Park home or mobile home buying or renting- advice?

purplefiona

Hello. Looking for a place to live so I can move out of my husbands parent's house. They are lovely but we do need our own place. Budget is about £600 per month including everything. Middlesex near West London. (ridiculous I know)

I can work from home and if we only paid £40K for the house we could afford a secondhand car. I ought to add we are on single income because he is unwell. He refuses council housing or any kind of benefits so I'm a bit stuck. I have been self employed for 6 months and need to show a full years accounts to get a proper mortgage and plus I cant afford one anyway.

Does anyone live in a park home on here or know anything about them?

They seem cheap- but one lives in the home on the land owned by the park owner, and pays the owner ground rent, and also council tax of course.

Seems like it could be a pain- or- could it be really quite good for 5 years until we can afford something better?

The thing is- will a park home depreciate in value? Are they nice places to live?

I hear mortgages can't be had for a park home but I have a deposit and hopefully would get finance on the rest.

Help ?

Jowo_2

The Shelter website has info about mobile home/park living, plus this topic has been discussed in the recent past so you should be able to unearth the risks, pros and cons with a search on this forum.

Also, not to be cheeky, you should address your relationship problem - namely the refusal of your partner to sort out their income and their dependency on you which is extremely unfair of him and sounds very controlling.

ivan_the_not-so-terrible

I agree with Jowo.

I was VERY VERY reluctant to claim housing benefit when I lost my job and tied accomodation. But as friends and family pointed out, that's what I'd payed 28 years of tax and NI to cover! You won't be on HB for ever ... nor will I, so use it while you have no choice; then when hubby is fit, reassess your situation.

That said, living in a decent mobile home (park homes are just glorifed mobile homes) is fine for a couple. I've lived that way in the past and really liked it. No good for a big family though

purplefiona

Thanks.
I know. Its a completely intractable illness he's got- so- no movement there.
Anyway I don't want and cannot afford a big family so park home sounds good for the time being. Have looked at park itself on google street view and it actually looks really nice!

Jowo I did try a search on here first- argh what was I doing wrong. Will try again.

ivan I (reluctantly) claimed incapacity benefit once and TBH it saved me completely, not the money but the rock-bottom feeling. It gave me somewhere to spring up from. The DSS staff were very kind to me. I am a very lucky person. Still- everyones different

more info welcome!
*goes to look at Shelter website*

mlz1413

Many park homes are very strict about lawns being cut, cars being parked properly etc so they are nice and quiet places to live.

Check each parks rules, some only allow over 50's, some no pets, some only 10 months per year as each park owns the land so each owner can apply different rules - also look at who supplys the electric as this is often via the park and not an indiviual supply you have a choice over.

I also agree you should discuss claiming benefits with your OH, if you have paid in then there is no reason for not requesting a benefit out when you need it.

00ec25

purplefiona wrote: »

I did try a search on here first- argh what was I doing wrong.

this one covers most opinions on the matter of park homes

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=382730&highlight=park+homes

clutton_2

if you google graham watts park homes - he is the leading expert on park homes law... a good bloke

GDB2222

I just wonder whether the reason that your husband does not want to apply for benefits is that he likes living with his parents. Understandable, really, if he has a serious illness.

Also, mobile homes can be very hard to heat in winter. Is that compatible with his illness?

Sammy85_2

My nan lives on a park. Its a chalet style rather than caravan, on an over 50's site.

Heating is difficult, it has to be on full whack to keep the place warm, i doubt it would rank hightly in energy efficiency. The electricity is supplied by the park, and although it is metered, the rates are at whatever they choose to set them at.

There are strict rules on parking and upkeep of the gardens. Many people have to park their cars away from their homes in designated parking areas, which is a hassle if you are infirm or have tons of shopping!

Ground rent is fairly reasonable, but it is another bill to add to the list.

lincroft1710

Most parks are aimed at over 50s, very few now accept all ages. Park homes are NOT cheap, brand new ones sited can easily top £100K (even £150K) and bear in mind it is a depreciating asset - see how much you will get if you sell after 5 yrs and park owner has taken his cut. Older homes may need external or internal refurbishment.

Sammy85_2

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Most parks are aimed at over 50s, very few now accept all ages. Park homes are NOT cheap, brand new ones sited can easily top £100K (even £150K) and bear in mind it is a depreciating asset - see how much you will get if you sell after 5 yrs and park owner has taken his cut. Older homes may need external or internal refurbishment.

My Nans "hut" needs painting externally EVERY year, she does live near the coast, so this is probably more often than an inland one would need doing, but they look very grubby very fast if it isnt done regularly.

Average cost of chalets on the park is around £55k and as you say, they were around £100k new. They depreciate rather like a car until they reach a certain point and then it flattens out.