Residental park homes

My mother and my sister both lived in a Park Home. You get ripped off buying and selling because the owners demand a large percentage for themselves. Plus, when you come to sell, they insist on okaying the incoming prospective purchasers! Would never recommend it to anybody, sorry.

I have lived in a park home for just over a year. It is freehold but on private land. I pay £160 a month as a ground rent plus Council tax. They provide street lighting, sewers and a fire alarm system. I only have electric heating but that suits me. 2 bedrooms, garage and a driveway for 3 cars. I love it x

Cousin had one, it was lovely and in a nice place but the new owners appointed new site managers and they made life difficult for them. You had to get your utilities from them too. Eventually he and his partner managed to move to a proper bungalow and they'd not do it again

Davida1968

How many times does this need repeating - a holiday home park is NOT the same as a residential park! The latter is for permanent residences. (The former is for, well, holidays.) As crimpedhalo wisely points out, there is a lot of information available online.

I have a holiday home on a residential site. 70% residents 30% hoiday homes. Different rules for each but same site.

Thankyou evryone who has commented so far. A residential park home you can live in all year round we have looked online and been inside one. They arnt cheap some cost as much as a normal property and they aren't like caravans either. Were looking for somewhere in the countryside with nice surroundings .i will look at the facebook group.

I've heard of ones that have an upper age limit on the homes but not the residents!
They wouldn't make someone replace their very old home, but if an elderly resident died or left, the home had to be replaced with a modern one.

I know of a couple of residential parks that have an upper age limit on the home (not the occupants). Once it gets too old the owners are forced to sell (that’s not easy) and buy a new one if they want to stay on the same site.

What put us off, though, was the thought of tripping and slipping to the car parking space (not very near the home) in icy winter conditions (and back, with shopping)

Some park homes have a double drive and garage, as henetha said. One of my relatives lives in one and it is nust like any other bungalow. She also had a lovely conservatory built on the back.
Perhaps that is why that site is far more expensive than some.

My parents lived in a Static Home and it was probably the happiest time in their life. Based on that alone, I would highly recommend.

Obviously cheap,
Not necessarily. I know of some which were selling, new, for nearly £300,00 not that long ago, comparable to local prices, and, of course, that does not include the land on which you have to pay a ground rent.

My Auntie has a 'holiday home' which she lives in for ten months of the year and she absolutely loves it.

When the site closes she visits her daughter in Australia.

Things have been very different this year though because of the Covid restrictions.

During the first lockdown the site was closed down so she moved in with her Grand-daughter who lives locally.

Her area is currently under tier 3 restrictions but she has elected to stay on the site - but she is finding it very difficult and she is very lonely.

I don't know what will happen when the site closes for the winter this year as she will is unlikely to be able to fly to Australia.

Lots of things to consider before making your decision.

I've lived in a park home for over eleven years now and it's wonderful. It's nothing like a caravan, doesn't bear even the slightest resemblance. Inside it's just like a bungalow. I've a garden all round, and a detached garage and parking for two other cars.
The rules and regulations have changed quite a lot since I moved here and are much more in favour of the home owner now, not the site owner. There is very little which I can't do, but keeping a motorhome on site is not allowed.
No-one under 50 can live here which means it's very peaceful. But you can have visitors for as long as you like.
One snag is that if you sell you have to give 10 percent of the sale to the site owner. This is the latest thing which we are lobbying parliament over. And there is ground rent to pay, but if you are poor you can claim housing benefit towards it.
I'm not tied in, as some sites are, to buying utilities from the site owner. I deal with gas/electric/bt/etc just as any other home owner would.
There are very few unscrupulous site owners these days. Recent law changes have seen to that. This site belongs to a large reputable company and all problems and negotiations are dealt with very fairly. We have a liaison officer who does this for us. And we have a very active residents association.
I would highly recommend park home living, but do choose your site carefully and research what the conditions are like.
Not all sites are as well run as this one.

