Advice about Selling a Static Caravan

LA85

Trying to help some friends out. They wish to sell their static caravan, but have been told by the site owner that in order to do this, they have to empty it at the point they wish it to go on sale, and are not allowed to use/enter the caravan again. Is this legal? They have recently paid £4000 in fees, which they have been told are not refundable, but it seems harsh that they cannot use it while it is on sale. Any advice? 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Is the requirement included with the terms for the pitch and has the site given any reason for having this requirement?

It could be classed as an unfair term but finding out the sites reason would help clarify whether this was the case. 

[Deleted User]

These static caravan site owners seem to be horrible. 
The way they hold people to ransom like this, also with tales of saying their caravans are too old and they have to upgrade or get out etc.
£4000 a year pitch fees seems a lot too.

dogshome

Read the Sites T's & C's - Not uncommon that van Purchases and Sales can only be conducted via the sites owners, which seems to be the case here, or why else would the site care how the van was presented if it was a direct person-to-person private sale

LA85

Thanks, yeah, they fully accept that they have to sell it through the owner, they're just disappointed that they have paid the fees, still own the caravan, yet wouldn't be allowed to use it, even if it took months to sell! I've asked them to dig out the Ts and Cs they got when they bought it. 

Alfrescodave

The only way I can see any sense in this dictate is if the site owner was actually buying the caravan off your friends and then reselling it. Very much doubt that this is the case. As others have said the T&C's need to be scrutinised thoroughly. 

LadyDee

Is this a holiday caravan on a site where it can only be used for, say, 10 months of the year, or permanent residence, i.e. a "mobile home" or "park home"?  If so, check out the regulations on sale here park-homes
If it is a park home the site owner is not allowed to require it to be sold by them - they are free to sell themselves or through agents.  The new Mobile Homes Act gave quite a lot of protection to owners of mobile/park homes especially when buying/selling.

badmemory

It could be a new term caused by the virus as they would have to deep clean after each of your visits before they could show it to prospective buyers.

The_Rainmaker

Funny isn't it, 5 months ago I would have said trying to sell a caravan would be nigh on impossible now I suspect there will be good demand.