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AIBU?

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Original poster

To want to live in a park home?

69 replies

OohBabyBabeh · 02/12/2018 17:01

I mean you get a fully detached, fully customisable (can order it exactly how you want!!) can pretty much pick and choose what town to live in, it's cheap, and you get a bit of garden and land with it.

In the current housing situation we face in this country, park homes can surely be a reasonable solution ?? Please tell me I'm not the only one who has tried convincing their OH of seeing how great they can be!

OP posts:
Ceilingrose · 04/12/2018 22:27

I have heard that they can be cold.

Beeziekn33ze · 04/12/2018 22:45

I was dubious until I visited friends, a retired couple, living in one. Lovely quiet site in woodland on the edge of a town. In 2 years they've created a lovely garden. They had son, his wife and baby staying for a short visit.
Some posts have made me concerned as they do have to vacate the park home for a month early in the year. They also own a small apartment elsewhere so have somewhere to go.
It wouldn't suit my circumstances but I was pleasantly surprised how comfortable they are.

Troels · 04/12/2018 22:53

They can be nice, but some sites make you move/get rid the home once it gets to a certain age and either replace it with a new one or lose your spot. I think thats why the parks look so nice. All the homes will be under 10 years old (or whatever the age is requiring upgrading) Also if you find somewhere you like and the rules work for you, it can change hands and the rules/terms of the park will change.

barnacharmer · 04/12/2018 22:58

My parents moved to one, theirs is brand new, they live there 52 weeks and are fully registered there. It's warm in the winter, set in a beautiful location and has a lovely community feel which was also part of the attraction. Some residents have been there a long time. They spoke to quite a few residents before buying because their research had thrown up some of the issues mentioned by PPs so if you are able to do that, I would

FitzChivalryFarseer · 04/12/2018 23:05

Hell, no. I used to do house calls to little old ladies and their cats in park homes. I will consider myself to have completely failed at my life if a static caravan is all I have to look forward to in my 80s.

Disquieted1 · 04/12/2018 23:06

Often fancied a posh canal barge or river boat myself. They're a fraction of the cost, and you have ultimate freedom.

amilosingitor · 04/12/2018 23:12

Myself and dp would love to live like this, but only if we could "build" one on land we/his parents owned.

A lot of sites round here don't allow children to live on site so that's another factor

SilverySurfer · 04/12/2018 23:19

Park homes lose value from the moment of purchase and park owners can insist on them being replaced after a certain age, not to mention park fees. Makes no economic sense.

Santababyclaus · 05/12/2018 10:14

Often fancied a posh canal barge or river boat myself. They're a fraction of the cost, and you have ultimate freedom

Yes in the sense that you can move on if you so desire, however, a lot of mooring (and being able to be connected to utilities) is similar to caravan parks in that you can only stay for a certain number of days/weeks/months so have no choice but to move on.

Arnoldthecat · 05/12/2018 18:03

Park home living can work for some. You just have to know the rules as there are a lot of sharks in the water,notably site owners.

The structures themselves,especially larger ones, are fine. If i could buy a plot of land and drop one on it, i would consider it.

It is also a curiosity that the site owners and manufacturers of such structures have a near cozy cartel going on. For example, you often cannot buy one directly from the manufs. You have to buy via the site owner. Why do you think that is?

A couple of years back i happened to be in Cornwall when the Cornwall show was on. I went along. It was a glorious day. There were quite a few stands featuring such structures and i must admit, many were very nice and well appointed/spacious. But the dubious business practices of site owners and also lack of tenure are a big no no for me.

WhyDontYouComeOnOver · 05/12/2018 18:09

They aren't the same as static caravans Confused

My parents live in a park home. It's beautiful and a nice size - they moved there after enjoying staying at their static caravan so much. I absolutely love it, it's a retirement site in West Wales by the sea and is like being on holiday every day.

anniehm · 05/12/2018 18:38

Plenty live in them year round in the US, it's funny watching them being transported on the freeway. They felt like ordinary houses once installed and the climate where we lived was similar to the U.K. Its pure snobbery that people don't like them here. We need better options for sites though - year round and less rules.

rosamacrose · 05/12/2018 19:09

Sure there are lovely residential parks.
Ground rent and service charges would seem a reasonable ask.
Any prefabricated dwelling is likely to depreciate and need replacing, surely?
Look into the contract and are if the terms are reasonable.

mumsastudent · 05/12/2018 19:10

I think some people are confusing park homes with caravan sites & travellers sites which all have different rules, private residential park homes sites can be quite nice places to live & some of the homes can be twin or single (twin size can be quite a decent size with en suites & big walk through walk in wardrobes in master (!!!) bedroom BUT there are running costs which you need to factor in & this attachment states you should get solicitor (who is experienced in mobile homes) -they are usually fully furnished assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/405213/150217_Buying_a_home_rev.pdfif you have a wander around the gov site you will see other links

megletthesecond · 05/12/2018 19:28

I don't think they're great if you have problems with stairs. All the ones I've seen have steps to the front door.

JamesBlonde1 · 05/12/2018 19:33

Well if you want to live in a caravan of sorts without owning the land, then fine.

If however you want to own the land and property so you can sell it, like a lot of standard homes, for a profit, then don’t entertain it.

It won’t even be leasehold will it, never mind freehold?

Not for me.

Workreturner · 05/12/2018 19:36

Just same back from a weekend on one that I rented from air bnb.

It was in a beautiful location and was top of the range. So toasty with central heating.

But bloody hell... it was a huge relief to get back home.

Frenchfancy · 05/12/2018 19:44

Isn't it just what they call a trailer park in the US? Ok so it might be in a great location but it is still a trailer

ForalltheSaints · 05/12/2018 19:46

I have known some people who lived in one and were very happy. It seemed well managed. Only downside was that you needed a car or bike to get anywhere, as it was remote from shops and the town.

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