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Original poster

does anyone live in a mobile home?

27 replies

MentholLoad · 07/08/2023 20:33

am considering it in the future to reduce house work/maintenance, get a good view and free up spends for deposits for the kids

what's it like? in particular what are the cons? why don't we all live in mobile homes?? 🤷🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
KnickerlessParsons · 07/08/2023 20:37

Big cons are the size and the fact they don't last for ever

Original poster
MentholLoad · 07/08/2023 20:38

size is a plus for me. I want small, less cleaning. maybe a flat though

OP posts:
Coronationstation · 07/08/2023 20:39

Why we don’t all live in mobile homes…..they’re small, badly insulated, they don’t last as long as bricks and mortar, you probably can’t get a mortgage on one, they blow away in bad storms, you don’t usually own the land they sit on so also pay ground rent / site fees.

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guzzleandstuff · 07/08/2023 20:41

Some of the pitches are quite badly run. The contracts can be restrictive.

Busubaba · 07/08/2023 20:42

Don't they usually have an age restriction such as being over 55 or a time restriction where you can only live ten months of the year in them?

I stand to be corrected .

WallaceinAnderland · 07/08/2023 20:44

You can only live in them 11 months of the year. Rents are expensive. They deteriorate quite rapidly, are too cold in winter and too hot in summer. If you have one on a park the contract often forces you to up buy after a certain period.

Whinge · 07/08/2023 20:45

Coronationstation · 07/08/2023 20:39

Why we don’t all live in mobile homes…..they’re small, badly insulated, they don’t last as long as bricks and mortar, you probably can’t get a mortgage on one, they blow away in bad storms, you don’t usually own the land they sit on so also pay ground rent / site fees.

Yep, all of this.

Op, I'm slightly concerned that you're considering it but haven't come across a single reason why it would be a bad idea. Just how much reasearch have you done?

MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 07/08/2023 20:46

I guess we don't all live in them because they don't last as long as proper houses.

Danceswithweasels · 07/08/2023 20:48

I did, many years ago. I loved minimising my life to the essentials, easy to clean, lots of cubby holes. It did feel damp in the winter and always had condensation and was very hot in the summer (modern ones might be better). I had a lovely view as it was on a farm where I was working. But, it depends where you are thinking of living, lots of mobile home sites are pretty packed in so your view might not be great and holiday sites you can only live in 11 months of the year But if you have land with planning for one it might be great.

Coronationstation · 07/08/2023 20:50

Busubaba · 07/08/2023 20:42

Don't they usually have an age restriction such as being over 55 or a time restriction where you can only live ten months of the year in them?

I stand to be corrected .

Some you can live in all year round (a relative lives on this site) but the pitch fees are pretty expensive and fundamentally it’s still a glorified caravan! https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/Hambleton-11742/retirement.html

Rightmove.co.uk

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https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/Hambleton-11742/retirement.html

Timeforabiscuit · 07/08/2023 20:50

The sites aren't usually allowed to have 12 months habitation, so you need to be elsewhere for 2 months each year.

Ground rents and service charges can be changed at little notice, contracts are often extensive and not written to the caravan owners benefit.

On nicer sites there is often a clause to upgrade the van I.e. no caravans over 10 years old.

Disposing or moving a static van is a complete fucking costly ballache.

I've never had a good shower in a caravan.

Some site owners are unscrupulous money grabbing bastards, one local to us basically snared a load of retired couples to move in then jacked up service charges and didn't allow them to break contract and leave the site without huge penalty clauses, it's with trading standards but as its in the contract and they signed and accepted the terms it's tricky.

MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 07/08/2023 20:54

Are we talking about static caravans or park homes?
My Grandad lives in the latter. All year round. Full bathroom. Properly heated and insulated.

wineschmine · 07/08/2023 20:59

Wonder why it's so much more common in America?

I can see the appeal, OP, and some of them are lovely. I think the main downside is being beholden to whoever owns the land - and site fees can be very expensive.

Maraudingmarauders · 07/08/2023 20:59

MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 07/08/2023 20:54

Are we talking about static caravans or park homes?
My Grandad lives in the latter. All year round. Full bathroom. Properly heated and insulated.

Agreed, my nan lives in a park home on a lovely well established site. They go for ridiculous sums! However down side is thay they do deteriorate and her contract says she has to keep it in good condition. When she dies or goes into a home its doubtful we will be able to sell it on as its old now despite being well cared for.
But it's been great for easy living for her and was a good community when she was more mobile.

GOODCAT · 07/08/2023 21:06

I used to for 4 years. It wasn't time limited as it wasn't on a park site. The plus was that I lived in a really nice place. The con was that heating was expensive.

At the time I was mostly out and mostly ate and slept there. I loved it at the time, but I had a very strong urge to get back to bricks and mortar by the end. I wouldn't choose to retire in one. It is fine while you are in good health, but in old age it can be harder to navigate the steps up. If on a park site, the community side can be good. However, the costs can be high. If you do sell up, the park owners get a percentage.

StarDolphins · 07/08/2023 21:10

I did. I bought one when I was 18 to save up for a flat. I loved it, I felt safe, it was cheap to run, had a little garden. But, the ground rent was £120 & that was 20 years ago! it was also cold (smelt a bit damp)! They’re built much better now, mine was old & rickety! I stayed 3 years though.

SquashPenguin · 07/08/2023 21:13

I did a visit to a very delapidated static van site. The residents had all moved out and the land was bought up. It was rancid. They must have been freezing in those homes. You could have heard a pin drop on the other side of the ‘walls’.

meringue33 · 07/08/2023 21:39

Because they don’t have a welfare state so people down on their luck end up in trailer parks. And also because much of the USA is much warmer than this country.

Original poster
MentholLoad · 07/08/2023 23:18

Busubaba · 07/08/2023 20:42

Don't they usually have an age restriction such as being over 55 or a time restriction where you can only live ten months of the year in them?

I stand to be corrected .

some do and some don't. residential parks, you can live there 12/12

OP posts:
Original poster
MentholLoad · 07/08/2023 23:25

hmm, first scan...I don't think people commenting know much about them? modern ones are well insulated, much better than most existing housing stock. cheaper to heat. they don't blow away 😁

yes, you can live in residential parks all year round. I don't need a mortgage.

take the points about badly run sites and longevity...but I probably don't need it to last all that long. will look into up-buying clauses

will read through comments more carefully now. 🙏 thanks

OP posts:
continentallentil · 07/08/2023 23:42

It’ll be cold when you’re old

And mobile home small is too small with limited mobility

And far from shops

Do not give up your home to give your kids deposits - that is bonkers

Greydog · 07/08/2023 23:53

I lived in one for several years, and I was happy in it. It could be cold in winter, but I think more modern ones would be better insulated. It was Park Home, rather than a caravan site, and was well run. Had a garden all round, and neighbours who were not too near! I don't know what age group you are, but age uk have a fact sheet about Park Homes which may be usefull

Neonyellowfish · 07/08/2023 23:53

My auntie lives in a park home. She had it made to order and to be honest. It’s really nice. Iv been in smaller 1 bed flats. It has a full size bathroom with a large bath and 2 bedrooms.

As far as I’m aware. They love it. Now mortgage free.

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 08/08/2023 00:08

Typically very restrictive covenants. Ground rent/service charges can be high. Usually required to upgrade after a certain number of years - it's not like buying a house that you then own in perpetuity. Hard to sell, and when you do the park usually takes a hefty cut.

Mossstitch · 08/08/2023 00:09

I'd rather have one than a flat. I have friends in one and is more like a very modern detached bungalow, did cost nearly 200k though! Lovely and warm with underfloor central heating, ensuite and very relaxing way of life. Downsides for me personally is the depreciation factor not much for kids to inherit and the extra bill of the ground rent which is quite substantial.