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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to move to a holiday park?!

48 replies

kravestix · 27/09/2021 11:32

Currently have a just about affordable mortgage on a terraced house in a not so nice area.

I have seen two bungalows for sale at a nearby Holiday Park. Between 70k and 90k.

Would have to vacate for Part of January and all of February and list permanent address elsewhere.

But it's a nice location and a nice park. Lots of facilities and events. Owner benefits, etc. The location is the biggest draw. I have a young child who I'd like to raise in a nicer area but houses are unaffordable to move anywhere nicer. This seems to be the only way to do it but I'm aware there are draw backs.

Especially the stigma surrounding it. I went to school with a girl who lived on a holiday park and I know she got some stick for it.

So the bungalow would be between 70 - 90k and my house was recently valued between 265k - 275k. Have about 145k on the mortgage.

So AIBU to think this is a sound option?

OP posts:

Original poster

kravestix · 27/09/2021 12:15

@MiloAndEddie

I’d be surprised if it was a properly constructed building, I bet it’s still single skin which would make it unmortgagable. It’s also not an asset in the same way a house is.

The fees for the site if it has lots of facilities can be upwards of £5k per year.

Also, it’s not a residential site if it closes for 6 weeks which means a lot have clauses about occupying for more than 30 days at a time.

I really wouldn’t tbh.

Hmm yes this is what worries me for sure. I'd need to look into it more.

OP posts:

Pinkdelight3 · 27/09/2021 12:18

Your house is an investment. This is not. You won't get back what you put into it and there'll be a whole lot of extra charges on the side. There's a reason why families don't do this. If it sounds too good to be true etc etc.

mumwon · 27/09/2021 12:18

she might find that some of these are only sold to retired folk - or over 50's
& if the owner changes hands prices can go up dramatically

mummydoris2006 · 27/09/2021 12:21

I live very close to Skegness and so many people choose this option without realising some of the problems that can arise! Having to vacate for a couple of months doesn't sound too bad in theory until October time when every other post on social media is families looking for a Winter let for a couple of months and there not being any. Also many of the sites in this area do not allow post to the site which can be a real pain and in a previous job role I dealt with many people who had been struck off as patients from the local doctors surgery as post from the health authority had never reached the patient.

Chemenger · 27/09/2021 12:22

A brief look at Parkdean's website shows that owners are required to show their council tax bill for their permanent residence every year. So you would have to be paying council tax elsewhere.

MiloAndEddie · 27/09/2021 12:22

Hahahaha if it’s Parkdean then I really wouldn’t! They don’t look after their owners at all and really are sticklers for making sure you’re sticking to the rules, I.e not staying more than you should.

Some sites are better than others but you’re really at the mercy of the general manager on the particular park.

hellomynameissuzy · 27/09/2021 12:32

I would love to do this!

Mothersister · 27/09/2021 12:37

Just be careful doing this. Most holiday parks will only allow vans/bungalows up to 20 years old and then you have to replace it. It’s written into the contract.

There’s no way I’d trade a terraced house for what is essentially a mobile home.

TheSoapyFrog · 27/09/2021 12:39

Given that you have nowhere to go for 6 weeks of the year when you must vacate, I'd say it was a no go. I'm close to my family, but I don't think they'd agree to take us all in for 6 weeks of the year, every year for the foreseeable future.

PegasusReturns · 27/09/2021 12:40

I’d worry about making such a permanent decision.

The property will depreciate and you’ll lose all chances of getting back on the property ladder.

You’d be better off taking your equity of £120k and spending £800 pcm on rent for the next ten years leaving you with a £24k deposit at the end of it.

GCmiddle · 27/09/2021 12:55

Friends of my parents did this a couple of years ago and their plan was to visit their daughter in NZ for the 6 weeks or so every year. Then COVID put paid to that and now their health is deteriorating (they are elderly), they wouldn't do that long flight even if they could...they are in a bind...

BlibBlabBlob · 27/09/2021 13:00

From the Parkdean FAQ:

"Can I permanently live in my holiday home?