I know someone in a residential park home, she has a little garden, is cosy and warm and loves the quiet area with like-minded people. Far far nicer and more independent and spacious than a McC apartment

I went to look at one with a friend who was interested. There were certainly advantages, as everything was conveniently set up, very attractive and cosy, own little garden patch and shed. It was very quiet and peaceful (over 50's only, no pets allowed).

It would virtually eliminate all the hard work of housework/maintenance/upkeep that houses require and be a good base for somebody who likes to go out or relax.

At the site, you were tied into buying your gas from the owner, contributing to the water bill etc. and there were many rules.

What put us off, though, was the thought of tripping and slipping to the car parking space (not very near the home) in icy winter conditions (and back, with shopping) although it all looked beautiful in summer.

No, of course, they're not good value for money, but they really do suit some people, which is far more important.

Hi, some years ago we gave a great deal of thought into buying a park home. Circumstances changed and it was no longer a viable idea for us.

Like some have said and been corrected, park homes are not built like caravans. Yes, they do have wheels, but they are built much differently. You can live in them all year round, as they are not holiday homes.

We visited park home manufacturers and saw them being built and were very impressed.

We spent one of our holidays in a motorhome, looking at parks up and down the country.

The vast majority of park residents live very happy and safer lives than in other areas.

But what must be considered are ground rents, park rules, re-selling and general info on parks. There is a great magazine called PARK HOMES & PARKS.

There are great articles and a really good page of problems/questions from residents. Some of the problems made me gasp. You see the park can and often is, sold to new owners and the rules can change.

Take a look at Park Homes for sale on line and you`ll see they don't come cheap anymore...depending on the area.

But if you go ahead and buy one, I wish you a happy time. These park homes are beautiful and when new, come fitted out with furniture, carpets and white goods.

Enjoy!

rightmove has park homes on the drop down menu for home type. Have a look then you will realise what we are talking about! NOT caravans, but lovely substantial homes.

How many times does this need repeating - a holiday home park is NOT the same as a residential park! The latter is for permanent residences. (The former is for, well, holidays.) As crimpedhalo wisely points out, there is a lot of information available online.

We looked at one a few years ago, when we were selling our bungalow as we thought it might be cheaper running costs, but it worked out more expensive with ground rent etc, plus they depreciate, where bricks and mortar generally go up and of course you own the land. In the end we bought another smaller bungalow and were glad we hadn’t gone down that route, wouldn’t like to live by site rules either.

My mother moved to a Park home when her 2nd husband lost his business & they had to sell their 4 bedroom house.
Initially she was upset but she grew to love their new home. I stayed there sometimes & it was warm & cosy but she did miss her garden- they had a small plot & she grew herbs.
It was on the border of The Forest of Dean so very nice walking area.
There was a very good community spirit there too.

Karinu as has been mentioned in earlier threads the law changed several years ago, you no longer have to sell to the site owner, you do not need permission to sell, we sold Mum’s through a regular estate agent and completed just a month ago, she also lived there 52 weeks a year

Please join Residential Park Homes Facebook Groups as they give priceless advice.

A lot of residential park homes cannot be lived in 52 weeks of the year. A very elderly friend moved into one 4 years ago and loves it. For the 3 week period she must vacate she goes to her son's for a bit of a holiday. Very well heated, lovely little easy to maintain garden great community and what I really like - quietness! I think they are becoming more popular as still have independence without being stuck in a flat or having to maintain a house. Conditions are of course to be well considered before making a decision.

I lived in a very beautiful park home chalet for several years.
The site was in a lovely area in North Yorkshire, friendly community etc.
The big downsides- park owners have first choice of buying the place (at a knock-down price of course) . You will almost certainly lose money, and beware of the annual costs which can be increased anytime.
I will NEVER go there again.

Years ago my dds delivered the weekly freebie paper to a residential park home site in our town. Any prejudices I had fell away. They were beautifully maintained inside and out in their own quite location. The residents were lovely people too.

I went back the other day and they are just as lovely in a peaceful location. Cheaper than a house to buy as well. If you don’t need big why not. Just check the location and make sure the residents are neighbourly.

We purchased a park home last November Best thing we ever did I dont think of it as a caravan its my home. Our utility bills have halved & so easy to maintain and clean . Love it ?