AIBU to give up on the ridiculous housing market and live in a holiday home?

[SilverDoe]

Genuine question, does anyone have experience of living in a mobile/holiday home?

I'm so fed up of the dreary prospect of trying to own a home, and renting in the South East is such a horrible game too. The whole thing depresses me. I have 2 young kids and have seen a beautiful holiday park near where I live that sell static caravans for around £30k.

Is it ridiculous to spend all my time planning to live in one of these instead? Is there something I am missing which means it's not possible?

TIA :)

Most of them charge a ground rent, in my old one it was £95 a week but due to increase to 110.
Most of them also have limits on how long you can live in them (mine was only available for 8.5 months out of the year).
Winter in a caravan, even with a fairly decent heating system, would be miserable. Spring nights were harsh enough to put us off staying there unless it was exceptionally warm, and I like the cold!

There was a thread about a month ago from someone who had a parent considering it. Was universally condemned as a bad idea. You have to move out for a month each year, replace the unit at regular intervals, pay fees etc. They're poorly insulated so freezing in winter.

The sites usually shut for a minimum of a month each year. Where would you live then?
Check the ground rent. It can be very expensive.

I was thinking of just buying a plot, they are available in the place I am looking for around £28,000. Do you know if they are still subject to the 8.5 month rule? I assumed not but if they are then that is definitely take the piss

OP, you can get parks where you'd be able to live all the year round. I did it at one stage in my life and it was really nice. I didnt have a caravan in the usual sense, I had what was like a bungalow raised off the ground - not that you could see underneath it as it was all very nicely done and it looked like it was sitting on a brick wall.

Some of the people who run them can be a bit cut throat. I listened to a Radio 4 programme about them and there were some pretty shady goings on. They can increase the ground rent at the drop of a hat and you have to buy a new static home every few years. Some of them have ridiculous rules too.

OP, this link has a few residential sites on it.

homeseekerhomes.co.uk/southern-england.html

As in just a bit of land to put a caravan on? That'll work out more expensive mind (as caravans, particularly those in semi liveable condition can be £££). But yes, you still won't be allowed there while they're closed, though obviously they have to make this clear to you and lay out exact terms before purchase.

I've never found a site that doesn't close for at least a month per year, year round sites are very very rare and (from what I hear) charge £££ for it too.
Is there any way you could look at moving somewhere cheaper and buying a 2 bed flat or house? There are a few areas where 50k will (just) about stretch to that. 75k would give you way more options, too.

They have some by me but are more static homes than caravans but you do not get much change from 50k for plot and a second hand home. There is annual fees and they have the right to tell you to remove home once it is past a certain age.

My DGPs live in a mobile home on a residential site.
They've been there for 30 years. Have lovely home that is easy for them to look after and situated in a well maintained community.
I know there are charges but not sure how much they are atm.
They've never regretted moving there.

TeisanLap that sounds lovely :) It is a bit confusing because the info on the website makes it look very straightforward - the way they make it sound is that you choose a plot and home, you buy them, they're yours. No time limits given and no extra charges detailed. I don't want to get my hopes up though naturally.

Efrig really! Oh dear, any examples of the ridiculous rules? I did think it was too good to be true that we would be able to sort a nice little affordable home in a pretty area :(

Look for a park home rather than a static caravan. They are still much cheaper, don’t have the vacating rule in general, are much more solid and well insulated and feel more like living in a bungalow. Still subject to ground rent etc but much better value.

Park homes do however have strict rules put on them by the owner of the site so you need to do plenty of research.

I used to watch george clarks amazing spaces wjen i was too broke to buy a house and if i didnt have kids i would put all my stuff in storage and live in a caravan for a year or two to save money and get bigger deposit

Boulshired yes sorry that's right, they are more static homes than mobile ones, and I am thinking around £60 - £70k in total - still better than trying to buy a house!

MrsTommyBanks that's reassuring, renews my optimism :)

I think a houseboat might be a better option.

PoorYorick I am definitely looking at those and I know my DH would love it but I'm irrationally terrified of living on the water with the little ones

I think with Park Homes there is a lower age limit? All the ones I've seen advertised are for couples aged 50+.

ouais you’re right - sorry OP, scratch that idea.

I think with Park Homes there is a lower age limit? All the ones I've seen advertised are for couples aged 50+

Op, Ive not lived in the Uk for years now so Im not up on the rules but I do know there are various ways of living in a static home other than a holiday park type situation or whats being called a park home. The one I stayed on for a couple of years is still going strong and anyone can live there. I loved my little bungalow on stilts. I had 3 bedrooms and good a good sized living room, bathroom and kitchen.

70K would buy a two bed house in many areas of Yorkshire.

Eg this is the search for properties within a 10 mile radius of Sheffield. Upper limit of 80.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E1195&maxPrice=80000&radius=10.0&sortType=1

WOw, maybe moving to Yorkshire is what I need to do then!! I live in the south east and all of them to buy are around £200k :(

A woman I work with did this. She loved it. She def had to move out, I think it was in Feb each year for the month, but she moved in with her daughter for a fortnight and went away abroad for a fortnight.

A little extreme to move to the other end of the country!

OP, have you exhausted the help to buy and shared ownership schemes?

Grilledaubergines indeed, unfortunately I couldn't move, I have a job here! As well as family etc. Just frustrating. I will have a look again at the help to buy etc but a few friends have gone down that route and it didn't in all honesty seem very helpful. I was looking at shared ownership but apparently it is really hard to get a SA mortgage which is a real shame.

I’m in the south east too Silver. Of course movings not doable, but it’s always suggested by someone, ignoring the realities, of jobs, families, friends, lives and that they live where they live (despite the housing cost).

I don’t know what to suggest. Not very helpful. I really hope you find something you can afford and call home.