First-tier Tribunal Sets New Mobile Home Pitch Fee

OUTCOME: Allowed

1

FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL PROPERTY CHAMBER (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY) Case Reference : CHI/00HG/PHI/2020/0042 P: REMOTE Property : 7 [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE] Applicant: [redacted] : [NAME] Respondent : [redacted] : In person Type of [NAME] : Para 16 Chapter 2 Part 1 Sched 1 Mobile Homes Act 1983 (level of pitch fee) Tribunal Members : Judge F J Silverman MA LLM

Date and venue of Hearing : Remote paper consideration 16 October 2020 Date of Decision : 16 October 2020

2 DECISION

The Tribunal determines that the new pitch fee from 1 April 2020 for the pitch known as 7, [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE] is £112.82 per month.

REASONS 1 This has been a remote hearing on the papers which has not been objected to by the parties. The form of remote hearing was P:PAPERREMOTE. A face to face hearing was not held because no one requested the same nor was it practicable and all the issues could be determined on the papers. The documents that I was referred to are the [NAME], Tribunal Directions, and statements for both parties, the contents of which I have recorded. The order made is described above.

2 The Applicant is the [NAME] and the Respondents are the occupiers of the Park Home address. They have not agreed the new pitch fee effective from 1st April 2020. Consequently, the [NAME] must apply to the Tribunal in order to obtain an increase. There does not appear to be any dispute regarding the effective date of the increase which is contained in the agreement dated 1st September 1994 made between [COMPANY] and Mr [NAME] and [NAME].

3. On 24 February 2020 and amended by a notice on 28 February 2020 the Applicant, served a notice proposing a new monthly pitch fee of £112.82 based on the current pitch fee of £109.85, increased by the change in the Retail Price Index over the twelve months from April 2018. 4 The Applicant applied to the Tribunal on 29 July 2020 for determinations that a change in the pitch fee is reasonable and the amount of a new pitch fee.

5 Directions were issued on 31 July and 16 September 2020 stating that the Tribunal would deal with the [NAME] on the papers unless any party requested a hearing. No such request was received. The Law 6 .The [NAME] can only increase the pitch fee annually with the agreement of the [NAME] or, in the absence of an agreement, by a determination of a new pitch fee by the Tribunal.

7. The [NAME] must give written notice accompanied by a prescribed Pitch Fee Review Form. The Tribunal notes that the correct form and time limits have been complied with in this case. 8.Paragraph 18(1) states that : ‘When determining the amount of the new pitch fee particular regard shall be had to—

3 (a) any sums expended by the owner since the last review date on improvements— (i) which are for the benefit of the occupiers of mobile homes on the protected [NAME] (ii) which were the subject of consultation in accordance with paragraph 22(e) and (f) below; and (iii) to which a majority of the occupiers have not disagreed in writing or which, in the case of such disagreement, the court, on the [NAME] of the owner, has ordered should be taken into account when determining the amount of the new pitch fee’ 9. Further, by s20 (1) there is a presumption that the pitch fee shall increase or decrease by a percentage which is no more than any percentage increase or decrease in the retail prices index since the last review date, unless this would be unreasonable having regard to paragraph 18(1) above.

10 . Neither party requested an inspection and the tribunal did not consider that one was necessary, nor would it have been proportionate to the issues in dispute.

11. The Applicant provided a bundle of documents containing a copy of the [NAME], the Directions, the original agreement, the pitch fee review letter, Pitch Fee Review Form and an extract from the Office for National Statistics Retail Price Index (RPI) for the relevant period. 12.The original agreement complies with the terms imposed by the Act as amended. 13.The Respondents’ comments on the proposed review contained only a complaint about the alleged state of disrepair of the base on which the mobile home stands. Whether or not the Respondents’ allegations have merit is not an issue which can be considered within the jurisdiction afforded by this [NAME] and is not a matter to be taken into account in determining whether the Applicant’s proposed increase is lawful and reasonable.

14 As the Tribunal has received no relevant evidence from the Respondents and the increase is based on the change in the RPI over the relevant twelve months it determines that the pitch fee should increase from the review date of 1st April 2020 to £112.82 per month in accordance with the Notices dated 24 and 28 February 2020. 15 If the Respondents have continued to pay the original pitch fee since the review date, they must pay the difference to the Applicant. Judge F J Silverman 15 October 2020

4 RIGHTS OF APPEAL 1. If a party wishes to appeal this decision to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) then a written [NAME] for permission must be made to the First-tier Tribunal by email to [EMAIL].

2. The [NAME] for permission to appeal must arrive at the Regional office within 28 days after the Tribunal sends written reasons for the decision to the [NAME].

3. If the [NAME] is not made within the 28 day time limit, such [NAME] must include a request for an extension of time and the reason for not complying with the 28 day time limit; the Tribunal will then look at such reason(s) and decide whether to allow the [NAME] for permission to appeal to proceed despite not being within the time limit.

4. The [NAME] for permission to appeal must identify the decision of the Tribunal to which it relates (i.e. give the date, the property and the case number), state the grounds of appeal, and state the result the party [NAME] the [NAME] is seeking.