To live in a static caravan?

[Teabaggins]

Just after advice really? What is like to permantly live in a static caravan. How warm is it in winter?

Damp is the main adversary. The drying of washing adding to it tremendously.

Lots of sites do not offer 12 month residency. Relative who lived in one HAD to go on "holiday" for 6-8 weeks every jab/ feb when site was closed

We lived in one for 4 years whilst my parents did a self build. Lots of issues with damp, no space for a washer dryer so we’d all be carted off to Grandma’s at the weekend so she could do all our washing.

Hard to heat also, we had oil radiators in each bedroom but I’d wake up with a sheet of ice on the inside each morning! We also speak of the time when we had to go to Grandma’s because the water froze in the pipes, all the way up to the toilet bowl!

As a child it was a fun experience but we moved into our house by the time I was 12 and I can’t imagine I would still have liked living in the caravan beyond that- I enjoyed the privacy and space of the house!

We speak fondly about the time as a family. My brother and I were 8 and 4 when we moved in and it seemed like a great adventure!

The new ones are certainly not hard to heat and do not freeze internally however damp is a problem especially if drying coats etc as well as washing. You need to be minimalist if its a family but new ones are carefully designed. Certain stigma about them although local to me you can get park homes for 400k+ which are posh statics.

Living in an older style one (as the pp did whilst doing a renovation) will probably not be much fun.

As a pp said - most statics are on parks that do not allow for all year round living, but some park homes do have licences for permanent residents. Or. of course, you may have land of your own to put the static on.

Modern ones are surprisingly well insulated and cosy in the winter. Be prepared for the lack of storage space though! It is a great way to declutter - you might be surprised at how little stuff you can actually comfortably live with. Yes, damp is a problem - especially when combined with washing/ drying - I assume this is due to poor ventilation in them, but really hard to avoid.

They are not as cheap as people may think though. To get a static home in a park is very expensive in terms of price per square foot. I know people who have this plan for retirement - sell up their home and use some to pay for a park home - and they are shocked at how little 'change' they are left with.

I also know people who live in their static in the Summer and go to Spain in the winter because of the rules about no all year living. It works well for them - though I don't know how they have manged this year with covid, or in future with Brexit.

I worked in the west country about 25 years ago and a number of my colleagues lived in static caravans. The main issue it seemed to me was that they were often more than walking distance from other than maybe a small shop, and so a car was almost an essential.

I've also heard of the not for 12 months a year rule for some places.

Damp plus, if purchasing, it only depreciates in value and site fees can be extremely expensive.

Many sites as pp have said don’t allow year round residency and sometimes can’t be used as an official address for things like voting and school applications. The site owner may have rules that you have to abide by, for instance units have to be below a certain age.

I have an old one on a tiny site for summer use, its great fun, fabulous freedom for young children etc etc, To live in one permanantly I think would be a stretch, unless you have a top of the range, brand new, with all mod cons and an 'extention porch', winter living would be an absolute misery! cold, damp, no where to dry clothes, coats, boots, even towels in the shower room would be constantly damp.

Do your research very carefully, some sites are more expensive to live on than renting a small house would be.

Don't forget it's like being baked in an oven in summer, you can't leave doors and windows open when you go to bed.

Old ones are cold and damp with no space, you need to live with very few possessions.

@jollygreenpea why on earth can't you keep your windows open in summer?

Because when you're in bed asleep at night it's not the best idea to let anyone or anything just walk or easily climb in.

Thank you everyone for your advice 😊 I'd be getting a new static caravan.

We have an old one. We had intended to spend Christmas and New Year in it. It isn't cold or damp. In fact, with the fire lit, it is lovely and cosy. I would agree that storage is a problem though.

@Bwlch its not a problem, I've only got clothes to take

@jollygreenpea, really? would you not open a window in a ground floor flat or bungalow?

Have a look at Billing Aquadrome (been in the news due to flooding) as just one example of these type of parks.
Personally I like the idea/look/practically of lodges - but they still can have the same problem with being non residential for 2 months of the year, however they are better insulated, have a better resale price, and more storage.

thebabessavedme

Personally I wouldn't, no, not while I'm sleeping, if you or anyone else wants to then fine.

It depends for me on why you are looking at it?

New ones can be pretty decent, central heating, double glazing, dishwasher, washing machine etc but they are pricey! They depreciate too so you’ll only ever lose. Do a lot of research into the site you want it on, they vary wildly and some (in particularly touristy areas) have quite a long list of rules.

We have one for summer holidays etc, site fees are £4500 a year. It’s not a ‘cheap’ option tbh

Hard to heat also, we had oil radiators in each bedroom but I’d wake up with a sheet of ice on the inside each morning!
That was normal in houses when I was a child

Depends on if you looking at one pitched on a holiday park or on a residential site.
Holiday homes tend to have basic insulation and not be boxed in.
They need to be vacated for at least 4 weeks of the year.
Site fees can be high plus some add on storage fees in winter.
Gas and electric usually has to be bought on site.

Residential homes are usually blocked in , can have double glazing, roofs, insulation and cladding.
I know of a residential site near Edinburgh where various units have central heating either bottle gas or oil fired. Residents free to choose who supplies these.
Some have wood burning stoves now.
They pay council tax but in lowest band.
Site fees are generally less than holiday parks.
Electric is by card from the site.

Obviously not the most energy efficient but they can be warm and cozy