Static caravans. To buy or not to buy?

Static caravan or Time share go into with your eyes open, service charges and restrictions can cost a great deal, you need to use them a great deal to get the value.

I owned a holiday chalet in Cornwall,it seemed a better buy to me than a caravan.

The site had amazing uninterrupted views of the sea.

The fees were about £2.500 a year,this included use of the on site facilities,swimming pool,bar,tennis courts etc.I had a 999year lease.

I live in the a Midlands and found the drive a bit much now I am getting older.Also no private outdoor space that wasn’t communal,so I always had to go out with my dog when needed,it became a pain.

I sold it two years ago.I didn’t feel the time I used it justified the expense.

Oh dear; I'm so sorry everyone!? £1700. For Mar-Oct. Expensive enough. Bought as M.E. was bad and I had not much energy for travelling. I still think a large tourer is a much better idea. But as someone said there is all the driving, although you can park in a site for the whole summer.

Please know that holiday-home sites and residential park sites are very different, legally! In reply to the original post, I know a couple who have a "static" on a very peaceful, quiet, well-kept holiday-only site in a rural setting in the SW. They love it. No extra social facilities - simply an on-site manager and a small launderette. They use it at every opportunity, and relish the fact that they can just take off whenever they like -minimal forward planning needed. I understand that holiday-home sites must close for at least a month in every year, by law. (It's illegal to live there full-time, though some people do.)

£17k for 6 months use? I would prefer to rent properties in different places for that kind of money, even assuming that I had that much at my disposal. The idea of one place for every holiday doesn't appeal to me, but I realise that many do like it. Also, remember that grandchildren grow up and will soon get to the age where they don't want to go to grandma's caravan every year.

Seventeen thousand pounds for site fees? That can’t possibly be right surely?

I would even gulp at seven thousand per year!

Can you confirm annep1 please?

I am also not certain if the original poster wanted advice on a holiday caravan or on a permanent park home - type accommodation.

The site fees can be high. Not all sites are 12months some only 10months. Mobile homes definitely depreciate in value. Some sites insist vans are replaced every 10yrs. Also you may find you can only sell through site. Perhaps a sited touring caravan may be a better idea at first? Good luck though as I can see the attraction of having one.

Friend who works for Citizens Advice says that after Universal Credit issues, static caravan/park homes is the next most problematic area.

A static caravan is expensive and you need to use it most weekends to make it worthwhile. Once you’ve bought it you are committed for several years, if your circumstances change it will become a very expensive millstone because site charges are high.
One alternative is a large tourer on a seasonal pitch, pay your fees yearly move to another site, or sell it without any restriction. If you dont tow on the road yourself just pay someone else to move it, total flexibility. Still not cheap because depreciation of the caravan plus site fees is still likely to be £3000 plus unless it is a very old caravan

I love our static caravan in the North East of England but we didn't buy until we had both taken early retirement so I feel we get a lot out of it as we can go for as long as we like. Our fees are only around £3000 per year which is not too bad, gas and electric is extra.
We tend to use it April to Sept but even tho we have central heating is does get very cold early Spring and Autumn so we take holidays elsewhere then. The site does not have any entertainment or amenities but lovely views and lots of wildlife which I don't have at home. It's a lovely change and very relaxing

Seventeen thousand pound for site fees!

I'm in NI. Our fees are around £17k. Our site is closed mid Oct to mid March. Its a luxury. Definitely not an investment.

We owned a static caravan for a number of years. Initially we went there for many long weekends however we found we were going there less and less as were our family. The site fees went up every year and when we worked out how much each weekend away was costing us we decided to sell. However we had to sell it back to the site owners at a very low price. Enjoyable though owning a caravan is it is also very expensive

£6,000 a year for costs sounds like an awful lots of money to me - around £500 a month. I'd rather spend that sort of money on a couple of good holidays and some short breaks in different areas of the UK and abroad.

oops there not their

We upgraded our static to a lodge last year on a small family run site. We're not allowed to rent it out, not that we'd want too, but family and friends can use it.

We were thrilled to learn that the site is re opening on July 4th and are looking forward to going again. We had only 3 nights in March as we had to cut our time their short due to the lock down.

Our site is open for 11 months of the year and we're so pleased we have it as we've no intention of going abroad and it provides a welcome change of scenery while maintaining social distancing.

We bought one last year in Brean Somerset on Unity Farm it`s a family run site and we love it,sadly because of covid we haven`t been able to either use it or rent it out.
I wouldn`t think twice about buying one if you can afford it.
The fees can be rather expensive £6,000 but for us it`s worth it as the site has everything you could need,i e, golf/fishing/ indoor pool/outdoor pool/entertainment for adults and children/the beach the list endless.

Back in January I was thinking of buying one near a good beach, largely for family/3 little Gdcs to use.
Very glad I didn’t take it any further then, given events of the past few months!
Might consider again once the pandemic is well behind us. I’m well aware that they’re far from a good investment but was thinking much more of low cost holidays/breaks for family/Gdcs. Would have planned to rent it out for part of the time, to help defray site costs. Which would have meant a fairly new and obvs. more expensive one, esp. since it’d need to be a 3 bed.
Will be thinking again at some point.

Blaze, I have just seen your message and unless you live in a Park Home”, I think that to most people these and a static caravan are the same think. I have two friends insist on their homes ( which are very nice ) as being “ park homes” They are big caravans with nice little gardens around and it’s a sort of caravan estate with no pets, or children and everyone over 55, which is one of the many rules. The monthly fees are much more than costs for my house and because the build is not bricks but flimsier specialist builders etc. have to be used. What set up wouldn’t welcome pets and children ? Park homes!

You can get a good deal as has been said with static caravan but yearly site fees are usually very high. There are really strict site rules, no pets, no visiting children, etc. It can feel a bit sterile. Also the owner can dictate when you have to buy a new caravan and have to buy through the site owner. If you choose to sell this has to be through the owner and he takes a cut. Do your research really very carefully if thinking of buying. It all looks really nice but it’s a very expensive option for holidays.

Are you talking static caravan or park home?

Everyone is different but I wouldn't wish to buy one because I would not want to spend my holidays in the same place all the time or, for that matter, lots of weekends there either.

I suppose, if you have family members and friends who could make use of it as well, it might be a different thing.

It is an expensive hobby but if you can afford it, go ahead.
Do your research thoroughly , there are some very unscrupulous site owners around.
We had one in N Wales and loved it, it was a lovely escape from routine.
We had to give it up when my H became ill but I have very fond memories of our years there.

My MIL had one used it all the time. Took off most weekends and all the school holidays. Other family members used it in between.

I would buy a good second hand one as you can pick up a good deal.

My friends son bought a static as an investment thinking to rent it out for extra income.
The reality is not as he expected,
The site fees are high and go up every year there in the thousands.
He can only use the site for 10 months per year
He as not been able to secure many renters
If you want to sell it as to be done thru the site.