Static caravans and sites... Any advice?

[Deleted User]

I'm looking at possible alternatives to buying or renting a house for the short term ie 1-3 years and the possibility of renting a static caravan on a site but depending on price there is a possibility of buying. I know nothing about the static caravans and how they operate. Are there any good sites within 1-2 hours of London and does anyone have any advice on the approx costs that might be involved and the pros and cons. 

Can any be found for rental or are these normally only ever on the market for sale. 

Ectophile

A couple of things to bear in mind...

1. Caravans depreciate.  You can buy a beautiful new caravan, but in 15 years time it will be a tatty old shed only wanted for sticking on a driveway while someone renovates their house.  Check the site's policy for what happens to old caravans.
   
2. Make sure you know whether it's a residential park or a holiday park you are looking at.  The owners of holiday parks may look the other way if you start to live there permanently.  But if there is ever any dispute with the park owners, then a plot on a holiday park is just a holiday let.  You don't have the same rights that someone renting a home would have.
   

gwynlas

We can drive to London in two hours but the cost of park homes here is more than the cost of flats then you have the addition of site fees etc. I know flats come with service charges but they at least are likely to increase in value rather than depreciate,
If you are prepared to live anywhere within two hours of London and have a deposit you are better off buying bricks and mortar,

Mercdriver

Holiday parks' planning consent usually specifically excludes permanent residence.  

Goudy

There are a few residential sites on the Isle of Sheppey which is about 50 miles from London, then down the cost through Whitstable towards Margate.
There are a few agents about the internet that deal with sales and rentals, but as already written you require 12 months residence to live there all year and not all sites allow that, most holiday sites close for around 8 to 12 weeks in the winter.

Prices vary, a new chalet with 12 month residency can start from around 70k to around 15k+ for a used caravan, but it's true, caravans and chalets tend to depreciate pretty quickly.

They'll be conditions in the residency that will require you to update any ropey old 'van or chalet on order and you'll need to factor in site fees into the cost.

For rental, you need to phone all the agents, they'll be in a better place to help you.

[Deleted User]

Thanks everyone for your replies so far. With regards to having to leave some sites for a few weeks of the year that would not be an issue. 

cognoscenti

Daveym79 said:

Thanks everyone for your replies so far. With regards to having to leave some sites for a few weeks of the year that would not be an issue. 

Be aware that your "few weeks" is usually between two months and up to four months.

Mercdriver

It will be even longer this year due to lockdown.

Ectophile

cognoscenti said:

Daveym79 said:

Thanks everyone for your replies so far. With regards to having to leave some sites for a few weeks of the year that would not be an issue. 

Be aware that your "few weeks" is usually between two months and up to four months.

There are sites around me that advertise an 11½ month season.

If you are willing to bend the rules and use it as a permanent home, that's only a fortnight winter holiday somewhere.

Mercdriver

Ectophile said:

cognoscenti said:

Daveym79 said:

Thanks everyone for your replies so far. With regards to having to leave some sites for a few weeks of the year that would not be an issue. 

Be aware that your "few weeks" is usually between two months and up to four months.

There are sites around me that advertise an 11½ month season.

If you are willing to bend the rules and use it as a permanent home, that's only a fortnight winter holiday somewhere.

Except if we get a second and third wave and the government closes them again.  Where would the OP go then?

pogofish

Ectophile said:

There are sites around me that advertise an 11½ month season.

If you are willing to bend the rules and use it as a permanent home, that's only a fortnight winter holiday somewhere.

This all depends on the policies implemented by the individual local authorities and the type of licensing for the site concerned.

My own suggestion - don’t get a site on a flood plain, or at least ensure your insurance is boilerplate. 

That’s how we lost ours: