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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Static Caravan

31 replies

MaryQuando · 02/04/2021 18:51

My MIL died earlier this year from Covid and my DH is going to inherit about £140,000 once probate is sorted out and MIL flat has been sold. This was a shock as she didn't want him to marry me and had always said she wouldn't be leaving him anything as she didn't want my DC to "get their hands" on any of it (I had 2 when we met and we have had 2 more together). Anyway, he wants to give all the DC £10,000 each and for us to do something joyful with the other £100,000 or whatever the final amount is (unsure of what expenses there are still to pay out of the estate, so it might end up being a bit less).

His favourite idea is to buy a static caravan in a place where we have all spent so many happy times together. One that we can use often on our own, as he is planning to take early retirement in December this year, but also one that the adult children can use alone or come and join us if they fancy a family get together, which we try and do a couple of times a year by having a family camp at our favourite site in the area he wants to buy the caravan. So all good..... BUT he wants to buy it now, which would use up all our financial reserves and leave us a bit broke until his inheritance appears. AIBU to want to wait until we actually have the money from the will in our account? The flat his mother lived in is a retirement flat in a block where there are 8 others up for sale and could therefore take ages to sell as there are always so many available in normal times, now with covid deaths, there are even more than normal.

I don't want to make an issue of it and cause any bad feeling between us, he's so happy that he can do this, and I don't want to rain on his parade, so I thought maybe the best way forward was cold hard facts. I know there are a lot of other costs apart from buying the caravan to take into account and I've heard a lot of sites impose expensive restrictions on when you can sell or when they expect you to buy a new van, so does anyone have any experience of owning a static caravan that you would be willing to share, or advice to offer?

Many thanks for reading

OP posts:

alibongo5 · 02/04/2021 19:00

I just wouldn't be able to even consider spending the money until I had it.

Original poster

MaryQuando · 02/04/2021 19:09

Neither would he normally, and as I said, I don't want to. I think he's just so pleased he can do some thing like this that he's not think ing straight. Which is why I want to try and reign things in - BUT without hurting his feelings

OP posts:

Profiterolegirl · 02/04/2021 19:15

I would go for it now and start getting the benefit of it unless there is a question over whether or not he will inherit.
We have one and we use it a lot. I hope we have one when we retire. We would probably spend most of the year there. The constant holiday atmosphere, friendly faces and smell of bbqs is so relaxing and fun. If you think the money may never materialise I would consider it more carefully.

MythsandSparkles · 02/04/2021 19:17

The static caravan market is booming at the moment due to all the people who are buying them because they can’t go abroad.

You’d get a far better deal next year I think when everyone that’s bought them last year and this trades them in for their normal holidays.

That aside, I wouldn’t spent that money until I had it.

Original poster

MaryQuando · 02/04/2021 19:21

@Profiterolegirl

I would go for it now and start getting the benefit of it unless there is a question over whether or not he will inherit. We have one and we use it a lot. I hope we have one when we retire. We would probably spend most of the year there. The constant holiday atmosphere, friendly faces and smell of bbqs is so relaxing and fun. If you think the money may never materialise I would consider it more carefully.

I'm sure the money will materialise but when is the question.

Do you mind if I ask you if the site you are on imposes rules on how often you need to replace the caravan and if the yearly fees rise every year?

OP posts:

littlepattilou · 02/04/2021 19:22

I wouldn't spend it til I had it.

Just remember also, although a static caravan is a lovely place to go to, and visit on nice sunny weekends, they are expensive to keep. Many parks charge £250 to £300 a MONTH ground rent, so like over £3000 a year. There are often additional costs on top too.

Several people I know have them, and HAVE to make sure they rent it out at least half the time, to be able to afford to run it, and this past year, they've lost several thousand pounds on it, because it's hardly been rented out (because of covid!)

Just saying. It's just something to think about.

FedUpAtHomeTroels · 02/04/2021 19:26

Dont spend until you have it.
Static caravans on a park are money suckers and don't seem to work out long term.
I'd look for a small house or flat somewhere nice to spend time in. At least you'd own it without paying constantly rising site fees and then having to replace it when the site decide it's too old to be there.

isseys4xmastinselcats · 02/04/2021 19:27

weve just sold my MILs retirement flat in Essex for exactly the same reason its been on the market for over 6 months now due to covid and sold for £5000 less than we put it on for and that was £30000 less than she paid for it a few years ago so i would tell him lovely as it is being patient has its rewards and at the moment probate is taking a while so you cant sell it till that is sorted

Tal45 · 02/04/2021 19:28

I wouldn't want to spend money I didn't have yet. It's a lovely idea, just be aware of site fees and if the caravan has to be replaced every so often etc and do some research as there are some horror stories. Perhaps suggest he spends the time between now and inheriting the money really researching it.

