Using a caravan as an office

jhob

I am self-employed and currently work from home in a home office. However we will have a new baby in a couple of months and my office will become it's bedroom so I am looking around for some local office space without much luck.

Today I thought that I could buy an old touring caravan, park it on the drive and convert that into an office.

Doesn't anyone know the legalities of doing such a thing?

I also thinking about removing the A-frame at the front, would that affect anything?

Thanks in advance for any responses,

John

choille

Yes you can in Scotland.
Removing the A frame stops it being classed as a tourer.

isplumm

jhob wrote: »

I am self-employed and currently work from home in a home office. However we will have a new baby in a couple of months and my office will become it's bedroom so I am looking around for some local office space without much luck.

Today I thought that I could buy an old touring caravan, park it on the drive and convert that into an office.

Doesn't anyone know the legalities of doing such a thing?

I also thinking about removing the A-frame at the front, would that affect anything?

Thanks in advance for any responses,

John

Hi,

I would be worried about security - but also how warm would it be? Also check to make sure that the council allows this - we have something in our deeds that stops us having a caravan on our driveway.

Also be aware that the neighbours may not like it - especially a scruffy caravan.

Mark

jhob

I have thought about the security aspect - don't keep anything valuable in there overnight!

And for warmth, hoping that a decent gas fire will heat it nicely.

We rent and I have oked it with the landlord. Where I'm planning to put it has high walls on 2 sides and is only overlooked by one property, and even that only by the bathroom. Nobody else would be able to see it. I'd keep it looking nice anyway so wouldn't get a total !!!! heap.

phill99

You may find that removing the A frame means it becomes a permanent structure, so will require planning permission.

Happy to be corrected tough.

What about a log cabin in the garden?

jhob

We did consider the log cabin idea but because we currently rent (hoping to buy the place we're in once I have enough self-employment account) that could work out a very expensive option. If we do buy this place then it is very likely we would put a log cabin in. Be a bit nicer to work in!

I was wondering if removing the A-frame might change it's classification. The space I have to tuck it into is quite tight and removing the A-frame might have meant I could get a slightly larger caravan. Sounds like best to play safe and leave the A-frame where it is.

wildbri

Its a practical idea, I keep my caravan in the garden and use it for leisure, there is nothing to stop you using your telephone or computer in there. Regards the draw bar, to remove this on a touring van would not be practical it is part of the chassis. You could cut it off but then you would be left with a box on wheels which you would have great difficulty in moving should you need to maintain the house or dispose of it in the future. Regrds bri

wildbri

If you use a touring caravan you should have no planning problem if you are not living in it, but a static caravan is a different matter you you may have planning problems then. bri

jhob

Excellent, that sounds pretty clear then - ok to use it an office, probably not ok to chop off A-frame. I'll just have to go for a really small caravan then.

jc808

!!!!!! just park it and if anyone asks just say youre giving it a little hoover inside

tommie1shunt

We have a couple of caravans, heat them with a simple £15 convector heater, or if you need heat fast a fan heater, easily keep a van warm, heat them on Calor gas you can turn them in to saunas if you turn the heat up.
Taking the A frame off is just barking mad.