Aibu to consider buying a static caravan?

[allotmentgardener]

Children are 1 and 3, and we like to get away in the UK 2 or 3 times a year. I suggested buying a static caravan. DH scoffed and exclaimed what a ridiculous idea. Investigation reveals that letting it can offset the site costs. Mumsnet people regale me with your knowledge!

My teenage son is about to inherit one - was £80k when new a couple of years back - it's deprecated in value hugely so we're considering whether to sell it, rent it out or move it and use it

MIL had one on a quiet, no facilities (other than washer-dryers) owners only site and we used it loads when DC were small. As long as you accept they are a depreciating asset then they can be lovely if you’re able to go often. I would only get one if the drive is short enough to use at weekends. Check carefully the t&c. As long as maintained MILs site didn’t have an age limit on vans, but loads do. Her site fees weren’t bad but no clubhouse etc to staff and maintain.

I was also considering this but didn't know where to start.

I had one and I would never let it out, however that was never an option due to site rules.
I agree they are a money pit and of course the value depreciates.
I think with little ones and if you could visit often your family would benefit.
Do your research carefully, do you want lots of amenities on site but of course they come at a cost?
If you go ahead make sure you have two of everything as you do not want to be carting the kitchen sink around every weekend and that includes clothes.

My friends are trying desperately to get rid of theirs.

The letting is a nightmare for them as the fees eat up a lot of the income plus there's greater wear and tear and damages. They pay for extra cleaning etc but still rewash all glasses etc when they arrive each time.
They find it hard not being able to personalise or leave stuff there - if you didn't let it that would be a non issue. With small children it would be so handy to leave toys and equipment ready for next time, not have to lug it all about.

The reason they really don't want to keep it (was bought for them a few years ago by a family member with a lodge on the same site) is that their kids just don't want to go there anymore. They've done it to death and are bored.

Theirs has depreciated massively. For the same money you could have weekends away all over without the stress of ownership, lettings and fees.

There are some amazing sites by the sea with leisure complexes etc and I can see the appeal of those, but I wouldn't want to share! And the cost of them is absurd, when you could use that money as a deposit on a flat nearby instead and actually pay off a mortgage with the rental income.

I've only stayed in one a couple of times and didn't find them comfortable or cosy and so would never be tempted to own one!

Good luck trying to get rid of it when you decide that you don't want it any more

Depends where

In Cornwall they can be £50k+ up front then yearly ground rent. Then every 10 years they need to be replaced for a new model for another £50k+. This is partly to do with planning laws so that there aren't lots of delapidated statics on the coast line.

Parents looked into it about 5 years ago. But when they worked out the finances they were like it's a money pit.

Of the ones I know which are privately owned. Some are privately hired for holiday makers during the peak season so that they can get some cash back. Others are owned in a private time -share arrangement. So say 5 families will own one, splitting the finances and time equally.

By ground rent I mean maintenances fee for security, admin fees etc

Also remember that some parks close in the winter so you won't be able to access it for 3 months of the year

I'd just rent one for a week or weekend every now and again. Saves an awful lot of money and worry!

We have a tourer on a seasonal pitch, best of both worlds.The site we are on has immaculate facilities. We aren’t interested in club houses etc . We bought our 4 berth brand new van last year and we live it.

Did you take into consideration the cost of insurance, electric and gas? I know people who've let caravans and the gas heating is left on by the renter's whether they are in or not.

If they only let you keep it on site for 10/15 year's you'd have to upgrade, scrap it or sell it to a dealer. They will all cost you money, also at that age it wouldn't be worth much at all.

We stayed in a great caravan at new year and although weve never considered getting one we looked at how much a similar one was, and it was eyewateringly expensive plus I think site fees were about 5k a year and that park didnt allow caravans over 10 years old. I dont know if it would have ever paid for itself in that time.

We have one we travel to every Friday and come home Sunday evening/Monday morning. It takes us 1 hour 45 minutes to get there. We have central heating and double glazing. You can get two or three bedroom vans, some have baths some showers and all have an en suite toilet. Friend has a slightly newer one and she has a washing machine and dishwasher. We all have enclosed gardens and to be honest it’s a home from home. We have to remove it after 22 years.

You have to use it on a regular basis to get your money’s worth but with two small children you will use it. We pay about £2500 a year but that includes gas and electric plus site fees.

