WIBU to live in a caravan?

[PickledLilly]

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 could you then perhaps 'longterm' rent a caravan from the site for 6 months, see how it goes and at the same time sort out how much money you are entitled to (you will definitely be entitled to quite a bit given your relationship history and DC's)

Use your mums address for council tax and post as discussed/setting up child maintenance etc.

Then, buy your own caravan when you know it is all as it seems.

I still think it sounds as totally doable and as an exciting plan as I first thought. Clearly you would check out all the 'rules' before doing this, nobody needs to keep telling you to do so.

All this 'depreciation in value' irritates me. My Dsis pays 1,300 pounds a month just on rent, with a DD(2) before bills and council tax. This is not depreciation, this is money down the drain.

She has a two month notice period and lives in fear now she has a DC. It is soul destroying. Owning a caravan is not. It certainly offers more security.

Oh, my Dsis is not allowed to put pictures on the walls. It is a 2 bedroom, modest flat in nice area. Nothing special. Don't get me started on 'house inspections' every 6 months. The reminders that it is not yours are frequent and unabating. Yuk.

Oh, obvs no garden or pool!

Thank you Billie I think the idea of renting a ‘van is an excellent idea, i’ll Look into it.
It’s exactly that risk of being turfed out by a landlord with very little notice that makes me worried about renting a flat. And yes, a ‘van may depreciate and you may not get as much money back as you’ve spent but you get nothing back for the £800-£900 a month rent spent on a flat.

I just need to stay positive, do my research and keep plodding on forwards.

I need to feel like I’m doing something and I have a plan. Just keeping on keeping on and pretending everything is ok because I have to is wearing me down, I can’t keep doing it indefinitely, I feel like I’m paper thin and will disappear entirely if I don’t do something to change my life.

Well I admire you.

Although this is irrelevant to op. Round here moorings and fees cost the equivalent of big flat rent (upwards of £1000 a month)
But you do get a postal address and council tax bills for school admissions. Most also have a garden. So it only really works if you have the cash to buy the boat and then an income to pay the moorings (so the equivalent of rent). It’s not really the cheaper alternative, boats depreciate and have the same storage and damp issues as caravans.

Ah fuck, you nearly made me well up then Billie and I’m tough as old boots. I feel like I’m so alone trying to scale an insurmountable problem and all I want is for me and my children to be happy. For someone to even offer me a nod of support means more than I thought it would! Nobody knows my situation apart from my Mum so I’ve had nobody to talk to at all.

I don’t know if it’s come up yet but beware of the hidden costs of park home ownership.

A lot of the nicer sites have clauses on the plots that require owners to upgrade their units every X numbers of years (to avoid the site being full of very old, poorly maintained vans). This can be very expensive.

Expensive monthly or annual maintenance fees on the plot and site and the potential for these to rise exponentially.

High cost of bottled gas compared to piped gas.

Any additional site fees for sewage / waste management.

More expensive specialist insurances.

More expensive mortgages.

Depreciation.

As well as extremes of temperature, consider external noise on the site and how well the caravan is insulated against it.

It definitely isn’t a perfect solution but it does work for some people. You just have to in with your eyes open.

We live in an area with very high housing Costs, there a a few static caravan sites around which are completely residential. They are really well maintained and the grounds are lovely. I have a friend who lives there with 3small children and had no complaints about damp/cold. There seems to be a friendly community. We have use of a holiday static which is extremely cosy! And we have a router which is never cold/damp.

I'd far rather live in a static with some light, air and outdoors space than in a flat!

go in with your eyes open.

Best of luck OP.

I think it's a great idea. Static caravans are lovely these days and it's better than spending money on rent. Staying in an unhappy relationship is soul destroying. Billie has the best plan, rent for 6 months first and if it's as you wished for and can get a loan go for it. I would do exactly the same and nearly did. Good luck.

I don't think it's an unreasonable idea if the park in mind is nice and allows people to have it as their only home minus the month per year.

However bear in mind that they devalue massively so unlike a house you will get next to nothing when you sell. And obviously site management fees will be substantial.

I really don't think this is a good idea. Making your children live in unsuitable accommodation because you don't like the "idea of being at the mercy of a landlord and want the security of something of my own" is selfish in my opinion. You need to put your children's needs above your own desires.

Given your partner isn't abusive I would be concerned that unsuitable accommodation would have an impact on custody arrangements.

Op does your dp know that you have plans to leave? Will he happy to let his DC live in a caravan and him have a 4 bedroom house to himself? Is he reasonable to have a discussion about Maybe selling up and you having something to start over with, Obviously benefiting his children.

Can you explain why a double glazed heated static which is the same sort of size as a rented flat is ‘unsuitable accommodation?’ I’m genuinely intrigued.

My cousin was put I a B and B and then a hostel by the council. Neither was nice environments AT ALL, nothing, nothing like what OP is planning.

Definitely smaller then a static with shared toilets etc.

You cannot make silly statements like that. It is in noway unsuitable accommodation, it actually offers the DC's FAR more than they would get in small, rented flat. Also, how is it selfish to want security for your DC's?

I think some people are a bit annoyed they are paying for tiny flats, through the nose, money down the drain, with neighbours from hell and no outdoor space. They are annoyed they didn't think outside the box.

Why do you think there are specific restrictions in place preventing their use as permanent residences?

They lack the services, facilities and infrastructure needed for permanent residence. And that is quite apart from the fact that they are cold, damp, poorly ventilated and cramped.

Please at least check that any caravan you purchase is built to BS3632 (and therefore suitable for permanent residence) rather than just EN1647. Given the restrictions in place at the holiday park you wish to purchase in, this is unlikely to be the case.

I think you also need to do benefits calculators based on what your circumstances will be when you leave.
With renting and shared ownership you're very likely to get the majority or all of your rent paid. I don't think that's the case with paying towards a caravan.

If you insist on doing this then please be very careful to check the site rules. Our site only allows 28 days continuous occupation. Then you must be off site for at least 24 hours. It’s in the terms of their licence. Make sure you read everything and don’t take them at their work. Most, of not all, of these companies just want you to sign and give them your money. The responsibility to read the terms of your paperwork is on you. I’m not suggesting that you wouldn’t, but I hear so many people moaning about how they’ve been ripped off who admit they didn’t read the contract fully.

The problem sometimes with trying to have a reasonable conversation with a stbx is that, if he was that easy to talk to, he wouldn't be a stbx!

But if it's likely to all be quite amicable op, maybe discussing with him about selling your current house might work?

I would do it if it was safe!

I think it sounds like a decent idea tbh, as long as you choose your park and your caravan carefully.
I’m vaguely jealous!

@Cohle that is just one way of looking at it. I felt bad for my children when we were at the mercy of landlords. Security is what I wanted to give them. Security made me a better mother, definitely. Calmer, less anxious, happier.

I admire you too! You're thinking laterally and you're not just shrugging at the first hurdle. You sound practical and determined.