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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that we can live in a lodge

107 replies

Pizfufffff · 20/10/2023 08:01

We have been looking at family homes for a while now. I stumbled across these lodges on rightmove. https://www.goodlifelodge.com/

I've looked at the website and I mentions things such as "part exchange your home" or "sell your home" to get funding for them. So I presume you can live full time in these things.

I love the design and layout of them. I love the idea of waking up to rolling countryside views.

My partner says I'm being ridiculous and that we are not living in a wooden lodge in the middle of nowhere with our baby.

I can't see why it's so bad?

Goodlife Lodge Company

Choose to begin your new lifestyle today

https://www.goodlifelodge.com

OP posts:
GwenH82 · 20/10/2023 08:07

While they look pretty I think they are just meant to be holiday homes. Not sure I'd want to live in a holiday park full time.
A wodden lodge in the middle of the country or like little house on the prairie would be a lovely fantasy though.

parietal · 20/10/2023 08:08

I'd be surprised if you could live in it all year. The construction quality is likely to be low and the whole thing might fall apart in 10 years so you have no long term asset. Are there expensive annual fees? And the heating bill will be massive.

But the biggest problem is being in the middle of no where with no shops or community to walk to. That is very isolating and makes life hard and expensive.

Catza · 20/10/2023 08:08

It’s basically a posh static caravan. I would be looking into things like winter insulation, privacy ( I.e. am I going to be waking up to rolling hills or looking into my neighbour’s kitchen whose lodge is mere 4 ft away from mine), site location, how many lodges on site are for holiday use (don’t want endless Benidorm-style parties in my back garden every summer) etc. The pictures look lovely but practicalities of living in these can be questionable.

Sommerled · 20/10/2023 08:09

You wouldn't get a mortgage on one if that's an issue

CatOnTheCarpet · 20/10/2023 08:09

Some of them are full time residences. Lots of downsides though- you only own the physical box not the pitch so you have to rent that. They go down in value over time and you can’t get a mortgage on them.

I think they’re often bought by retired people who need to release equity to live on and aren’t worried about the longer term. Wouldn’t be a great option for a young couple with a baby.

bellac11 · 20/10/2023 08:11

Most of those places have huge service charges, you can only buy utilities from the park itself at inflated cost and they force you to change the caravan/lodge every so many years which costs a fortune.

ASCCM · 20/10/2023 08:12

You’d need to check you can live all year round, most sites close for 3 months over the winter and you’d need to live somewhere else.

It wouldn’t be for me though! Get a well insulated, new or almost new house that’s cheaper to heat , easily to maintain and within walking distance of stuff!

SomeCatFromJapan · 20/10/2023 08:13

Some make you vacate for a period of time like two weeks or a month, usually in winter. Then you'll be council tax exempt.
Others are full time residences and you pay Band A council tax.
Depending in construction they can be cold and damp in winter. It is leasehold and the asset will depreciate so you won't build up equity in the same way as with bricks and mortar.
Many are age restricted to the over 50s and have rules about how often children can stay.
All things to bear in mind when you're looking.

CreepyDibillo · 20/10/2023 08:13

I'm not clear from the link, is it a holiday park? You're not legally allowed to live on a holiday park.
Check out Holiday Park Action Group on Facebook. They're pushing for regulation as so many salespeople sell the dream without being entirely truthful about the limitations- eg not legally being to live there full time.
There are so many sad stories in that group of people who have bought into a dream, only for it to all go horribly wrong.

TizerorFizz · 20/10/2023 08:13

These are classed as temporary buildings. Like temporary classrooms in schools. 30 years life would be about it. Some do have occupancy rules - part of the year. Others don’t. They aren’t built to last so of course they are cheap but will need maintenance. Park Homes aren’t the same as a built home. Chucking money away really.

MintJulia · 20/10/2023 08:16

Given the UK's high levels of humidity, they are hard to keep warm, don't last, and don't maintain their value. Places like the Nordics do wooden houses well, but we don't.

Plus they are usually used as holiday/retirement homes or the choice of those on a very tight budget and short of things like schools and other facilities. Imagine trying to raise a child near all that open water - safety!

Add in that there is usually a management company who can increase the ground rent and service fees by however much they want, and try to control who you can sell to if you subsequently wish to move, ie you can only sell to the management company for a fraction of the purchase price.

Your DH is right IMO. Sorry.

