The Nice People Thread, No.16: A Universe of Niceness.

PasturesNew

chris_m wrote: »

I'd call that a lot - my old flat was £20pa

Well, for holiday caravan/chalets on the more modern annual licenses, a typical Park Dean site might charge £3-5k. There's a site up the road from here that charges £7-8k.

There are some older chalets - think "a terrace of small concrete chalets" still on old 99 year leases from the 1950s/1960s on some sites, these tend to be a lot lower as they're of the old fashioned long lease variety, so would be closer to £200-400 (but rare).

Having any holiday home is, these days, in most areas, a "wealthier than you" situation!

If you want "cheap" then there are parts of the country where it looks more affordable, at up to £1000/year, such as parts of Norfolk, Suffolk, North Devon and way up the East Coast (Co Durham). But £1000/year, plus council tax, plus services, plus insurance, plus any loan repayments, plus the limited life-span of most chalets on sites means it can be costing you £2-3k/year ... so unaffordable for most and pointless for many. Unless you have a burning desire to be there for long periods and/or have a large extended family who will also holiday there ... it's a LOT of money to be obliged to spend out every year on "bit of a holiday".

PasturesNew

Generally speaking, when people buy these things, they expect that as it's been going years it'll keep going years, so when faced with a short lease they're assured by various statements about new leases etc.... but sometimes it does come to an end, suddenly.

Recently half a caravan park on the Isle of Wight was cleared, with the caravan owners having to remove them and the caravans then worth £2k, not the £XXX they paid for them.

It's all a bit "iffy"... just depends on the whims and desires of the current owners really as to whether that site'll still be run "like it always has been" for the next 50 years... which it rarely does once the owners realise the value of the land.

Google "isle of wight" "rookley park", or click this random one:
https://iwradio.co.uk/2017/10/10/holiday-home-owners-evicted-by-rookley-park/

Although Rookley Country Park states in its terms and conditions that caravans must not be occupied for more than 6 consecutive weeks, many people staying there say they consider it their home, as they only leave for one or two nights every six weeks in compliance with the terms and conditions and otherwise, stay there on a full-time basis.

One holiday homeowner who feels this way is also one of the eldest, aged 90. She's told fellow owners she still has outstanding finance on the caravan and has nowhere else to go. This lady, like many others, has been told to vacate by the end of this year, which means she could be homeless by Christmas.

GDB2222

PasturesNew wrote: »

Well, for holiday caravan/chalets on the more modern annual licenses, a typical Park Dean site might charge £3-5k. There's a site up the road from here that charges £7-8k.

There are some older chalets - think "a terrace of small concrete chalets" still on old 99 year leases from the 1950s/1960s on some sites, these tend to be a lot lower as they're of the old fashioned long lease variety, so would be closer to £200-400 (but rare).

Having any holiday home is, these days, in most areas, a "wealthier than you" situation!

If you want "cheap" then there are parts of the country where it looks more affordable, at up to £1000/year, such as parts of Norfolk, Suffolk, North Devon and way up the East Coast (Co Durham). But £1000/year, plus council tax, plus services, plus insurance, plus any loan repayments, plus the limited life-span of most chalets on sites means it can be costing you £2-3k/year ... so unaffordable for most and pointless for many. Unless you have a burning desire to be there for long periods and/or have a large extended family who will also holiday there ... it's a LOT of money to be obliged to spend out every year on "bit of a holiday".

It depends on your circumstances. Retired or semi-retired people might spend several months a year in their holiday home. Of course, you might ask the obvious question: If it's so good, why not move there permanently?

Those homes on the cliffs at Hemsby might be glorious in the summer, overlooking a placid sea. In the winter, overlooking the sea with a storm up, they might not be so much fun. And that's without the added excitement of not knowing whether the house will still be there in the morning.

Pyxis

Although Rookley Country Park states in its terms and conditions that caravans must not be occupied for more than 6 consecutive weeks, many people staying there say they consider it their home, as they only leave for one or two nights every six weeks in compliance with the terms and conditions and otherwise, stay there on a full-time basis.

