What happens when park homes need replacing

[Incheesewetrust]

A friend of a friend was recently proudly showing off her new park home and it was lovely. They’d made enough in profit from the move from bricks and mortar to pay to have nice furnishings, holidays and some savings and she was justifiably proud of it so there was no way I was going to ask her this as from a passing comment she wasn’t factoring it in and I didn’t want to burst her bubble. Am I right in thinking that the park homes have to be replaced the way static caravans have to be, every decade or so or have things moved on? How is that affordable? Could it leave some people in trouble or am I just creating a problem where there isn’t one?

I am pretty sure lots of parks have rules about the maximum age of the homes on their sites. If your home reaches that age, then it would be down to you to remove the home from the site and replace it with a newer one. A lot of people can't manage the logistics of that, so the site step in and sell you a (very expensive) new home with the perk that they'll sort the logistics and removal of the old one (sort of like trading in a car).

I think it depends on the park? Probably in the terms and conditions on their website. Check first then have a conversation even just ...at least you've got 20 years before you need to move of do you keep the same plot and just buy a new park home? That way you're planting the idea but not chucking the bomb

My in-laws made a similar move, the “lodge” is very high spec & will last a long time if properly maintained - they are in an over 50s park & wear & tear is so much less if you don’t have children trashing it!

However the blunt truth is they have purchased a slab of concrete & that comes with substantial monthly maintenance fees. At the same time that maintenance gives them a lovely place to live in.

The resale value will be a fraction of what they paid but they are thoroughly enjoying their new improved lifestyle so that has to be worth something also.

Yes it looks a lovely environment but I worry the whole push to buy without using solicitors is a smoke screen to hide problems down the line. Surely there will be lots of older folk getting evicted when they can’t afford to replace the park home

I would be very worried if they are trying to push the sake through without solicitors, is it a residential site which you can live on 12 months of the year, or a holiday park which must be unoccupied for 2 months? Definitely get this checked out, I've known people fall foul of this.
Park Homes are glorified sheds, they are cold, do not retain any resale value, lovely for a holiday but not to live in!

Yes I've heard that things can get tricky after the homes reach a certain age. Anyone thinking of buying one should definitely seek advice from an independent property solicitor

Residential park homes are a bit different to holiday mobile homes, so I think you might be getting a bit confused between them- on a residential site you wouldn’t be expected to replace in 10 years, whilst on a holiday site you would. Have a look here

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homeownership/mobile_homes_on_a_park_home_site

Ah thank you for that. It’s a residential site all year round. The marketing for it actually promoted no need for lawyers which screamed red flag for me but was like a green light to fof

Residential park homes have different rules, and are built to much higher specs that holiday static caravans - DGPs have lived in theirs for around 15 years, and the previous owner lived there for some years, too. I expect it to do another owner after them.

www.quickmoveproperties.co.uk/what-is-the-lifespan-of-a-residential-park-home

Other potential things to look out for:
There may be additional fees associated with the park - look into this. Many park homes are oil heated, so that needs buying separately. In some park homes you own the building (which can be transported to another location), but essentially rent the land. In others, you own both the land and the caravan. If they're used to more space, the downsize can be a real shock. The dimensions in many park homes aren't huge - enough for many, but not for people with more hoarderish tendencies.

Depends on the site. Some sites round here you have to replace them every 5 years and the depreciate like a used cars. Most required upgrade every 10 years. There are a few of the smaller sites that will allow older vans.

our nearest neighbour owns a lot of caravan and holiday parks. And he’s got a very nicer house and leave via helicopter to his Scottish estate. All his sites the new vans have to be provided by them as well.

Around here a lot of sites are changing hands, big boys taking over. Owners of older properties are being told to replace or leave. The monthly fees are much higher too

It's a mugs game unless of course you're the owner of the site

My pil have been living in an over 50’s site for the past 25 years. There park home is well insulated, warm and in no way looking like it needs replacing. They love it.