To be stern with holiday park owner?

[LadyoftheCheeses]

My parents own a static caravan on a relatively small but well looked after site. They are due to pay for next seasons ground rent soon but are thinking about selling as they're not getting enough use to warrant the rent.

My partner and I would like the buy the caravan from them and pay the ground fee to the site.

Here's the issue - the site have said the van is too old and they'd rather not have it if my parents don't want the caravan anymore. My parents have no contract, nothing written and there are no rules regarding age of the caravan - this would not have been raised as an issue had we not have discussed us buying it, it was only when we called to explain that they said all of this.

I've spoken to the owners wife and politely explained that although the van is old, we'll be doing small renovations and plan to spend a good few seasons on site and then upgrade to a newer caravan. She has essentially said they don't want the van on site so that's that.

Where do we stand?! My parents are happy to sell the van to us, and we have the funds to purchase that and the ground rent for the season immediately. I have a call with the owner in a few hours, but I need to know where both me and my parents stand in terms of selling the caravan whether that be to us or someone else - baring in mind there is no contract at present.

Thanks!

We have had a touring caravan for years. We did look into a static but it felt like a deep money pit to us.

You say the owners are in their 80's and you'd like this to be a long term thing. What happens when they die. Do they have younger family members who will take over from them when they go? Is it a proper holiday park or land next to their home? What if they die and the land is sold? It can cost several thousand pounds to get a static removed.

You may be better off financially buying a large tourer or fifth wheel (my current dream) and putting it on a seasonal pitch somewhere.

I would just back away from it and say you’ve changed your mind about buying it from your parents.
and privately give them the money

Please look at this group on face book. They have been taking group action against holiday parks and can give advice specific to your sitiation.https://www.facebook.com/groups/1488700298019076/?ref=share Holiday Park Action Group.

I think now that they know the parents want to leave, the owners will insist on the caravan being removed.

We had a static growing up. It's where we spent all our summers. But when I was around 13yo the site got bought over by a developer and everyone was told their vans were too old and they either had to upgrade to a new one or they had to leave. We had to leave. You wouldn't recognise the place now. The vans are huge and the facilities are fancy as hell. The minimum price for a new van now is £67,000 with a 10-year lease and site fees are over £3k. 😱

Too rich for my money. We just go abroad now.

Very common rule re the age I'm afraid. You don't have much to stand on here ....it's their site and if they don't want the caravan on site you have to remove it or else they will charge you. Sorry op. You sure nothing in writing...

This! If they're willing to keep it for your parents then just do the payments between yourselves. Keep it as long as you can. Xx

No fuss. Your parents keep ownership - you use it. Look for newer caravans in the mean time.
At 80 these folks might not be around forever. A few users of the site might get together and buy it from them.

Yeah when you look into the caravan thing, it's a proper con. It's a shame really as they're quite a nice thing to have on hand.

this is the hat i would do

I own a static and noticed you have said investment. Carvans are not an investment.
Have a look at the FB page called holiday park action group before you buy anything. The current owners are very old and will be looking to give this up soon. I'd be waiting to see who takes over.

That's a good point about not knowing who will be running it in a few years

Definitely not an investment, a depreciating asset and site fees.

I am sure there are some decent operators but for the most part they seem like a long term borderline scam.

Everyone I know who gets one kids themselves they have a cheap weekend retreat then after about a decade realise what is going on and sell up at a massive loss.

Just came on to suggest this group

Bought a used caravan on a small caravan site. No contract given, everything verbal. Promised no age limited on caravan as long as kept clean and tidy. We put in new carpet, new central heating, new shower and new decking. Owner died 5 years later, left it to two sons who raised fees to double what they were, and imposed a 10 year limit. Our caravan was 5 years old when we bought it. Told I had to buy new van or sell mine to them for peanuts. Couldn’t take it off myself as their land, no low loaders allowed on only theirs. Had to walk away. There should be a law against exploitation by these con men. It doesn’t happen in any other industry. Most of these sites are owned by certain members of society who are a law onto themselves.