Hankunamatata · 02/04/2021 19:38

Its took my friend 2 years to sell her mother place. I would wait

user1471462115 · 02/04/2021 19:48

Wait.
Never spend money you don’t actually have.
And they do say to wait a year after you have the money in your account to ensure you spend it wisely, after the first wave of grief has subsided.
Hire someone else’s caravan this year for your holidays

saraclara · 02/04/2021 19:56

Retirement flats are hell to sell. It took three years for one of my friends to offload her step mothers flat, and another friend is into the second year of selling her mum's.

But the killer is that monthly service fees still have to be paid in many retirement complexes, even when the apartment is empty (I'm looking at you, McCarthy and Stone).

I absolutely wouldn't spend anything now that relies on being paid back from the sale of a retirement flat. By the time it's sold and the service fees have eaten into the costs, you may find yourself seeing a lot less than you expect, and not seeing it for a very long time.

serin · 02/04/2021 19:56

I wouldn't buy a static caravan at all. I know sites that charge £5k site fees per year, and they can demand that Van's are replaced to one of their chosen models every 10 years or so. A family at my DC's school lost their home when the Dad became disabled and they couldnt keep up payments for site fees.
Another ended up selling the caravan after 2 summers of constant late night noise off their partying neighbours.
Personally, I'd look at buying a motor home or a touring caravan instead. Or even moving home entirely and retiring to your holiday place (but to a proper house).

ScrumptiousBears · 02/04/2021 19:56

Also do a a lot of research before you consider a caravan. Like PP have said it's not cheep to run and is a commitment. Also once it's a certain amount of years old they kick you off the site. Where we owned the cost to buy has gone up so much due to no holidays abroad and loads of people buying un the uk.

saraclara · 02/04/2021 20:12

In the offchance that it is a McCarthy and Stone property, please read this, OP. I would imagine that other retirement flats might not be that different.

amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/16/flat-retirement-builder-value-mccarthy-stone?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQHKAFQArABIA%3D%3D#aoh=16173905595652&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fmoney%2F2019%2Fnov%2F16%2Fflat-retirement-builder-value-mccarthy-stone

Mooloolabababy · 02/04/2021 20:12

If you do buy a Static op, really do your research! Annual site fees are very expensive (some sites are 6k a year!) and then some sites only let you sell the caravan through them and take a huge cut of your sale price. Someone I knew bought a brand new caravan for 65k in Kent and then sold it 2 years later for 35k. No one was interested in it as it was on a crappy site that started off ok but went down hill in those 2 years and then had a really bad rep. I know that the site took a chunk of the sale price too. I always think that statics seem like a lovely idea at the time but when you really scrutinise the fine print they are invariably a rip off!

Garlia · 02/04/2021 20:24

Friends of mine bought a static and bitterly regret it, they are money pits and they'd have been better just renting one as needed. And saved thousands!!

But I echo PP, I wouldn't spend it until i had it.

LemonRoses · 02/04/2021 20:31

I’d not spend until I had money to spend but we are looking forward to getting out to our static caravan shortly. It’s a bolt hole that allows spontaneous trips away whereas our cottage is quite booked up. It’s also very close to a dog friendly beach, so a three minute potter and we’re in the sea.
Enjoy yours,

GoWalkabout · 02/04/2021 20:36

Why not have a couple of holidays at the site you are thinking about before you buy - such an important decision. You don't have to be negative though, he'll hopefully encounter some doubts as he talks to people about it!

caramac04 · 02/04/2021 20:44

Static prices are high at the moment due to increased demand. There are fewer new caravans available due to Covid working practices at the manufacturers and waiting for parts from abroad.
You could join the Facebook group Static Caravan Chat where you can get loads of advice.
I’d be inclined to wait, there could well be a glut of caravans for sale next year if foreign travel is allowed again.

CuthbertDibbleandGrubb · 02/04/2021 20:46

Good to read you have stayed at the site so know the area and some idea of the people who run it.

I'd wait until the flat is sold. I also think that prices may come down as has been noted once those who prefer holidays abroad can do so again.

Profiterolegirl · 02/04/2021 22:35

Do you mind if I ask you if the site you are on imposes rules on how often you need to replace the caravan and if the yearly fees rise every year?

They ask you replace your caravan every 20 years and the site fees go up by £50 a year.

Figgygal · 02/04/2021 22:41

Oh my God don’t do it they are money pits
And especially don’t do it until the money has come through

BeardieWeirdie · 02/04/2021 22:49

Crazy idea unless you like burning money. Put it towards a holiday flat instead which will increase in value instead of costing you a fortune, and only when the money is in your hand.

ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 02/04/2021 23:05

When MIL died, it was over a year later until DH got his inheritance.
For someone else I know, it's been over 2.5 years and the estate isn't finalised yet, due to complications.

So, I wouldn't buy yet. OK to plan, and, as PP have said, if you hang off, you may get it cheaper.

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