what it means to suffer the Legal theft of their equity and the distress of preparing to go into care, knowing that the equity needed will be reduced to give the site owner an unearned windfall.
DID IT FALL ON DEAF EARS? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
The effect the residents were having on the new MPs - many of whom knew very little about park homes – was clear to see. They listened intently, many with looks of horror.
From the top bench, residents were heartened to hear labour MP Josh MacAlister say: “the 10% does not need to be changed it needs to be abolished” He spoke of his talks with the Housing Minister and his continued fight for this decision. Indeed, he said there should be no penalty to the home owner if the 10% was abolished and that records of the site owners accounts should be made available.
CERTAINLY, OUR CAMPAIGN IS HAVING AN EFFECT ON THE SITE OWNERS.
Co/chair of the meeting and stalwart supporter of PHOJC. Liberal Democrat MP Joshua Reynolds informed that several site owners had already contacted him in their bid to stop the 10% issue going ahead. Joshua listened to them and asked them to produce accounts to prove the losses they would make. Each one of them agreed to do so.
STRANGLY, THAT WAS THE LAST HE HEARD OF THEM.
Similarly, Co/chair, Conservative MP Dr. Ben Spencer - who had many of his constituents present - voiced his concern and support for the campaign. He asked why site owners should benefit from the improvements home owners do to their homes and said that the 10% was fundamentally unfair because the site owner does nothing to have a stake in other people’s property.
Many other MPs also offered their genuine support and PHOJC is grateful to have the cross bench support that is needed. There was a real feeling of optimism in the room, something which has also been reported back to PHOJC by so many of the attendees. For the first time in many years, a new broom is sweeping away the long grass that our campaign has been kicked into and everyone present felt optimistic about the future.
CAN WE SIT ON OUR LAURELS. Absolutely not.
The industry is definitely running scared – but they won’t leave it there. They will lobby MPs and probably their trade body will throw a lot of money at it to bring about the required end. Sadly, some MPs will of course be tempted with what may be on offer.
WHAT HAVE WE DONE TOGETHER IN A VERY SHORT TIME.
Before we answer that. Let’s look at where we were. The Universities report was returned to the government. PHOJC challenged flaws in that report. A round table meeting was promised. PHOJC returned the questionnaire that was required. The promised meeting never happened and the 10% was again kicked into the long grass.
A new government has come onboard with hundreds of new MPs who knew nothing or very little about the problems of living in a Park Home.
It has been a tough road, but with your help we have turned the tide. Together, our actions have educated and brought awareness to many MPs of the problems park home residents face, and particularly the 10% commission charge.
WHAT HAVE YOUR ACTIONS ACHIEVED.
Your actions have turned the tide. The letters you have sent to your constituency MPs have brought awareness of the problems you face. Your actions by signing petitions have shown the strength there is in numbers. In total, with our previous petition on the 10% PHOJC has sent almost 40,000 signatures to Downing Street.
In addition to our ever-growing gallery of supporting MPs, we are thrilled to have secured excellent cross-party support for our upcoming Presentation to Downing Street and the Park Home Residents’ Meeting at the Palace of Westminster on 15th May.
We are proud to confirm that three MPs will be accompanying us to Downing Street:
Josh MacAlister (Labour)
Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat)
Dr. Ben Spencer (Conservative)
All three will also be attending the Park Home Residents’ Meeting in Parliament.
But the good news doesn’t stop there — invitations have now been sent to every MP in Parliament by the MPs' offices - and PHOJC thanks them for it. While not all Parliamentarians will be able to attend, this crucial step ensures that every MP is now aware that you, the residents, are coming to Westminster to share how the 10% commission charge is affecting your lives.
PHOJC has long been respected in Westminster, and we are heartened to see that this continues with support from new MPs. The distribution of our 10% Commission Campaign to every MP guarantees broad awareness of the challenges park home residents face.
We are also pleased to share that the BBC has already spoken with several MPs about the issue.
Best wishes and we look forward to meeting you in London.
Sonia and the PHOJC team.
Successful Meeting
Although the weather in London was cold and grey for PHOJC’s presentation to Downing Street and the PHOJC members meeting in the Palace of Westminster – the spirit of the Park Home Owners and the MPs was nothing short of sizzling hot.
