Commission on Sale Explained: What Park Home Owners Pay When They Sell

When you sell your park home, the site owner takes a cut. It is set by law at up to 10% of the sale price, and it comes out of your money at completion. Here is how it works and what you can and cannot do about it.

The 10% rule

The Mobile Homes Act 1983 lets the site owner charge commission on the sale of a park home. The maximum is 10% of the price the buyer pays, excluding VAT. The site owner cannot charge more, and cannot add a separate fee on top for approving the sale.

On a £150,000 sale, that is £15,000 to the park. The buyer pays you, you pay the commission, and the site owner has no say over who you sell to as long as the buyer meets the park rules.

Who pays it

You do, as the seller. The commission is deducted from the sale proceeds, usually handled at completion so the site owner gets their share directly.

The buyer does not pay commission. They pay the agreed price for the home, and that price is what the 10% is calculated on.

What the site owner cannot do

The site owner cannot block your sale to force a higher commission or steer you toward selling the home back to them cheaply. They cannot demand a fee for giving information to your buyer, and they cannot charge for the paperwork that comes with the sale.

They can refuse a buyer only on limited grounds, such as the buyer failing to meet a park age rule. They cannot refuse simply because they would rather buy the home themselves.

Can you avoid the commission?

Not on a standard park home sale on a protected site. The 10% is set in law and applies whether you sell privately, through an agent, or through a portal. Anyone promising to get you out of it is misreading the rules.

What you can control is the sale price and how fast you sell. A well-priced, well-presented home that reaches real buyers sells for more, which leaves you more after the commission. That is where advertising your home properly earns its keep.

Holiday caravans work differently

This 10% rule covers residential park homes on protected sites. Holiday caravan parks set their own commission in your pitch agreement, and it is often higher, sometimes up to 15%. If you own a holiday caravan, check your agreement rather than assuming the 10% applies.

Frequently asked questions

How much commission does a park take when you sell a park home? 
Up to 10% of the sale price, excluding VAT, on a residential park home, set by the Mobile Homes Act 1983.
Does the buyer or seller pay the commission? 
The seller. It comes out of your sale proceeds at completion.
Can I sell my park home privately to avoid commission? 
No. The 10% applies, however you sell. Selling privately can still save you an agent fee, so more of the sale price stays with you.
Can the site owner stop me selling? 
Only on limited grounds, such as a buyer not meeting the park rules. They cannot block a sale to buy your home cheaply.
Is holiday caravan commission the same? 
No. Holiday parks set their own figure in your agreement, often higher than 10%. Check your paperwork.

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This is general guidance, not legal advice. For your own sake, speak to LEASE or a solicitor who knows park home law.

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