Bungalow living royal life

Our niece is currently hoping to move to one of these in Torquay but it isn’t on a large development with amenities. It is for over 55s and she is allowed a dog, her dog is a very big but there will be no problem taking him. There are nicely landscaped grounds for which she will pay a monthly fee but no other amenities which she doesn’t want as she will be close by her two sons. She has sent us the floor plan and it looks very spacious. Just do lots of research and see what’s available.

We looked at Royal Life at St Leonards in Dorset. Beautifully fitted kitchens and bathrooms The furnishings are all included and very nice quality. you can have a shed. But they are never near good bus routes or other facilities and the ground rent and site fees need to be taken into account along with the 20% which is paid when a home is sold.

I live in a park home for the over 50s. It's an old home that we renovated before my partner died. It's worth well in excess of 3 times of the purchase price. I pay my water & electricity through the site owners & have a calor gas rank. Other parts of the site are free to use any electricity supplier. I have a decent brick built shed, am allowed pets. I do pay ground rent but I live in a gated community, my house & car insurance are less, my other outgoings are lower, basic rate council tax.....and they mow the lawn! The staff were fantastic in the initial lockdown, looking after vulnerable residents. I'm not a particularly sociable person, but there's a bar/restaurant & a residents club if I wanted to go out. There's a swimming pool & a shop. The only downside is the fee that's paid to the site owner when you sell, but there's pressure on parliament to change the law on that.

No children, no pets, can’t rent them out or have a lodger, all rather strict. Friend lives on a Park home site , in what we used to call a mobile home and the monthly costs are high. The site owner takes a cut of the money if you sell and can also choose who you sell to. Everyone on site are either single or couples and it all feels a bit restricted. Ok no teens revving cars and shouting and no kids playing but I would really miss that. Caravan living is not for me at all even if a luxury one.

I live in a bungalow, but just in a development, not a ready made complex. We have no rules, just live as we please. I love my bungalow that I've had now for nearly 2 years when I was 53 years old and I've renovated it to the way I will use it, knocked walls down as I don't need any more than 2 beds, hate rooms sitting unused, made larger kitchen/ sitting room. I will be here now for the rest of my days, I love it and so glad I made the move from a townhouse to my bungalow.

some static homes sites have been on our local news recently because the park has changed owners and the new owners want to only have units less than a certain age. No regard for what condition they are in or the circumstances of the owners. I'm sure it's an rare event but still worth thinking about

My parents moved to a house where the main bedroom was on the ground floor and only a couple of attic rooms were usable on the second floor.

They assumed this would be easier in their old age.

To a certain extent it was, but after only three short months in that house both of them, although healthy and early retirees - Daddy retired at 60 and mum was 6 years younger than him, found walking up or down stairs difficult, soon to become impossible.

So if you choose a home without stairs - do take up some form of exercise to compensate for not going up and down stairs two or three times a day.

My cousin moved to one and loves it

Carol54

some static homes sites have been on our local news recently because the park has changed owners and the new owners want to only have units less than a certain age. No regard for what condition they are in or the circumstances of the owners. I'm sure it's an rare event but still worth thinking about

Yes, that happened on a Park homes site I knew.

I believe it only happened if an owner had died and, in fact, some of the homes were very old and nothing like the lovely newer ones available now. I've no idea if there was compensation or any type of refund.

I went to collect something I had purchased on an auction site, when I arrived the gentleman lived in a park home, I must say I was impressed and he had views over the sea. It was lovely and he was very happy there. Only time I have been in one.