At 12noon, three members from the PHOJC Team – David, Iris and Sonia – joined Joshua Reynolds MP, Dr. Ben Spencer PM and Josh MacAlister MP to present PHOJC’s “10 reasons for No. 10 to change the 10% commission charge and the Park Home Owners 10% petition” to Downing Street for the attention of the Prime Minister. We were then interviewed by BBC South.
Following the presentation to Downing Street we headed for the Palace of Westminster to meet the loyal members of PHOJC who had travelled to London from all parts of the country – the furthest coming from Scotland. Before heading to committee room eleven, we had a group photo with cross bench MPs on the steps inside Westminster Hall.
Once the PHOJC home owners were seated in the ornate committee room, they were welcomed by Joshua Reynolds MP, co-chair of the meeting with Dr. Ben Spencer and our President Sir Peter Bottomley - who opened the meeting.Then, it was the turn of the park home owners – and boy, did they do us all proud. Indeed, every speaker pulled at the heartstrings of the listening MPs, simply because they told the truth about how the 10% impacts their lives. Similar tales of woe from across the country filled the room as each resident delivered their feelings. They spoke of the 10%, rogue owners, intimidation, continued sale blocking and the fear that still exists in park home living. Distressing problems that could only be felt and transcended by people who truly understood what it means to suffer the Legal theft of their equity and the distress of preparing to go into care, knowing that the equity needed will be reduced to give the site owner an unearned windfall.
DID IT FALL ON DEAF EARS? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
The effect the residents were having on the new MPs - many of whom knew very little about park homes – was clear to see. They listened intently, many with looks of horror.
From the top bench, residents were heartened to hear labour MP Josh MacAlister say: “the 10% does not need to be changed it needs to be abolished” He spoke of his talks with the Housing Minister and his continued fight for this decision. Indeed, he said there should be no penalty to the home owner if the 10% was abolished and that records of the site owners accounts should be made available.
CERTAINLY, OUR CAMPAIGN IS HAVING AN EFFECT ON THE SITE OWNERS.
Co/chair of the meeting and stalwart supporter of PHOJC. Liberal Democrat MP Joshua Reynolds informed that several site owners had already contacted him in their bid to stop the 10% issue going ahead. Joshua listened to them and asked them to produce accounts to prove the losses they would make. Each one of them agreed to do so.
STRANGLY, THAT WAS THE LAST HE HEARD OF THEM.
Similarly, Co/chair, Conservative MP Dr. Ben Spencer - who had many of his constituents present - voiced his concern and support for the campaign. He asked why site owners should benefit from the improvements home owners do to their homes and said that the 10% was fundamentally unfair because the site owner does nothing to have a stake in other people’s property.
Many other MPs also offered their genuine support and PHOJC is grateful to have the cross bench support that is needed. There was a real feeling of optimism in the room, something which has also been reported back to PHOJC by so many of the attendees. For the first time in many years, a new broom is sweeping away the long grass that our campaign has been kicked into and everyone present felt optimistic about the future.
CAN WE SIT ON OUR LAURELS. Absolutely not.
The industry is definitely running scared – but they won’t leave it there. They will lobby MPs and probably their trade body will throw a lot of money at it to bring about the required end. Sadly, some MPs will of course be tempted with what may be on offer.
WHAT HAVE WE DONE TOGETHER IN A VERY SHORT TIME.
Before we answer that. Let’s look at where we were. The Universities report was returned to the government. PHOJC challenged flaws in that report. A round table meeting was promised. PHOJC returned the questionnaire that was required. The promised meeting never happened and the 10% was again kicked into the long grass.
A new government has come onboard with hundreds of new MPs who knew nothing or very little about the problems of living in a Park Home.
It has been a tough road, but with your help we have turned the tide. Together, our actions have educated and brought awareness to many MPs of the problems park home residents face, and particularly the 10% commission charge.
WHAT HAVE YOUR ACTIONS ACHIEVED.
Your actions have turned the tide. The letters you have sent to your constituency MPs have brought awareness of the problems you face. Your actions by signing petitions have shown the strength there is in numbers. In total, with our previous petition on the 10% PHOJC has sent almost 40,000 signatures to Downing Street.