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Original poster

Living in caravan during house reno with 2 kids?

34 replies

Xar0cas · 21/01/2023 07:56

Hi there,

we are a family of 4 with two girls aged 3 & 6. We are finally getting some much needed work done to our house but we will need to move out from April to end of July!

has anyone moved into a 4berth caravan? Is this doable for 4 months or am I super unrealistic?

any tips/advice/experience would be greatl appreciated! 🫶

OP posts:
Dougieowner · 21/01/2023 08:52

It will be cramped for a 4-month stay but certainly doable.

Will it be on a site with facilities or in the garden of the house?
You are doing it at the best time of the year (warm, dryish, long light evenings etc) so plenty of opportunity for sitting outdoors.
Can you have an awning as that will double your living space and could even be set up as the permanent dining / lounge area?
Make it a fun time for the kids (like a long holiday or adventure). Go for walks, visit people etc to make sure you don't have to sit in it day-in day-out.

Figgygal · 21/01/2023 08:57

My husbands parents built their house whilst the family lived in a static on site it went on for years and he's still I think pretty traumatised by it but I mean YEARS

4 months could be a fun adventure id do it Especially in what sounds like a big van

SleekMamma · 21/01/2023 08:59

4 months over the summer fine. But if it drags on to over the winter not so fine.

Have you watched any grand designs?

AllAboutMargot · 21/01/2023 09:00

I think you'll find it surprisingly easy, especially over the summer months.
Will you have a washing machine?

Whinge · 21/01/2023 09:08

SleekMamma · 21/01/2023 08:59

4 months over the summer fine. But if it drags on to over the winter not so fine.

Have you watched any grand designs?

Grand designs and delays were my first thoughts.🤣

It often takes longer than planned and while 4 months in the summer is manageable, it's good to have a plan B. Because if things take longer, then a winter in a caravan with 2 young children isn't anyone's idea of fun.

SleekMamma · 21/01/2023 09:14

I mean, you could go for the triple, delays, winter in the van and another baby?
What could possibly go wrong?!

Peridot1 · 21/01/2023 09:14

My sister did it. But they were able to set up that their eldest slept in their home office which is a separate building. She had that as a ‘den’ and slept in there with the dog. She loved it but is older than your eldest.

But they did it and managed and survived. It helped to be on site all the time to keep the build on track. Definitely wouldn’t have done it in winter. Theirs delayed a bit and it got to October and one night they just moved back into the house even though it wasn’t officially ready. They just couldn’t stay in the caravan any longer.

Crumpledstilstkin · 21/01/2023 09:17

Depends on your kids. Friends are doing it currently with kids around that age and seem to be on the verge of a breakdown.

Everygrainofsand1 · 21/01/2023 09:58

Is this in the garden as you will need electric hook up, will this be possible. Running off the caravan battery and gas isn't easy for longer periods, should be fine though in the summer if caravan plugged in

CakeCrumbs44 · 21/01/2023 10:03

Should be OK as in the summer the weather should be reasonable so you won't be cold and stuck indoors.
Do the kids go to school and nursery? I don't think I could spend all day with a 3 year old in a caravan but if they're at nursery during the week it would be easier.
Do you work from home and would you be able to work in the caravan?

If you can get a 6 berth caravan or static van that would make it all a lot easier. 4 berth is pretty small. Will you have room for an awning as that could make your living space considerably bigger.

Yesthatismychildsigh · 21/01/2023 10:07

A 4 berth caravan will be tiny. Do you mean a touring caravan or a static? A tourer would be grim, a static will be fine, especially in summer.

Everygrainofsand1 · 21/01/2023 10:15

You probably need one of those with twin wheels as they are much bigger, we have a 4 berth fixed bed tourer for two of us and it would be very busy with an extra two people.

MaverickGooseGoose · 21/01/2023 10:18

A 4 berth tourer, no way! A 2 bed static, fine. Will it be plumbed properly / electric / heating?

Oakbeam · 21/01/2023 10:21

A colleague of mine did this, plus a dog and a cat. They had to move the caravan a couple of times because of site rules.

So, yes, it is doable.