If you want country views, why not just buy a house in the country? It doesn't have to be expensive.

icallitasplodge · 20/10/2023 08:20

My mum bought one by the sea. We loved it, it was fantastic! Then winter, the neighbours, the strict rules of the site, the fees, hit.

As a second home for holidays, with an understanding and acceptance of all the above - great. But living there would drive you insane (and poor)

Simonjt · 20/10/2023 08:21

I think your husband is right.

A friend lives in a similar set up, but on land they own. Their lodge could have paid for a three bed semi where they live, thats before you consider the cost of the land purchase. It was lovely when their children were little, now they’re teenagers they hate being isolated, having little privacy and being different as being teens they find it embarassing living differently. The lodge now needs regular very expensive upkeep, they’ll get nothing if they sell it, selling the land isn’t enough for a home, so very soon they’ll have no choice but to rent somewhere as even with selling the land, they’re too old to get a mortgage on somewhere big enough for everyone.

bellac11 · 20/10/2023 08:24

Just having a very quick scan of their website its also not easily clear whether you can live there full time.

Original poster
Pizfufffff · 20/10/2023 08:24

Thanks for your fantastic insight everyone. I think you are all right. I was just living in a little fantasy land. My partner isn't great at explaining why he doesn't want to do something, and had no input apart from "absolutely not". Maybe one day when we are older and have money we can get something like this to holiday in (a girl can dream!)

OP posts:
Wolvesart · 20/10/2023 08:32

I don’t think it’s a long term option. I’ve heard of people taking out of season lets at holiday home but not really buying them to live in full time. Our MIL rented a holiday apartment while the house she had bought was renovated.

littleripper · 20/10/2023 08:34

They massively drop in value and they can change the standing charges/rules at any time. You are very very vulnerable. There are so very unpleasant people owning a significant minority of these sites.

LakeTiticaca · 20/10/2023 08:37

I would love to live in one of these but as others have pointed out, you would need to look very carefully and deeply into the Terrms and conditions as there are lots of loopholes which can make it look less favourable

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 20/10/2023 08:43

Big old ball o' nope, I'm afraid.

First they charge a fortune for the lodge - a fortune that looks reasonable until you realise it's only yours for c10 years, then you have to buy a whole new one and get the old one removed. Of course you have to do that all via the park, you can't get an independent company to do it, so they can charge what they like.

Then there's ground rent. Extortionate ground rent. Probably exponentially increasing ground rent.

Then there's the condition hidden away that, yes the park is open 12 months a year - but you can only use the lodge for e.g. 10. You just get to choose which 2 months you don't use it for. Sneaky sneaky sneaky.

junebirthdaygirl · 20/10/2023 08:50

As well as all of the above...The others are likely to be empty a lot especially in Winter so no community spirit at all especially as your child grows.
Also l would not bring up a child on the edge of water like that as you would be constantly on patrol. Perfect for retirement holidays so keep saving!

TizerorFizz · 20/10/2023 08:51

Planning restrictions force part year occupancy. It’s standard. It’s not sneaky by the owners! It’s planning policies! Plus these are not full time residencies and are not intended to be.

Sloth66 · 20/10/2023 08:53

bellac11 · 20/10/2023 08:11

Most of those places have huge service charges, you can only buy utilities from the park itself at inflated cost and they force you to change the caravan/lodge every so many years which costs a fortune.

Yes this. You could end up trapped by huge and rising Service charges

theduchessofspork · 20/10/2023 08:57

You might as well move to a caravan site!

It would be freezing in winter, as PP says it costs a fortune to replace when it reaches the end of its live (and you won’t have a choice as it will be condition of your lease) and lots of charges.

YeaGads · 20/10/2023 09:01

There are lots of places like that near where I grew up as a very touristy area. People let them as holiday homes and you do not want to ever live near holiday accommodation. My neighbours have something similar and they bought it when they retired and live in it for six months of the year over the warmer months by the sea.

NotTheMrMenAgain · 20/10/2023 09:10

Agree they look lovely, but all the negatives that have been pointed out are valid. I have two lots of relatives who live in these types of developments - one is for retired people and seems to work well, the other is on a holiday park and has many of the downsides previously mentioned.

Another issue is the cost - slick website doesn’t have any prices as far as I can see. In my area these types of lodges often cost more than that a brick and mortar house, sometimes significantly so. I think you pay a high premium for the lifestyle they’re marketing. It’s not an investment in the same way a house is as you’ll lose money in the long term.

Great for retired folks or as a holiday home if you have the cash to spare, but I wouldn’t sink lots of equity in it that I couldn’t afford to lose.