MPs are calling for a crackdown on the owners of mobile home sites after a protest by a council.

The council raised concerns over legislation “more suited to the 1960s” that is failing to protect people, most of whom are elderly, living in park homes.

A report, by the all-party Communities select committee, criticises: 􀁥 Sale blocking, where a site owner prevents a resident from selling their home on the open market, forcing them to sell at a knock-down price, before the owner sells on at a profit; 􀁥 Rising cases of harassment and intimidation by site owners; 􀁥 Out-of-date rules that allowed owners to breach licence conditions with a maximum fine of only £2,500, a “wholly inadequate deterrent”; 􀁥 And confusion over contractual obligations, which left residents powerless to take action if their site is not properly maintained.

Condemning the rules, Labour MP Clive Betts said: “The current legislation is beyond inadequate.

“It fails to deter unscrupulous site owners, fails to give local authorities effective powers to improve conditions, and fails to protect residents, many of whom are retired.”

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council warned that enforcing licence conditions was expensive and time-consuming.

The council wrote: “A ‘fit and proper’ test would be a welcome addition to the application process and will enable licensing authorities to refuse licences to persons, or companies where they are not convinced of their suitability.

“The test could include a Criminal Records Bureau check, as well as a requirement to complete a statutory declaration regarding previous site licences.”

Councils have to apply to magistrates for a licence to be revoked and only after three breaches of the site conditions.

About 160,000 people live in 84,000 park homes on 1,950 sites in England.

County Durham, Barnard Castle, Hartlepool and North Yorkshire are all identified as popular locations on a map drawn up by the Government.

The report calls for site owners to be stripped of the right to approve buyers of homes, giving them the effective veto on sales. Councils should also be given the power to impose unlimited fines.

The MPs welcomed recent proposals, including for councils to carry out emergency works and charge the cost to the owner, but said more was needed.