One holiday homeowner who feels this way is also one of the eldest, aged 90. She's told fellow owners she still has outstanding finance on the caravan and has nowhere else to go. This lady, like many others, has been told to vacate by the end of this year, which means she could be homeless by Christmas.

It may seem harsh, but it seems strange to me that people who sign up to the rules of the lease regarding occupation, etc., and enjoy the benefits of effectively'flouting' the rules for many years, then suddenly start pleading 'but it's our home!' when the landlords don't want to renew the leases.

It sounds harsh to say that, but they knew what they were signing up for, surely?

Jackmydad

Pyxis wrote: »

It may seem harsh, but it seems strange to me that people who sign up to the rules of the lease regarding occupation, etc., and enjoy the benefits of effectively'flouting' the rules for many years, then suddenly start pleading 'but it's our home!' when the landlords don't want to renew the leases.

It sounds harsh to say that, but they knew what they were signing up for, surely?

I really do wonder if a lot of people do understand what they're getting into.
I tend to read the small print, but I wonder how many do.

LydiaJ

CKhalvashi wrote: »

We had rain this morning though rather than snow, so ultimately it may not be that bad as it may not have the chance to properly set. Here's hoping...

Good luck tomorrow Lydia!

Thanks CK. He cancelled, as I expected, not so much because of the snow here but because his own home has been snowed in. However, he's offered to rearrange for next Sunday, so that's not too long.

Our street, which was covered with ice a few hours ago, is now clear, although there is still a fair amount of snow on the grass and people's roofs etc. We're not forecast any more snow here, so I'm expecting a normal school day for DS and DD tomorrow.

vivatifosi

Regarding mobile homes, where they are used as permanent residences, don't the owners have more rights as of a couple of years ago? I did wonder if that's why some sites close for a couple of months, to stop that situation applying.

Found it:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-resident-rights-for-park-homes-will-root-out-the-rogues

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/shared_ownership_leasehold/mobile_home_owners

PasturesNew

vivatifosi wrote: »

Regarding mobile homes, where they are used as permanent residences, don't the owners have more rights as of a couple of years ago? I did wonder if that's why some sites close for a couple of months, to stop that situation applying.

Found it:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-resident-rights-for-park-homes-will-root-out-the-rogues

The trouble is, people get the terminology mixed up.

A holiday/mobile home is one thing, defined by the agreement you enter into, which is based on the planning permission of the Park.

A residential home has additional requirements re insulation etc - but, again, is dictated by the planning permission of the site and the agreement you enter into.

Living in one "as residential" doesn't make it residential if the planning permission and your agreement do not back this up.

Residential park home owners do have more protection from evictions - although not immune from it, they simply get more notice/rights.

Many holiday home parks have people who live in them full-time - some all year round and some just move out a few days every X weeks, or for a month a year, depending on the restrictions in their license/planning permission. But, because they are "working the system" it doesn't turn a holiday home into a residential home.

You either have one, or the other ... no matter which language you use to describe it, or how you mentally view it ... it all comes down to what did you sign and what's the PP on the site.

The residential site where I lived about 25 years ago was cleared completely about 10 years after I left, all vans removed. It was then laid out in a different layout with all brand new vans and is now a retirement home park. If I'd not moved from there I'd have been evicted.... and a mobile home off a site is worth about £2k and very few sites will ever offer you a space to rent for you to site it because, instead, they could simply offer the space to somebody buying a brand new van through them and really pocket "big profits".

I sold my van for about £7500 or so (10% given to the site owner who had to interview the incoming owners) .... second hand ones there are now on at about £175k. It's also "over 50s only" now. So if I'd stayed there's no way I could've bought a new one, nor been allowed to live there.

CKhalvashi

eringray wrote: »

What a nice thread for NICE people who think NICE and helping people to get back to NICE-ness. Weldone!

We do try

Welcome to the NPT, do you like mushrooms?

vivatifosi

Hey CK, what do you think of this year's Eurovision?