Static caravan purchase is it worth buying

We regularly visit reputable caravan holiday sites throughout the year for a few hundred £s a trip. These sites have leisure facilities, clubhouse, entertainment etc all yr round.
We’ve visited one in the Cotswolds 3 times this year already.
Excellent value.
Everything is ready when we arrive. Clean sheets/towels provided etc.
If you don’t feel the need to own a caravan, you have the freedom to travel and holiday at so many lovely sites free of fees and utility costs.
We worked out that we could travel around uk sites for many weeks a year at less than half the cost of buying and paying fees for a static caravan in one location.
We own a small studio flat in a popular seaside resort which costs us less than a caravan in maintenance fees and has increased in value over 10 years. We pay council tax but it’s still better value than caravan fees.
Just our experience but maybe useful for others when making decisions.

Much depends on individual priorities though. We like using our own things that we leave there, we don’t approve of second homes that take from housing stock, and we absolutely don’t want entertainment and ‘facilities. We like knowing who the neighbours are and the fact that on an owners-only site everyone has an interest in being considerate and well-behaved.

For us, a lodge on a holiday park is, in theory, the perfect solution, and it would be if there were proper regulation of the industry. The lifestyle is great and we do it with clear conscience. The problems for owners are as I described above however, and these are not inconsiderable, particularly as sites can (and often do) change hands overnight, so the advice to ‘do your research’ before buying is utterly pointless.

We bought a pre-owned static caravan 3 years ago on a small, private site near Poole. We thought it would be perfect for us. The owners are lovely , the site pristine, and we could take our two dogs. But our daughter passed away suddenly and our granddaughter and their dog came to live with us. I thought the caravan would still be a great getaway for us all.. but, here comes the big problem. Our granddaughter has become a teenager and would rather be with friends than with two 'old people' in a caravan. And we are now dictated by school holidays, which means busier roads and more crowded places to visit. I know that our situation is not (thank god) a typical one, but it does mean that we are unable to use the caravan very much - and because it's our personal space, I don't want to let it out. I would say, if you can afford the costs of owning your own static caravan and have the time to use it, go for it! 100%

We have a static and love it. When we were thinking of buying ours I too put a post on here and have to say most of the responses were negative due to what’s already been said here, expensive site fees, etc. As long as you are aware of the pitfalls and accept them, it will be fine. I too considered a motor home but opted for the static as hubby wasn’t keen on driving everywhere due to busy roads etc then not having transport to explore the area unless you move it off site. We visited the area we wanted many times and looked at various site before deciding and I would definitely recommend this. I would imagine you would get plenty of use in retirement so I would say go for it!

Doodledog

Much depends on individual priorities though. We like using our own things that we leave there, we don’t approve of second homes that take from housing stock, and we absolutely don’t want entertainment and ‘facilities. We like knowing who the neighbours are and the fact that on an owners-only site everyone has an interest in being considerate and well-behaved.

For us, a lodge on a holiday park is, in theory, the perfect solution, and it would be if there were proper regulation of the industry. The lifestyle is great and we do it with clear conscience. The problems for owners are as I described above however, and these are not inconsiderable, particularly as sites can (and often do) change hands overnight, so the advice to ‘do your research’ before buying is utterly pointless.

We are preparing to go to our owners only leisure static caravan on Friday, for the 5th time since we bought it 9 weeks ago. It’s dog friendly, small and no renters. We still love it. It is owned by a large holiday park business who have sites all over the UK and although, of course, it could be sold on, it is unlikely.

We have a fair site agreement and a 30 year licence.

It’s very well maintained and nice and quiet.

Good.

I am in my lodge as I type and am very happy too, although the weather could be better. My point though is that tomorrow things could be different for both of us, however happy we are today.

The OP asked about pros and cons, and there are definitely both. A lot of people come onto the Holiday Park Action Group saying how lovely things are for them and assume that those who have lost tens of thousands are foolish (or they are trying to convince themselves that they are immune from similar treatment). A year later, several have been back asking for help because they have found out that until there is proper regulation nobody is above being treated badly.

I hope that doesn't happen to you, and in over 25 years it hasn't happened to us. Since our site went from family-run to a chain, though, we have seen a lot of changes, mostly financial demands for things we don't necessarily want. We are not blind to the fact that things could get worse either. If the OP knows what can happen and decides to go ahead, then that's her choice. I wouldn't like to see anyone fall for the salesmen and buy a dream that becomes a nightmare, though.

I wonder if Rubydooby will come back and tell us of her decision ??

Doodledog

“I wouldn't like to see anyone fall for the salesmen and buy a dream that becomes a nightmare, though.”

Neither would I and long may we, you and any other lodge owners enjoy them to the full

Agreed, Cossy.

I have seen several TV programmes that would put me off buying a static caravan.

Even if you have a decent site owner, they may retire and a new owner can bring in all sorts of new rules that might adversely affect you. I believe a lot of sites have stipulations as to how old a caravan can be. I remember one family being so happy that they had used money inherited from a parent to buy the caravan that they had visited as a family throughout the years. I think it was two years later they were told they would have to dispose of the caravan or move it because it was too old. It was so sad - they felt bad that the money had been wasted. Site fees can go up too and don't seem to have any sort of regulation.

Also, wouldn't you feel bound to visit the caravan for breaks and holidays simply because you have paid for it and also have to pay yearly fees? It might therefore stop you visiting other areas.

Eloethan

I have seen several TV programmes that would put me off buying a static caravan.

Even if you have a decent site owner, they may retire and a new owner can bring in all sorts of new rules that might adversely affect you. I believe a lot of sites have stipulations as to how old a caravan can be. I remember one family being so happy that they had used money inherited from a parent to buy the caravan that they had visited as a family throughout the years. I think it was two years later they were told they would have to dispose of the caravan or move it because it was too old. It was so sad - they felt bad that the money had been wasted. Site fees can go up too and don't seem to have any sort of regulation.

Also, wouldn't you feel bound to visit the caravan for breaks and holidays simply because you have paid for it and also have to pay yearly fees? It might therefore stop you visiting other areas.

All very valid points, but we bought one because we are done with travelling in the main and want some peace and quiet away from our three remaining adult children (& friends and dogs) still living at home!

Yes, that is a valid point too, but (and I am repeating myself as I can’t stress this too strongly) there is no protection against everything changing overnight and the good experience owners have being replaced by bad ones.

Sites can become pet-free, for instance, or their numbers limited, so people have to choose between their home from home and their pet, or pay kennel charges when they use their caravan. Charges for sheds, decks, gazebos, wifi etc can be deliberately prohibitive so people can’t afford them. Rents rise, as do fuel charges. Rules about things like the number of cars per unit can make it impossible for people to use their units as they have always done. And so on.

One person on the HPAG page can no longer get shopping delivered because of a rule change. She is disabled and can’t get to the site shop, and taxis are no longer allowed on the site so she can’t use her lodge unless there is someone with her as she can’t store enough groceries to last more than a few days. She is probably not alone in having that change thrust upon her.

I have no vested interest in putting anyone off buying - we will want to sell some day, so it is against my interests to do so. I just feel that people should know all the possibilities before parting with money.