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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to live in a caravan?

423 replies

PickledLilly · 04/10/2019 12:48

I need to get out of my relationship but live in an area where rents/house prices are high and wages are low and Housing Association houses are impossible to get.

I hate the idea of being at the mercy of a landlord and want the security of something of my own but could never get a mortgage on just my wage. WIBU to buy a nice static caravan on a holiday park for me and my two children and cat to live in?

I know it would be a lot smaller than our current home (but so would anything I could afford to rent) but there are other year round residents, lovely grounds, playground and a swimming pool that’s all free for residents to use.

I just get this sense that some people would be aghast at me moving my children into a caravan but it honestly feels like my only way out. WIBU?

OP posts:
meyouandlulutoo · 05/10/2019 10:48

We are away in our motorhome this week and we are staying in a touring pitch of a site that also has static 'caravans' - they would have been called mobile homes in the past. The statics are lovely, with bedrooms, bathrooms etc and plenty of storage space. The site we are on is within short walking distance of shops and on a public transport route, I would see something similar to this as a good idea for you and you would still have your independence.

AlliKaneErikson · 05/10/2019 10:52

There are a few children in each of my DC’s year groups that live in caravans (there’s is a small residential caravan site in our town- it’s not a ‘holiday’ type site at all). As far as DC are aware, it’s never been mentioned and the kids who live there have never been teased about it.

yesterdayisgone · 05/10/2019 10:59

I'd go for it . We are Currently renting a house that's going up for auction in a couple of weeks . We will be given six weeks eviction notice . Family of 6 with 2 dogs . Thankfully my mum is giving us her house and we are getting her a log cabin to put in the garden . Her idea and I guess she knows I'll be there to look after her as she gets older .
The uncertainty of not having your own home is horrible and it's dead money month after month . Tenants have so few rights Sad

Roughday · 05/10/2019 11:03

I say go for it !!! I would live in a caravan even if I could afford a house !

People worry too much about things these days , live life , be happy ! Doesn’t matter where you live !

Gas ovens in caravans do take a longer to cook , but this hasn’t anything to do with how many people are using it or on site because you have you own gas bottle ! You can also get a metal shed outside your van with a washing machine and extra freezer if needed ! It really isn’t as inconvenient as people make out ! You just have to find what works for you .

My DH and I would move into a caravan tomorrow but due to current circumstances we can’t . But will definitely look into it in the future.

Caravans with double glazing an CH are lovely and cozy . And I love the sound of rain in the roof so that wouldn’t bother me at all !

I do agree with previous poster saying to get 12ft wide or more . Makes a huge difference .

Good luck OP , happy caravanning x

SaveKevin · 05/10/2019 11:09

We’ve looked at it as renting is shit and your always at the mercy of the landlord.

I think it will be more and more common as house are so unattainable. We’ve got a new one opened up on our road for all ages and it’s full already.

You need to check about school admissions and how that will affect it.
At my kids school there’s kids who live in all sorts of places (boats, caravans) and it’s fine. I could see secondary more tricky though.

TheDarkRoom · 05/10/2019 11:12

www.parksureinsurance.co.uk/can-live-holiday-home/

Just from a very quick google.

Caravan- no problem at all.

Caravan on a holiday park - a little risky. No insurance etc, as per article.

If there was no other option then yeah, maybe the risk would be worth it, but you say your mum would be fine having you with her temporarily. I'd do that for sure and then mahnr buy one on a residential park where you can have it properly surveyed and insured.

TheDarkRoom · 05/10/2019 11:13

*maybe buy one

Pinkyyy · 05/10/2019 11:17

I haven't RTFT but I consider myself to be very knowledgeable on the subject if there are any really pressing questions OP. It's a lovely lifestyle and can be extremely enjoyable.

TheDarkRoom · 05/10/2019 11:19

holiday home is defined as being a ‘mobile home’ which is owned in addition to your usual bricks and mortar home. The key thing to remember is that you are not entitled to live in this property permanently throughout the year and owning or renting a permanent residence in addition to this is a legal necessity.

Darwin Escapes emphasises this point to anyone who is considering purchasing one of the holiday homes for sale at any of our UK destinations. Failing to adhere to this means that you will be considered to be breach of the regulations regarding occupancy of holiday homes and may be liable to a council tax evasion conviction. This can result in a jail sentence and/or serious financial penalties.

