To want to live in a Trailer park?

[RainbowsAndUnicorns5]

Step dad lives in a trailer park... It's beautiful, quiet, cosy, warm, very modern, little garden. No shared walls... Only catch is its for over 60s only.

After exh & I sell the family house I'll have some cash but not enough to buy in our expensive town for me & 2 kids. got me thinking about how I'd like to live in a trailer park... Does anyone?

[EveryoneElsie]

I did, it was cheap and cheerful. I liked it. If you can find a way to insulate it and deal with the condensation its actually quite nice.
Theres less housework, less furniture to buy, and you have to live tidily. So theres less clutter.

[WorriedOrStressed]

YANBU if that's what you wish. Got a feeling you have to actually fully replace your home every ?? years though dependent on conditions of the site.

[sall74]

In theory I would like to, however... they seem to be hardly any cheaper to buy than a conventional freehold house, they have very little security of tenure, they have outrageous site fees and ground rents and come with all sorts of bizarre rules and regulations.

Other than that they would be perfect for me!

[isupposeitsverynice]

We lived in a static caravan for a year with two kids. The novelty value made it amusing at first but by the end of the year I was pretty sick of it. Too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer, damp everything, MASSIVE spiders coming in everywhere from all the vents. Kids go mad under each others feet and bedrooms were too tiny to offer any real respite from each other. Hard to cook properly in titchy kitchenette. I missed having baths a lot more than I expected to. We couldn't get a proper phone line hooked up either, so were stuck with mobile internet too, that was painful. That's probably easier on an actual site though. I recently dreamt we were back there and woke up in a mad panic - it's definitely not my cup of tea!

[RainbowsAndUnicorns5]

cheap and cheerful
Well that is me, in a nutshell
Yes I'd like the clutterless , tidy living dc are quite neat too so think they'd be alright
I have single glazing currently so used to dealing with condensation. That is something I'd love to do without though!
Hmmm what about the caravan park image? I guess it's alright if you're on an over 60s quiet one..

[ratspeaker]

There are parks which aren't retirement parks. Have a google at park homes and see if there are any in your area. Check several websites as some don't list all the parks.
Make sure it is residential not just a holiday park if you intend to live there all year round.

Keep in mind that after you have bought the static caravan you will need to pay ground rent each month.
You may be required to buy your electric and calor gas through the park.
Council tax should be lower.

I know someone living in a fully double glazed, centrally heated ( oil fired boiler) they seem cozy enough. It is a varied age group living there, families as well as older people.
The neighbours have a multi fuel stove as well as central heating.

There is much more security of tenure since the new mobile home act came in.

[RainbowsAndUnicorns5]

Thanks, yes that's what I'm thinking.
Anyone currently living in one?
Not sure if I'm crazy but just thinking there must be some other way

[MargaretCabbage]

My aunt and uncle have lived in a park home for over 10 years. It's lovely. They sold their house in a deprived area and now live in a beautiful area, next to beautiful beaches and lovely walks. They're the happiest people I know.

[ratspeaker]

I know people living in a park home, its not a retirement park so there are families and older people, has a village sort of feel although its within commuting distance of city centre.

They have sky tv, phone, internet.

The next door neighbours bought a relativly decrepit unit and gutted it, reconfigured the layout- no need for planning permission , they also installed a multi fuel stove as well as new kitchen and shower room.

Many units are insulated now, some clad in upvc, some like wooden chalets, some still look like caravans. Although they still have wheels underneath the undersides are bricked in, many have had roofs added so they dont look like static caravans anymore.
Some are heated by electric panels, some by oil fired boilers, some by calor gas.

A lot depends on the park and its rules.

The park owners can no longer dictate that you sell through them but they do have the right to a percentage on any sales.
Most sales are done through the likes of gumtree and private ads. As its like buying or selling a car there is no stamp duty. It can be difficult to get a mortgage on a park home , some people take out personal loans.

Insurance can be tricky but there are specialised firms out there, as with everything it pays to shop around.

There are park home owners websites around, have a read at them

[WorraLiberty]

Choose very carefully.

My ex husband lives in a caravan park and over the last 2 years, the council have been housing families there who have been kicked out of properties, mostly for anti-social behaviour.

This has resulted in caravans being vandalised/set alight and the once lovely little camp club, recently closed down due to being smashed up for the second time this year.

Of course they're not all like this, but you do have to put a lot of research into it.

[SlimCheesy]

I stayed in one last year for a weekend and thought it was a great. Mixture of people living there and holiday makers. Right next to the beach. Had a shop, a restaurant, two pools, great children's playground, golfcourse..... fabulous views, loads of entertainment etc. I would definitely consider it!

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

My uncle has lived in one for over 40 years and you'd never know it was a mobile home. DH and I are considering it as it's the only way we'll ever be able to afford a detached home!

[dowhatnow]

There are some gorgeous ones the same size as bungalows, which fit proper furniture in. I could happily live in one of those but they cost the same as a small house too.

With children there isn't enough space i a normal one. It would be ok for a single or couple.

Are you in the Uk?

[RainbowsAndUnicorns5]

Yes Uk. I've been in a couple, they are lovely.
I just keep thinking there's got to be an alternative to a 25 yr mortgage for a tiny cramped terrace