Parkdean Resorts does not operate any residential parks, therefore you cannot occupy your holiday home on a residential basis. When buying your holiday home, you will be required to provide proof of your permanent residential address elsewhere. There are no council tax charges on holiday parks, and for that reason there is a limit to the number of consecutive days you are allowed to stay in your holiday home. The park where you choose to purchase your holiday home will advise what the maximum number of consecutive days is allowed at that park as per the site license provided by the Local Authority."

So planning this move as an effective permanent residence is a REALLY, REALLY bad idea @kravestix. Sorry. :-(

BlibBlabBlob · 27/09/2021 13:01

So it sounds like you would not only have to vacate for six consecutive weeks in the height of winter, you would also have to repeatedly move out across the rest of the year?

dworky · 27/09/2021 13:02

I considered this once but after research decided against. Site fees & charges are often disproportionate, despite invariably still being liable for council tax and unscrupuous site owners can make it very difficult for owners to sell on, so leaving them in impossible circumstances.
I think the rules on sites are soon going to change to prevent this but who know when with the current cabinet of incompetence.
Tread very carefully.

Horst · 27/09/2021 13:04

Don’t do it. Park dean are not exactly known for being the best. There’s genuinely Facebook pages dedicated to how poor they treat their owners and general holidays makers.

Also could you imagine during lockdown. Holiday sites shut you couldn’t live there.

Watchingyou2sleezes · 27/09/2021 15:12

The only people I've known that have done this sort of thing with a successful outcome have:

1-been retired
2- bought a nice campervan to go and get some winter Sun during their enforced off site time.

I can't see how a family with school age kids could make it work unless they have a lot of spare money- in which case there's better uses of that money

Zodlebud · 27/09/2021 15:47

Have you noticed that none of these lodges and chalets have letterboxes? That’s because they can’t be used as permanent residences so you can’t have your bank account registered there, get bills sent etc.

A park home is a lifestyle purchase, like where you go at weekends and holidays. Not live there permanently. As a result, on a school night when you’re trying to get to sleep, the people in the neighbouring unit could be up all night partying as they are on holiday. The novelty would soon wear off.

Please don’t do it.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 27/09/2021 15:53

Seems like a really bad idea. It isn’t a home, it’s a holiday let. A home is what a child needs.

Yes I can see it working for the retired couple with the camper van but otherwise no.

FrownedUpon · 27/09/2021 15:55

I have a relative who did this. She’s had huge problems with antisocial behaviour on site. I believe the local council uses it to house people, so perhaps check if this is the case where you’re going.

Albanian · 27/09/2021 16:01

My daughter works in the office of a large holiday park. During all the lockdowns the holiday park has been closed to everyone (even the those that live there almost permanently) and they were not even allowed access to their belongings until lockdown was over. Anyone who was in residence at the time of lockdown simply had to leave (well residents AND staff). Obviously this caused much hardship and anger amongst many residents who had to find somewhere else to live. I should also say this is one of the largest holiday park companies in the country and this applied in all of their parks. Although we all hope there isn't another lockdown it is something to consider because I can only imagine it was hugely stressful for the owners.

Cadent · 27/09/2021 16:13

I think OP is well aware this is a bad idea. Just an excuse for another 'aren't I whimsical' thread.

2bazookas · 27/09/2021 16:25

If you accept that those are not longterm structures. They deteriorate quite rapidly, losing value as they go . So you really need to think of the cash price as a large advance rent payment . In say 15/ 20 years time you could be left with a damp dump worth nothing. and if the whole park is like that, the resident group could deteriorate in the same way.

See Jaywick for worst-case scenario.

user1471428785 · 27/09/2021 16:25

I sympathise but I think you haven’t thought this through enough. We have a property on a holiday park and have to pay huge bills for site fees (thousands) and lots of other bills. Not necessarily cheaper than your mortgage. Like others have said what about the closed season? You would have to live with family as apart from Air BnB I don’t think you could rent somewhere for 6 weeks.

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