Local Euro MP and Labour’s Transport and Tourism spokesman Brian Simpson has welcomed moves in the European Parliament to strengthen laws in regard to timeshare property.  The new laws will introduce new EU wide rules which will bring legal clarity and enhance consumer confidence.  There are some 1,5000 timeshare holiday centres throughout the EU with a value of over €2.3 billion per year with 1.4 million families using this kind of accommodation.

“Most timeshare holidaymakers come from Britain and Germany and disputes and litigation between operators and holiday makers is still frequent in Knutsford and the wider North West region, who claim that timeshare companies have not delivered the service levels promised when they originally signed on the dotted line” said Mr Simpson.

The new laws agreed with the European Parliament cover unfair commercial practices including sales techniques, introduce a 14 day cooling off period so that people can change their mind, outlaw upfront payments in full for holiday clubs and introduces a new concept for contracts that cover more than one period of occupation of the accommodation (repeated visits) and now includes boats, caravans and property marketed as a timeshare.

“In my long experience as an MEP timeshare problems have always been a major issue, be it a property based one or a caravan based one. This tightening of the regulations was needed to protect consumer rights and to force the industry to clean up its act.  However, I would still advise people who are interested in purchasing a timeshare to use a recognised timeshare specialist backed up with a good solicitor” concluded Mr Simpson.