When a park home owner passes away, dealing with the estate can feel overwhelming for the family left behind. Because residential park homes are classed as personal property rather than real estate, they do not follow standard bricks-and-mortar inheritance laws. Instead, the rules for inheriting a park home and its pitch agreement are strictly governed by the Mobile Homes Act 1983 (as amended). How the home is handled depends entirely on whether the person inheriting it was living there at the time of the owner's death. Scenario 1: A Family Member Was Living in the Home If a spouse, civil partner, or qualifying family member was permanently residing with the park home owner at the time of their death, the inheritance process is straightforward. Under the Mobile Homes Act, the pitch agreement (often called the Written Statement) automatically transfers to that resident family member. Because this happens by operation of law, the inheriting family member does not need the site owner’s permission to take over the agreement and continue living in the home. It is, however, essential to notify the park owner promptly so the site register and billing details can be updated. Scenario 2: Nobody Was Living in the Home If the park home owner lived alone, the situation changes. The beneficiary named in the Will (or determined by intestacy rules if there is no Will) inherits the physical park home and the legal right to sell it, but they do not automatically inherit the right to live there. If the beneficiary wishes to move into the park home themselves, they must formally apply for the site owner's permission. The site owner can refuse this request, most commonly if the beneficiary does not meet established site rules, such as being under the minimum age requirement for a retirement park. If permission is refused, the site owner cannot force the beneficiary to remove the home from the pitch or force an unwanted sale. The beneficiary retains the right to sell the home on the open market. Who Pays the Pitch Fee After Death? The obligation to pay the pitch fee (ground rent) does not pause when an owner dies. The ongoing pitch fees and utility bills become a debt upon the deceased person's estate. If a family member takes over: The resident taking over the pitch agreement becomes responsible for the ongoing fees. If the home is empty awaiting sale: The executors of the estate must continue paying the pitch fee using funds from the estate until the home is sold. If the estate lacks liquid funds to cover this month-to-month, any accrued pitch fee arrears will be deducted from the final proceeds when the home is eventually sold. Does the Park Owner Get a Commission? A common worry for families is whether they must pay the standard 10% commission to the site owner upon inheriting the home. The law is clear: inheriting a park home does not trigger any commission payments. However, if the beneficiary subsequently decides to sell the inherited park home to a new buyer, that transaction is treated as a standard open-market sale, and the site owner will be legally entitled to claim up to 10% of the sale price. Disclaimer: Park home succession involves specialist legal frameworks. We strongly recommend executors and families consult a solicitor experienced with the Mobile Homes Act to ensure the estate is handled correctly.