Cimafunky · 21/01/2023 10:21

The grand design rules mean you will fall pregnant with a third and have to remain in the caravan for at least one year longer than anticipated and it will coincide with the coldest weather since 1970 😁

Tonsiltrouble · 21/01/2023 10:21

This will be unpopular but I would question the absolute need for you to move out. The builder will suggest it because it makes life easier for them, but I have lived through two building sites (usually in just a couple of habitable rooms) and it’s not so bad. There are always bits that are really bad, eg bathrooms, but it’s easy to go to an air bnb somewhere for that bit.

first time we lived through a loft conversion and rear extension with a baby and me on mat leave. We had two habitable rooms and it was ok. Second time was 8 months solid in this house, full renovation including full replumb and rewire, and again it was ok. That time we had to move round the habitable parts of the house and had a makeshift ‘kitchen’ on a table in the hall but I do think it was better than a caravan

Oakbeam · 21/01/2023 10:22

The grand design rules mean you will fall pregnant with a third and have to remain in the caravan for at least one year longer than anticipated and it will coincide with the coldest weather since 1970 😁

Then divorce and/or die.

Everygrainofsand1 · 21/01/2023 10:23

OP, where will the caravan be, on a site or in the garden?

TizerorFizz · 21/01/2023 10:24

My near neighbours had a portacabin type mobile home. Like a mobile classroom! You only need two bedrooms and obviously kitchen snd bathroom, plus some living space. Fairly expensive though as it needs booking up to everything!

Lost123454 · 21/01/2023 10:28

I've watched pretty much every episode of Grand Designs and Property Ladder plus others

I think only one build finished on time

Hattie1970abc · 21/01/2023 10:37

Yes I’ve done it twice. Once in a four berth when children were junior school age. Best nights sleep I’ve ever had. Then again when children were in their teens they were then in their own caravan and hubby and I in our own next door. We were in once from beginning of August to December and secondly May to December. November/ December were quite tough months to get through because of frost but it’s perfectly doable and if you’re working on the houses you will be thankful you don’t have to keep dwelling pristine. Just make sure you have a washing machine handy or even better take washing to launderette for a service wash and dry. Also, make sure the fire and cooker are in good working order and you’ve got carbon monoxide detectors too. The kids will think it’s an adventure and if the weathers okay - it can feel like you’re on holiday. Think of the money you will save and that you can put towards something in the house. When house is finished and you move in to it it will feel like a palace and it will feel like you’ve so much space. It’s not for everyone but you just have to be organised with everything and use minimal items etc. Also, time passes really quickly.

Hattie1970abc · 21/01/2023 10:50

Also both times full renovations which I would class as floors dug up and roof off, additional foundations dug, exterior walls taken down, steels put in rewired and re plumbed. Really old houses. Have also lived in house during extension builds and walls knocked out which is perfectly fine. Depends how much of a renovation it is and if you can manage living with the mess, dust, noise and intrusion of workmen constantly in your space. If it’s uninhabitable you won’t have to pay Council Tax for it if you’re not living on site but if you’re in caravan on site you will still have to pay it. They always take longer than initially envisaged. Things go wrong with supply and manpower but you get there in the end. It gives you a big step up in the property ladder so it’s worth it!

Yesthatismychildsigh · 21/01/2023 11:06

Tonsiltrouble · 21/01/2023 10:21

This will be unpopular but I would question the absolute need for you to move out. The builder will suggest it because it makes life easier for them, but I have lived through two building sites (usually in just a couple of habitable rooms) and it’s not so bad. There are always bits that are really bad, eg bathrooms, but it’s easy to go to an air bnb somewhere for that bit.

first time we lived through a loft conversion and rear extension with a baby and me on mat leave. We had two habitable rooms and it was ok. Second time was 8 months solid in this house, full renovation including full replumb and rewire, and again it was ok. That time we had to move round the habitable parts of the house and had a makeshift ‘kitchen’ on a table in the hall but I do think it was better than a caravan

Using an air b&b for the bathroom would be expensive and you’d keep needing to leave the house to go there. Might as well get a decent caravan than do that.

Tonsiltrouble · 21/01/2023 12:01

I think you’ve misunderstood my meaning @Yesthatismychildsigh - I’m suggesting that a short stay in an Airbnb for the week or so that a bathroom might be being redone is a possibility alongside remaining in the house. Not just having an Airbnb for a toilet.

Yesthatismychildsigh · 21/01/2023 12:03

Tonsiltrouble · 21/01/2023 12:01

I think you’ve misunderstood my meaning @Yesthatismychildsigh - I’m suggesting that a short stay in an Airbnb for the week or so that a bathroom might be being redone is a possibility alongside remaining in the house. Not just having an Airbnb for a toilet.

Ah yes. I think maybe I did misread. Apologies.