Owning a park home comes with a rulebook of its own: pitch agreements, site rules, and legislation specific to residential parks that most general solicitors rarely deal with. When a dispute comes up, whether it's a pitch fee increase, a gas safety question, or something more serious, it helps to know who to call first. Two independent, volunteer-run organisations specialise in exactly this, and it's worth knowing who represents the industry's side of the table too.

Key takeaways

  • Two established, independent organisations offer advice to UK park home residents: NAPHR (National Association of Park Home Residents) and IPHAS (Independent Park Home Advisory Service).
  • Both work with government on park home legislation and help residents with disputes, pitch fees and legal questions, but neither can act as your legal representative.
  • HARPA (formerly BH&HPA), the trade body for park owners and operators, is worth knowing about too, since it sets standards its member parks are vetted against, even though it doesn't advocate for residents directly.
  • Since 2006, park owners cannot refuse to recognise a residents association made up of owner-occupiers on their site.
  • For anything contractual, or a dispute heading to tribunal, get a solicitor involved alongside NAPHR or IPHAS, not instead of one.

NAPHR (National Association of Park Home Residents)

NAPHR was founded in 1998 and helped shape the Mobile Homes Act 2013, which strengthened legal protections for residential park home owners in England. It continues to work with government and other resident groups on park home legislation today. What it actually helps with:

  • Buying and selling: guidance on permitted use (residential vs holiday) and what to check before you commit, including the risk of a park owner facing prosecution if a holiday home is used as a full-time residence
  • Pitch fee reviews: how the annual review process works, what can and can't legally be included in an increase, and how to dispute one through the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)
  • Utilities and gas safety: what to check yourself even if your park holds an NCC approval badge, including annual Gas Safe checks and correct ventilation
  • Residents associations: how to set one up and get it recognised
  • Care costs and later-life planning: information on what happens if ill health means you need to sell to fund care

NAPHR doesn't typically get involved directly in neighbour disputes, but can point you toward the right process or authority.

IPHAS (Independent Park Home Advisory Service)

IPHAS was founded in November 1993 by Roy Waite and Joan Aylott, both park home residents, and is run entirely by volunteers. Like NAPHR, it splits its work between advising individual residents and representing residents' interests at government level, including input into the Housing Act 2004 and the Mobile Homes Act 2013.

If you're in a dispute with a site owner, IPHAS can advise you on your rights and the best route to resolve it, including support with paperwork and choosing a solicitor if the case goes to tribunal or court. IPHAS can't provide legal representation itself and can't be held responsible for decisions you make based on its advice; for anything contractual or high-value, get a solicitor involved directly.

HARPA (formerly BH&HPA): the industry's side of the table

NAPHR and IPHAS represent residents. It's worth also knowing who represents the parks themselves. HARPA, formerly BH&HPA (the British Holiday & Home Parks Association), is the UK trade association for park owners and operators. Founded nearly 75 years ago, it represents around 3,000 parks across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, lobbies government on planning, tax and employment law affecting the industry, and vets member parks against its own Articles of Association.

HARPA isn't a resident advocacy body and won't take up an individual dispute on a resident's behalf, that's what NAPHR and IPHAS are for. But if your park operator is a member, that's useful context: it signals the park has agreed to meet HARPA's standards and has its own code of conduct to answer to, which can be worth mentioning if you're raising an issue with park management.

Your legal right to a residents association

Since 2006, a park owner cannot refuse to recognise a residents association made up of owner-occupiers on their site (rented or vacant homes don't count toward a "qualifying association"). Both NAPHR and IPHAS publish guidance on setting one up, alongside the government's own factsheet.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between NAPHR and IPHAS?
Both are independent, volunteer-run organisations offering advice to UK park home residents and representing residents' views to government. NAPHR grew out of the Park Home Working Party in the late 1990s; IPHAS was founded slightly earlier, in 1993. Either is a reasonable first port of call, and it's worth checking both if one can't help with your specific question.
Can NAPHR or IPHAS act as my legal representative?
No. Both can advise you on your rights and the likely best course of action, and IPHAS in particular can help with paperwork if a dispute reaches tribunal or court, but neither is a substitute for a solicitor if you need formal legal representation.
Do I have a legal right to set up a residents association?
Yes. Since 2006, park owners can't refuse to recognise a residents association formed by owner-occupiers on their site.
Where do I take a pitch fee dispute I can't resolve with my park owner?
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) handles most park home disputes, including pitch fee reviews. NAPHR's website has guidance on the process; get independent advice before applying.
Is HARPA (formerly BH&HPA) the same as NAPHR or IPHAS?
No. HARPA, formerly BH&HPA, represents park owners and operators, not residents. For resident advocacy, a dispute with your park owner, or general rights questions, contact NAPHR or IPHAS instead.