Jo Swinson: The Department has asked the Office of Fair Trading to take a look at these long-term agreements and it hopes to report back to us early next year. In the Government’s view, an “in perpetuity” clause cannot be enforced on a beneficiary of a deceased person’s estate if they do not accept a bequeathed contract.
The Timeshare Association (TATOC) reports that timeshare companies in the UK are willing to engage with them and with timeshare owners, with a view to setting conditions under which timeshare owners might exit from their contracts, for example for reasons of age or ill health. The representative body for the timeshare industry, the Resort Development Organisation (RDO), has assured the Department that the trend in the industry is away from very long-term contracts, with consumers preferring only to commit to timeshare products for shorter periods. It too has been working with its members to establish rules and practices whereby timeshare owners who meet certain conditions can leave their contracts or convert them into other products which do not carry ongoing liabilities.
For more information regarding this article or assistance in any other timeshare related issues please contact the TCA on 01908 881058 or email: info@TimeshareConsumerAssociation.org.uk