What are the park home laws for will beneficiaries

• Thursday, 3 September 2009
• Kathleen Retourne
• 1 Comments

I am hoping to purchase a park home so that my good friend can move in with me. I will put his name on the agreement with mine, so if I should pass away before him he can continue living there.
Wills would have already have been made so that when he passes away the home reverts back to my beneficiaries. Will park home laws allow this, even though we are not partners?

Graham advises
I note you are not a partner or romantically involved with the male who you propose to take in to a mobile home you are proposing to purchase. On that basis, the danger is that he could potentially be seen as a paying tenant no doubt contrary to the written agreement. On the other hand, if you are perceived by the outside world to be ‘living together' (in the commonly accepted manner) then he would be seen as a partner and, married or not, he would automatically be entitled to continue occupation of the home if you passed away before him. This is particularly so if his name is on the written agreement.
I note that it is planned that, in the event you pass away before your cohabitee, your will provides that when the cohabitee eventually passes away, the mobile home will default to the beneficiaries of your will, not his. It appears that the arrangement will include for both you and your cohabitee to that effect. I am sure that everything is above board but, forgive me, what happens if your cohabitee, unknown to you, changes his will the day after you both take up occupation of the park home? His name will be on the agreement to support his position that the home is his to dispose of at his wish-before he dies? What then?
All I can suggest is that to make sure the basis of the relationship is precisely as you would wish. My advice therefore is of caution. You are strongly advised to take legal advice before proceeding any further.