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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think about living in a caravan in a field?

145 replies

OhLori · 12/04/2013 17:46

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.

OP posts:
VerySmallSqueak · 12/04/2013 21:34

Good luck OhLori

marjproops · 12/04/2013 21:38

nooooo. im not describing it properly! they are white buildings, made of wood or plasticy type wood (!) and look like holiday cabins. some have little decking terraces. theres loads in skegness.

might be permanent caravans? without wheels.totally blank as to what theyre called.

theyre not small, a bit shorter than the length of a tennis court and a bit squashier than one...duh! totes blank. bit portakabin but white and slatboarded.

anyone have ANY idea what i mean?

VerySmallSqueak · 12/04/2013 21:41

Shepherd huts marj ?

mumtolilh · 12/04/2013 21:41

If you think you'd like it...I say go for it...it's your life :-)

IneedAyoniNickname · 12/04/2013 21:41

Marj, do you mean a static caravan? Like you get at haven and the like?

marjproops · 12/04/2013 21:45

Ineed THANK YOU! yes, thats what i mean.

can they not be housing option? they look sweet. or are they just holiday homes or lets?

Tortington · 12/04/2013 21:47

i know someone who has done this, totally makes sense - the site fees, gas and leccy, water, community charge, all in one bill - paying about £30 a week.

don't know if HB cover it though

and theres something about not being able to stay there 12 months of the year - only 10 or something

grovel · 12/04/2013 21:50

My sister lived in a caravan in a field for three years. Bloody hard work but cosy in winter. GLORIOUS in summer. Better, much better, than 52 weeks a year on a grim estate.

littlestgirlguide · 12/04/2013 21:51

My parents have lived in an 18 foot touring caravan for the last 3 years, all year round. I livec in one myself as a child for a year or so, with my brother and parents. It's not cold, and not damp, and not uncomfortable. They pay £50 a week to a farm, which has no facilities other than a tap and somewhere to empty the chemical toilet. It's not ideal, obviously, small, and having to fetch water etc, but generally pretty good. Buy the newest, biggest caravan you can, and the best of luck to you. YANBU to favour this over a horrible cat pissy council flat in a horrible area.

MsBella · 12/04/2013 21:54

A lot of sites are covered by housing benefit Smile

stargirl1701 · 12/04/2013 21:55

A yurt? With a stove.

expatinscotland · 12/04/2013 21:59

Most parks won't let you stay in them for 12 months out of the year is the problem. Some parks will allow you to live year-round in a lodge/chalet, but not the caravans. and you can't just park up anywhere.

expatinscotland · 12/04/2013 22:01

I'd definitely do it, though.

Doodledumdums · 12/04/2013 22:02

My dad lived in a caravan for two years and he liked it. He was only there mon-Fri though so I think that's how he got round the council tax issue- but I may be wrong. He found a site which let him stay there as a long term pitch, and there were quite a lot of others who were doing the same, though they were there seven days a week, not just five. I went to stay with him a few times, and even in the dead of winter it was warm with a blow heater thing. He and my mum have also lived on a canal boat- though that is a bit more of a pain because you have to move the boat every time you need more water or to empty the toilet etc, and because canal boats are so slow, it is sometimes quite a long trip!

marjproops · 12/04/2013 22:03

aeven thought of a yurt (and only know what that is cos there was one on 'something special'!!)

there you go. olori theres an option. might look into it myself, a lodge or chalet type thing.

grovel · 12/04/2013 22:03

TBH, though, my sister was (I think) lucky. The field was a paddock. The owner travelled abroad a lot and wanted someone "looking out" for his property. She was not supposed to guard it any way - just "worry about it" and react if anything went wrong (burst pipes etc). A great deal for both of them.

GibberTheMonkey · 12/04/2013 22:09

Someone I 'know'lives in a yurt. He's built a trailer for a a bathroom and a kitchen
It looks fantastic
Ill find his blog

GibberTheMonkey · 12/04/2013 22:10

here its beautiful

colleysmill · 12/04/2013 22:13

I read a thread on another site (yes another forum!) recently about a chap who lives in his campervan all year round. He has seasonal work here in the uk and then decamps abroad for a bit. He doesn't have dependents though.

We also know a couple who live on a barge and they swear by a log burner. Have to say it sounds appealing!

VerySmallSqueak · 12/04/2013 22:13

That is gorgeous Gibber.

ConfusedPixie · 12/04/2013 22:15

btw, sorry to hijack OP, but if anybody knows where I could find a site to either rent a caravan long term or buy one in East Brighton/Lewes area please tell me! I can't work out how to find long term sites Confused

marjproops · 12/04/2013 22:15

gibber looks nice. as long as i could get sky tv and internet im made....and a bath!!

GibberTheMonkey · 12/04/2013 22:15

I have friends who lived on narrow boat. She loved it for about three years and then started to find it frustrating

I think you know if you've got the right headspace for that kind of living

IneedAyoniNickname · 12/04/2013 22:17

Glad to be of assistance marj Grin

lollilou · 13/04/2013 10:01

marjproops Park Homes. Like caravans but more sturdy.Smile. Usually only for over 50's though.