Sell your house - buy a caravan

Xbigman

At work there is talk from several people about selling their houses, buying some land (specifically a paddock with water supply) and sticking a caravan or mobile home on it. Another possibility is a norwegian log cabin.
You then pay to bring in electricity and telephone services, costing several grand in both cases.

Does anybody know how feasible this is?

Pro's and cons (allegedly).
No planning permission, so do it anywhere.
No council tax.
Foundations not allowed, single story only.
Driveway would have to be chippings as no tarmac allowed.
Outer boundary must be hedge or all wood fence (no concrete posts).
No refuse collection, you do it yourself or pay a commercial rate.
Insurance, what insurance!
Regards



X

Prudent

I am just curious as to why? Although the land would be a good investment, surely log cabins ultimately depreciate? Although I know littlel about this, so may be wrong.

seven-day-weekend

I'm not at all sure they don't need planning permission (having worked in Town Planning (Enforcement) for ten years). Depends what the land was used for prior to having a mobile home sited on it. It might need planning permission for Change of Use. If it was a paddock used for grazing, I'm reasonably sure it would need pp for Change of Use.

And they depreciate in value.

ginger_nuts

if I was going down this road ,I would rent my own house out then do as you suggested . When my brother got married he had a mobile home beside his inlaws house .He was told he needed planning permission .

Debt_Free_Chick

Xbigman wrote:

Does anybody know how feasible this is?

Pro's and cons (allegedly).
No planning permission, so do it anywhere.
No council tax.
Foundations not allowed, single story only.
Driveway would have to be chippings as no tarmac allowed.
Outer boundary must be hedge or all wood fence (no concrete posts).
No refuse collection, you do it yourself or pay a commercial rate.
Insurance, what insurance!

You would definitely need planning permission/change of use permission and almost certainly, you won't get it.

What people need to realise is, where land has been designated as "green belt" or not for development, that means no development of any description - so no homes at all, not even mobile homes.

A paddock is just that ... a paddock. It doesn't have permission to be used for a residence of any description. In fact, you would probably need PP if you wanted to erect a stable or other outbuilding on a paddock.

Mobile homes can only be sited on land that has permission for that purpose. And there is usually a condition attached which prevents you from living in the home for 365 days of the year (unless it specifically has permission for use as an all-year-round mobile home park).

Also - sewage? You would need to install a septic tank, at the very least otherwise the Environment Agency would be on to you.

They are talking rubbish ... sorry

halloweenqueen_2

I stayed in one of these for a while. After a fair amount of rain, we couldn't put any clothes in the 'cupboard' spaces or they stank of damp. They are really nice apart from that for a short while, don't think I'd want one full time. HTH.
Sometimes you can have a mobile home that shows in can be taken away at any time but not a permanent dwelling, like a log cabin on land that has no permission for a permanent home. A relative of mine did that, he lived in it all year round.
I think you would possibly have to check the council tax element. Mobiles that are lived in while there is builing work going on either to your existing home or one you are building doesn't need permission, other than that they do.
Good luck!!

seven-day-weekend

Oh, and if you do get permission to live in your mobile home/cabin, all year round, then you pay Council Tax same as anyone else.

I lived in one for a while and we had to pay rates (Old-fashioned equivalent of Council Tax).

Debt_Free_Chick

halloweenqueen wrote:

Mobiles that are lived in while there is builing work going on either to your existing home or one you are building doesn't need permission, other than that they do.

Round here they are - so it's always best to check.

Planning Authorities are very twitchy about mobile homes anywhere, as they are a form of residential dwelling. A mobile home is a new dwelling and all new dwellings need planning permission.

seven-day-weekend

Having read all this thread it seems as though your work colleagues are talking through their !!!!!!$ and have no idea what they are talking about!

Mikeyorks

seven-day-weekend wrote:

Having read all this thread it seems as though your work colleagues are talking through their !!!!!!$ and have no idea what they are talking about!

Now that's not nice ............:p

...........but it is true!!

A tree house would fit the criteria better? But suspending the septic tank from the branches could pose problems!

seven-day-weekend

Mikeyorks wrote:

A tree house would fit the criteria better?

Even a tree house may need planning permission if it is more than 4m high from the ground!