Holiday caravan with view to full time living.

Legacy_user

We are both retired(on grounds of ill health) and currently live in and eligable to buy the council house. Of late, we have been tempted to buy it but have decided to wait for six months to monitor prices. However, by way of a diversion, we are tempted to buy a what some might say, is a luxury caravan in a holiday park, but away from the day to day noise. We would have to return to our council property about every three weeks, simply to comply with tenancy ageement.

Because it is a holiday park, you are unable to reside there 12 months. So in the close down period which is Jan-to mid Feb. we would have a bricks & mortar base.

If we were to find this was to our liking, we would terminate the council agreement and move full time to the park. This would mean during the close down period, we would have to rent a flat.

I would welcome any observations on this. I am 64 and my wife is 52, but unable to walk unaided due to a balance problem caused by shingles.

DiggingOut

What would it cost you to rent a flat during the close down period?

What kind of discount will you get on buying the council flat? Do you have the money to buy it, or would you need a mortgage?

If the discount is quite significant, you could buy it and then sell it in three years' time, if you decide you don't want it to be your base anymore.

How warm is the caravan in the winter? :P

How bad is the noise where you are? How bad will the noise be in the caravan park in the holiday season?

Are you and your wife the type who won't mind having to go through the unsettling move in the winter every year, or will that bother you a lot?

Are you and your wife the type who won't mind having different neighbours every week, year round? Or do you like to get to know your neighbours? Since you won't really have many (if any) friends where you are living in the caravan park, do you have other friends that you would still see regularly if you moved there? Or are you loners anyway so it doesn't matter?

Do you have family that come to visit, and how will you manage that in the caravan?

Do you have neighbours that help you out in an emergency? How will that work in the caravan?

Do you have a garden that you have to care for right now, or is that taken care of for you?

Have you gotten estimated utility costs for the caravan and compared them? Can you get a phone in the caravan, or would you just use a mobile?

Will you be violating any of the rules of the caravan park?

We had friends who moved into one of these while waiting for their new house to be built (9 months :P). They lasted 5 months, gave up, and rented a house.

System

Can I thank the previous information which I found to be most constructive. Much as happened during the last few days, but to respond to the comments above first. We are currently in a house, which I can easily afford to buy (with the reduction offered as a council tenant's right to buy) Yes I can offer cash for the caravan.Yes they have central heating and double glazing. Although it was our intention to live in it full time, the thought of moving out for the 3/4 weeks close down period, did not thrill me. We then considered retaining the house and use van for constant periods away from the house, knowing we would be able to return to bricks & mortar whenever we wanted, furthermore, we wouldn't need to change dr/dentist etc. Both have gardens and family would live within 20 mins.

BUT. the site we are interested in, is in a "high risk" flooding area. Built on gravel extracted pits. Major flooding occured at Easter '98. I've read the enviromental and parlliamentary report which followed, and I feel uneasy.

BUT, as it deemed a "holiday" park, only two free passes are issued. Others are £20 per season. Imagine inviting friends and they were faced with a choice of £10 day admission or £20 for the annual season ticket.

BUT, yesterday, whilst contemplating another van on the site and finding it to our liking, we waited around to get a "sense" of the area. In no time at all, two cars arrived containg the "lads", beer, jet ski's etc. A neighbours said "they stop noise if it goes on till 2am, otherwise it's OK !".

I think that the prospect of life on that particular trailer park has now become but a memory.

Thanks for your feedback on this and the other thread.