From the last article I Iinked to.

TheDarkRoom · 05/10/2019 11:19

Bah! Italics fail.

TheDarkRoom · 05/10/2019 11:21

Unless you can pay a peppercorn rent to your mum? But it's still risky if they ever investigate.

Peanutbutterforever · 05/10/2019 11:23

Take the Marie Kondo approach to choosing what to take with you. If you only keep what you really love, or really need, you will find it easier to take an amount that you can store in a caravan.

user1493494961 · 05/10/2019 11:25

I have a relative who lives on a holiday park as a permanent home. They make arrangements for the month they have to move out. You've already said you can stay with your Mum so I can't see the problem. My relative pays site fees plus council tax (and it isn't freezing in winter).

TheDarkRoom · 05/10/2019 11:30

The issue isn't only moving out, but the legal requirement that you own or rent elsewhere. But maybe there's a way to get round it? My only worry would then be if you were thoroughly investigated; so if the whole site was investigated and then it got found out that lots of people were living there more or less permanently, even the work around might hold water. Also, in case of damage to the property, including the site and other properties, an insurance company would investigate very thoroughly and you might end up liable.

TheDarkRoom · 05/10/2019 11:48

*moving out for a few weeks a year
*might NOT hold water

flirtygirl · 05/10/2019 11:52

Not all camps have the same licence terms and not all camps have the requirement to rent or own elsewhere.

Op just check it out fully for yourself and really go over the rules and any limitations. Have a trial if able but no one on here will know fully unless they live on that current site as all are different.

TheDarkRoom · 05/10/2019 11:57

Yes, definitely, if you can find one which is legally able to allow you to live their more or less permanently, I would go for it. But don't just chuck £30k at it without checking is all I'm saying.

It's all very well us all saying go for it, (I did too earlier), but it's not without a potential MASSIVE downside. And I don't mean things like it being a bit chilly. The legal implications could be quite serious. It needs to be checked out.

I'm all for it, if it works though and if it isn't as risky as Darwin Escapes says about their parks.

Original poster
PickledLilly · 05/10/2019 12:00

Honestly, I’m not sure why so many people are focusing on me living with my mum, it’s honestly not an option to share a single bed with my two kids and ‘temporarily’ and until I manage to save 100k to buy on a residential site are very different time scales in my world! I think my kids would have grown up by then. I did mention I’m poor didn’t I?!

OP posts:
Original poster
PickledLilly · 05/10/2019 12:05

I’m absolutely going to look into it seriously before I do anything, I don’t honestly even know if I can raise even that much money but I’m going to go and ask questions about heating costs and ground rents and the rules about how long you can stay on site legally. This is not some rash decision but a carefully and very slowly planned exit plan. I just need some sort of exit to actually be possible and at the moment, it all feels a bit hopeless. There’s just no way I can raise 100-150k needed to live on a proper residential site, it’s out of my reach.

OP posts:
Evilmorty · 05/10/2019 12:06

I think house boat is your best bet, seriously. You can still sell it on to whoever you wish and your site fees will be mooring fees. And it’s mobile, you can take it anywhere. There’s still the large garden aspect because near me, people are moored next to a large country park.

BillieEilish · 05/10/2019 12:14

OP has explained countless times why she can't live on a houseboat.

VictoriaBun · 05/10/2019 12:22

I have a recently retired friend who has sold up the family home and bought a lodge ( wooden house ) on one of those sites.
She and her husband can only stay 11 months of the year and have to leave for the month of January.
They also purchased a campervan and plan to spend a month every year going over to France/Spain/wherever .
I know this is not feasible for you, but tbh I think that the only thing that would make me contemplate buying something like that.

Original poster
PickledLilly · 05/10/2019 12:23

There are no canals here people, I live by the sea and I have a child who can’t swim. Also, have any of you ever actually stayed on a narrow boat? There’s far less space than a static caravan and the toilets are horrid and also, the drowning. I’m sure I mentioned the drowning...

OP posts:
Original poster
PickledLilly · 05/10/2019 12:25

VictoriaBun, most people who live on sites here go away for February as it’s a short month!

OP posts: