to think about living in a caravan in a field?

[OhLori]

I am on HB with one child. Been offered one flat that smells totally of piss, on a housing estate that looks like something out of the Soviet Union, circa 1959. I mean open-air prisons look more inviting: low-rise, green spaces, plenty of facilities. (Those architects should be serving life sentences, preferably living in the flats they designed).

At least I could do a nice fry-up outdoors in the morning, like the gypsies do.

[ConfusedPixie]

I've been thinking about this. Problem is, you need a bit of land to park your caravan on, and that doesn't come cheaply! You also seem to need planning permission for the caravan. If you rent a pitch in an established site you have to come off for one month a year due to council tax reasons.

DP and I are saving at the moment and it's a possibility though :)

[EhricLovesTeamQhuay]

Flojobunny that is such an unhelpful post. It is a problem finding private rents if you are on full benefits, or work part time. It's hard enough if you work full time with the housing shortage we have, especially in the south.

[lljkk]

Weird, I know several people who comment on chronic cold & damp problems when they've had to live in a caravan for long spells. Maybe depends on quality of your vehicle.

Some are better insulated than others, else can be very expensive to heat.

Dunno about canal boats, but I haven't noticed whether OP said whether her child can swim?

[MsBella]

If you heat it you won't have a problem with cold or damp
Heat with wood, its free
If you do decide on this then your quality of life will almost definitely improve!

[VerySmallSqueak]

ShesAStar they may have been benders.
They can be made really cosy.

[marjproops]

what about those cabin things? cant remember what theyre called now, you see them in seaside towns.

[ShesAStar]

VerySmallSqueak don't ruin my illusion! They were not benders, they were eco-warriors with children and manual sewing machines and a love of not paying rent and council tax!

[MsBella]

bender TENTS ShesAStar!

[GoSuckEggs]

kim, yes you can get internet. My DH works from home so he uses a dongal thing. seems to work fine for him

[SucksToBeMe]

Op, I am in your exact position. I have lived in 3 caravans. All on traveller sites. Which to be honest had no travellers on, we were all working/HB/saving for deposit families. It was safe and friendly, I never locked the door!
I loved it in the summer but oh my god, I can't tell you how cold they are in the winter. In one I had the condensation turn to ice on the INSIDE!!
The rent was 500pcm and all other houses/flats in the area are 800+pcm.

[VerySmallSqueak]

ShesAStar benders are a bit like tents,as MsBella says.

Usually a wooden framework with tarp over the top and secured with rope.

[VerySmallSqueak]

marj.Beach huts?

[Flojobunny]

I don't know why its unhelpful I was on full benefits and found 3 private rents easily enough. The first one wanted a guarantor (sp?) which my dad happily did. But the other 2 didn't. They didn't care so long as the rent is paid.
Local estate agent tried telling me the don't rent out to benefits people but I just ignored them and posted a note through the actual house and luckily the landlord picked it up and said that's fine. I've been here for the last 5 yrs and never missed a payment. Like I said HB is short each month by about £70 but income support, child tax creds and child benefit are more than enough to cover it.

[tethering]

Modern caravans or park homes are great. You can get ones where the insulation level is the same, if not better, than a house. If you go to an established site (either a residential or traveller's park) then you'll have all your services including gas, water, telephone and broadband. There are a few sites across the country and most accept HB tenants.

[marjproops]

very NOOOOO. not beach huts (mind you.....)

i meant they look like winnebagos without wheels and you can have little decking area and it stays in the same place.

think you fing them on haven holidays type things.

[marjproops]

find them, not fing them!

[ShesAStar]

I thought you were so un-PC! I'd never heard of a bender tent. I even googled it and still nothing came up about outdoor living!

[VerySmallSqueak]

I can imagine ShesAStar

[OhLori]

Flojo, you know nothing about me or my circumstances, and your comments are neither funny or clever or helpful. From the nasty personal remark directed at me in your original posting, I think you sound like a right bitch to be honest. And from your second posting you sound like you think you are very clever and everyone else is very stupid. I suspect the opposite is more likely the case ... anyway I suggest you jog on and find another thread that is more in your experience.

[OhLori]

As for me (hopefully that eejit gone now) its been quite an emotional experience being on this thread. I think I'm going to have to make some very difficult decisions in the near future and I don't feel optimistic about what will happen, but part of me is sort of past caring now. Anyhow, thanks for all the helpful comments and ideas

[MsBella]

Well OhLori, which ever way things go, at least you have this plan to fall back on!
It could be just what you need in your life

[marjproops]

Ohlori do let us know if there are other options and what happens with you.

[Pandemoniaa]

They sound like bathing machines, marj. Although since laydees are now allowed to show an ankle at the seaside they've become less popular!


I like your idea though, OP. When I was a single parent there were several times when I just thought "oh sod it, let's just run away and live in the woods". The thought of being able to abandon the grim search for affordable, conventional property was so attractive.