Last year, we looked at the - over 45's to over 60's park developments. I began to get doubts on the over 45's as they can still have young children! I I love the younger members of our family but I also like peace until morning once I go to bed. I don't think watching Neighbours from Hell helped:-(. I didn't want either of us to be on our own should anything happen to the other and also this was to be our last move so it had to be right! We put in an offer on an over 60's which was accepted, however, parking was an issue, though you have space outside, if someone else parks there, tough, I might not have been able to get anywhere near the front door! There were lot's of restrictions in the small print and many new ones have council tax to pay and another road service charges, (council's will not adopt them). This is in addition to the 'services charges' if there is a club house, communal pool, boundries upkeep, etc. In the first instance it all seems fine but then if you think ahead, the leases can be sold on and who knows who you will be dealing with in the future! We finally moved into a bungalow late last year in a village where, if I can no longer drive, I can walk for food essentials and top ups and there is a bus service to bigger towns if needed. I could also walk or taxi to the train or bus station to get to airports or London if I wanted to. I did my homework, read all about the 'village' and the 'community' online and there is a club for almost everything here. We came and stayed in the area several times first as well. That said, the COVID thing got us all caught up in viewing under tight restrictions and that is now revealing some issues with the place. We love the all one level living and I am making the place our home, whilst slowly putting things right (not always going smoothly but that's another story!. We love the village and everyone seems to have 'time' to stop and say hello, good morning, etc. Thankfully both neighbours are locals and have helped us choose trades etc. and now we can meet properly, we have been in for tea. Hubby though, whilst agreeing on the one level living (he was against it at first), says he would have rather paid the extra fees I wrote about earlier and have had a new build! Mind he is currently banging about with a hammer in the spare room so maybe when it's all done, he will change his mind and love it more! Good luck on choosing but I'd definitely ask for a trial stay if they have a guest suite on site - many do.

Sorry for the long story:-)

Me too Missadventure, just like my own company!! ?

I agree with everything you have said. I lived in one some years ago and loved it. However if the owners change things can be very very different and my advice to anyone stay well clear.

Thanks for the link Blossoming. I had never heard of them.

My cousin lived in one for over 50 but found it really dull .Moved to a bungalow in a nice village the site owner took a big chunk of the sale price too

Don’t do it!!!
The owners will have you by the s** & c**** and there are some prize s***s running these places.

Have a look on some of the consumer sites. Your rights don’t count for much - they might be rights but enforcing them is a different matter.

JaneJudge

I think we are all quite aware what they are or the gist of it if we have a television and watch local news

Ouch!!

We seriously looked into doing what you are thinking about doing, in the end we decided against it for a whole list of reasons. The gloss of the advertising has a very dull underside. You may own the unit but you don’t own the land it stands on.
You become a tenant of landlords who will tell you what you can and cannot do. You in effect sign away your rights. Not for us.

Thank you so much for all your replies ?

My sister and her husband bought a new park home about 6 years ago, she now hates it. She says knows it was a false move,but she was desperate for a fresh start after losing her eldest son to cancer. She couldn't bear being in the bungalow anymore. Now her situation is such that they have priced themselves out of the market for another move. Under the new site owners their land rent has gone up quite a hike and as a keen gardener although there is a garden it's paved all the way around. Also if they sell 20% goes to the site company. So be very cautious before you decide.

It’s not something I would ever contemplate but what a wealth of information and advice on this thread ??????????????

however, parking was an issue, though you have space outside, if someone else parks there, tough, I might not have been able to get anywhere near the front door!

That was unfortunate GR206 but I expect sites vary. The one I know and had visited often, had a driveway long enough for 3 cars (at a squeeze) and also a garage. No-one seemed to park on the road apart from occasional visitors

I have just moved to a brilliant village in Dorset where over half of the residents have retired. There is a shop and 2 pubs, an organic farm and a plant centre, a health centre, a post office and masses going on. Population 1000. 2 months on I have met so many lovely people - many more than I ever met and got to know their names - in the city I lived in for 20 years. It has all the advantages of a great community and the ability to choose your friends but none of the claustrophobia, petty quarrel and costs of an age limited complex. I love to see parents and children going to school and families out and about enjoying themselves. My advice is to choose your location carefully and you may prefer the freedom of a village.

I think it depends on the size of both the bungalow and the site. Some are small and placed right next to each other - others have gardens, sheds and plenty of space. the more modern ones are quite well insulated and have en-suites etc . Many are out in the sticks so no access to public transport or shops. I can't comment directly about Royal Life but I am aware of at least 3 couples that love living in the mobile homes. Remember that there is little storage inside so you may need a shed - one couple in the older style need to store underneath the home . you need to check the fees but I believe that there is no stamp duty and generally a low council tax band.