We don’t have a clubhouse or any facilities and you are not allowed to hire out but that keeps the site quiet and peaceful.

Ours is in a small fishing village with a bay with a sandy beach. I think as long as there is somewhere to go for the occasional meal / coffee you won’t get bored. The children go cycling, scooters, crabbing, most have wetsuits and play in the sea and never ask for anything because they have so much fun playing. When stepson came up for a weeks holiday he came into the van sat down and said,» this will be the best ever holiday». You won’t regret it, just go and look at them and you will be surprised.

We are lucky that the site we are on the vans sell really quickly and at good prices.

If I had money to burn I'd love a static at the coast purely for our use. But I still want the option to go abroad and visit other places.

I agree with PPs that they are a potential money pit and definitely not an investment. Saying that, lots of people make it work for them.

If your site fees and bills/maintenance are £400/month that gives you the equivalent of a decent weekend away every month or nearly £5k to spend on a couple of longer breaks. And that's before paying for the caravan.

Also consider how often you'd realistically use it. Once the DC go to school weekends can become punctuated with parties and other activities - dance, swimming, football etc. Obviously you don't have to do that stuff but worth considering.

you'll struggle to buy one right now, everyone is snapping them up.. Staycations are here for the foreseeable 🌺

My family have had really memorable holidays in a static caravan. If I lived nearer (less than a 3 hour drive), I'ld buy one and go for long weekends, stay the summer.

If the site is easily accessible & you like the surrounding area, then go for it.

I know someone who inherited a caravan on a site. Shit van, small site, not allowed to rent it out. Fees are 3k a year. Over ten years that is 30k!!!!
I would imagine you'd have to be within 3 hours driving of the site to make it worthwhile.

I have heard good things, the same families go each year so your kids make friends, good social side.
But going to the same place year after year... Yawwwwwn.
Maybe buy a mobile home to stick on a site then move it each Yr

If you buy one get a super fancy as fuck one with decking, views, en suite

My sister had a job on a nice site with owner-only statics.

Her observations:
On many sites you can only buy through the site management. And you can only sell via them, too. They sell high, and buy low.
Also they can stipulate the age of the caravans, so decree that you have to buy a new one after a certain number of years.
And the site fees add up.

So - read the small print very carefully and ask a lot of questions.

YANBU. We bought one on a park where we're not allowed to rent it out. It was 2nd hand, 20 years old, in absolutely immaculate condition. We spent a further £2.5k on double glazing windows/doors as it still had the original single glaze which was past it's best. It costs £2k a year in ground rent that includes water, but not electric or the bottled gas we need for the cooker and fire. Worth every penny. I love it so much. A small piece of heaven in the Herefordshire country side.

We looked into buying one a few years back but ultimately decided against it. My understanding is you have little control over whether the site owner decides to suddenly increase the fees substantially from one year to the next, or decide that your caravan is too old, so you need to replace it. If we could have leased the land and had a bit more security of tenure, we may have been able to make it work, but there are no sites like that nearby.

We had one for 5 years when the kids were younger. Depreciation on a 36k van was about 3k a year. Site fees were about 3.5k. insurance/utilities/internet about another 1k a year. The site took 25% of the same price in fees.
So they really are money pits. But we had a fab 5 years and would make the same decision again in a heart beat.

I bought one this year with my 2 sisters. The park is owner only so we don’t rent it out.
The one we bought is 5 years old, 3 bed rooms and 2 toilets.
Between us we use it most weeks.
It’s fairly modern, not damp.

I’ve a 2 year old. Once he is awake everyone is! Walls are so thin! That’s the only downside.

I love it, ours is just over 1 hour drive and beside the sea. There is a huge decking and just really chilled.

We seriously considered it a few years ago but were put off by how many people had lost huge amounts of money on them, il's had one that they bought for 12k and sold for 4k after 2 years.

Instead we bought a large touring caravan and have it on a seasonal pitch, it costs £1900 a year and we can easily move it to another site if we want, tourers also don't depreciate as quickly, we've just swapped ours and got 5,500 for it which we were pleased about as we bought it for 8000 almost 9 years ago.

My cousin has recently paid £350k for one in Abersoch.
I just dont get it.
For that I would have bought a proper house, made of bricks.
Or a touring caravan that can actually be moved, so that you dont have to go to the same place for years.