Mobile home and british standards

badger12

I think I've been scaremongered! (sp?) and am rather worried.....

I own a residential mobile home (of aluminium type) on a residential pitch and have a Mobile homes Act 1983 written statement all signed etc.

I have been here nearly 7 years.

Recently I was told that due to the new British Standard 3632 which I believe came out in 2005, my home is now classed as a 'holiday' and because the 'holiday' units have an age limit, mine is too old to stay on the Park and I could be moved off at anytime.

If however, I spend 10k on it to upgrade it to the new BS 3632 I can carry on as a residential.....

My question is; does a new standard only apply to new homes built after the date of the new rules? Am I exempt?

lincroft1710

I would think that if your mobile home is aluminium it is either extremely old or not a genuine mobile home. Mobile home manufacturers tended to stop using aluminium for external cladding in the 1970s.

PasturesNew

Without looking anything up, but having lived in one, my guess would be: your right to stay on that site is enshrined in law/your document. The van being 'of the wrong type' is a technicality.

I can see that a site owner wouldn't be able to move a mobile home 'of the wrong sort' onto their park and sell it, but as it's the one that's always been there, then I doubt you'd have to do anything.

As I said, that's just my personal opinion .... I've not heard of this before, so guessed what I'd think to be the case.

If what you say is true, then surely the LL of the site would have been under some legal obligation to ensure your compliance with the law...? And they haven't, so another tick in the box of "I'm all right then Jack" imho.

badger12

I have my answer from another forum.

I am ok. The Park owner would have to take me to court and prove I was determental to the park and the judge, normally, gives you time to "do it up". Mines not got any structural probs, just is old! A face lift maybe in order!

badger12

I can see that a site owner wouldn't be able to move a mobile home 'of the wrong sort' onto their park and sell it,

He did that 3 years ago! Will keep that one up my sleeve tho'

Thanks all

puddy

normally these site owners have the right (or expectation, im not sure) to force their leaseholders to put homes on the site which are no older than x years old. he may be using this to get you to spend money on one (some of which will probably go in his pocket)

dopester

puddy wrote: »

normally these site owners have the right (or expectation, im not sure) to force their leaseholders to put homes on the site which are no older than x years old. he may be using this to get you to spend money on one (some of which will probably go in his pocket)

That is one of the scary things a relative kept telling me about the risks involved in buying some park-style homes.

I'm seeing them later tonight so I'll ask about the other scary risk... which currently escapes me. Something to do with money though.

PasturesNew

The site I used to be on was completely sold off, cleared, laid out in a new design and brand new (very expensive) homes laid out, for a retirement complex. I sometimes wonder what would have happened to me if I'd still been living there.

For residential sites, it used to be that a home had a limited life on the site (20 years I think), that was changed so that so long as the home wasn't tatty it couldn't be removed on age alone.

In my experience and opinion, they're really not ideal for retirement homes, in case you outlive your financial and physical ability to keep yours from looking tatty. What if you buy at age 60 ... how are things when you're 93??

badger12

Have just been on the phone to the National Caravan Council cos the guy who told me I was illegal was not the PO but someone claiming to be the NCC Scottish Rep.

NCC are furious cos apart from what he did to me, they looked up his website whilst I was on the phone and he is using their logo....

NCC have assured me I am ok legally wise and have said to phone them if I get any more harassment from anyone.