Static (Mobile) Homes

[BeemerMal]

Some advise Please....We are thinking of downsizing our home which is far too big for the two of us now and are thinking about our options. We spend at least 4 months a year touring and we thought we could invest our capital (and help the kids out) and move into a smaller home where the running costs would be much less.

One option we are considering would be to buy a 40ft static mobile homes on a quiet residential park. I understand that with many of these units the owner of the home never has a legal right to the ground it stands on, it also depreciates, unlike bricks and mortar, and there are annual charges. The industry also seems to have a bad reputation.

Has anyone experience of doing this and what are the pitfalls we need to look out for? Also, are there parks like this where you can buy the freehold?

 

[RobRoy]

Hi BeemerMal,

I,too, would be interested if someone can give the facts.

Rob S.

 

[cris_408518]

You may be interested in a slightly different angle. Log Cabin homes may offer what you want.

Depending on price and location have a look here - http://www.sowerbys.com/pentney/spec.htm

There are others around freehold and it is possible to buy land in the country and get planning if you pick the right place especially if you do not intend being resident all year.

I know of one person that's sold off their house and some of their land after they got planning for a Scandinavian log cabin home in some of the wooded land with nice country views as a farm near buy has a log cabin rental homes business.

 

[Danny_5134221]

BeemerMal

My parents did this 5 years ago and I dont think they have looked back.

1-You pay a monthly site fee, as well as community charge

2-It is law that when you sell up you pay site owner 10% of sale value

3-You never own the land it sits on

4-On previous experience the value should increase if you look after the home, only the older homes loose value.

5-A good way to release capital and downsize

6-Advisable to buy a 38/40 ft double unit, single units can give cabin fever !

7-Do homework well before purchasing as some site owners can be rouges

 

[popupJohn]

As best I can from living 30+ years next to a mobile home site...

90% of the vans are occupant owned the other 10% owned by the site and rented out long term.

The land is 100%b owned by the site and a rent with service charge above that added monthly.

If buying a van you will pay the previous owner an agreed ammount and a pecentage on top of that to the site owners.

Van owners have been told to remove their old van from the site or replace it at their expence for something more in keeping with modern trends/regulations.

Even if you own a van you could be evicted from the site by the owners if a dispute arose.

Please remember I only live next to one site and can only give info from what residents have told me over the years.. no way am I condemming mobile home sites in general. Just passing on information as I understand it

 

[Robtel]

Mal,

Ten years ago we owned a static caravan on a holiday park although we did not live on it full time as you are considering. Some points which are commom to many parks and might be worth watching out for include:

Some parks have restrictions imposed by local councils that they must close for a minimum period each year. The park we were on closed mid January till early March, you could visit and check your unit but not allowed to stay overnight.

Check the small print of any contract. Some parks will initially allow you to site in one of the better areas of the park but after a period of time e.g. 3 years if you don't buy a new unit will resite you somewhere else.

Some will not allow you to site a static bought elsewhere on their park. Some also have it in their contracts that they have a say in who will buy the unit should you decide to sell privately at later date. They might not even let you sell it privately.

I would suggest if you do decide to go down this route make sure you have a clear written contract and have this checked by your lawyer.

Good Luck

Robert

 

[BeemerMal]

Everyone....many thanks for taking the time to reply.

I like the log cabin idea cris, particularly if we can buy the land as well giving us full control over ownership.

 

[cris_408518]

My sister in-law spent a small inheritance on a park home to use for holidays. Timber clad Chalet bungalow style place in North Devon for use for holiday and week end breaks and to let to help cover some costs and make a small income.

The site has pools, gym, tennis courts and club house with entertainment and more.

They bought from a private vendor through the site management but were not made aware that some of the homes are freehold with owners living in them full time.

Apart from fees to the site rentals are handled by a well known holiday RENTAL company(YES THAT ONE), you tell them what weeks you will make it available and they handle the rental but you don't get paid to season end! The site handles cleaning and maintenance whilst you are away and that is deducted from the rental income.

The cleaning and maintenance clause they now describe as a license to print money! An amazing ammount of cleaning and clean up was recorded though freefold neighbours on site 24/7 could remember seeing only short ammounts of activity from the sites cleaning and maintenance crew! A leaking tap washer cost something like

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello BeemerMal, and all

Its an attractive idea and it does work for some people, but it is vitally important that you do understand the contract that you agree with the site owners.

Unlike rented permanent houses that are governed by the Rent act, mobile homes and similar non-permanent dwellings are not, and the there is very little protection in law for the occupiers.

There can be some quite restrictive clauses in the contracts, just as an example things like No washing lines, No parties, No BBQ's. No cars to be kept by the dwelling, No fences etc. etc. Read and understand all the clauses.

Don't assume that because everyone else on the site is happy, that it will continue to remain that way, site owners can change the terms of contracts, sell the site/business to a new owner, and there is no telling what the new owner will want to do.

Do take professional legal advice about the contract BEFORE YOU SIGN, Have a survey of the dwelling to confirm its value and any construction issues and life expectancy.

Fortunately many sites are run professionally and a good mutual relationship between the owners and the occupiers does exist. But sadly there are some rogues, and because the industry is not regulated, they can sometimes get away with incredibly unfair contracts and actions.

I wish the best in your future, but please do take care.

 

[ThePlotter]

I spent a long time working for part of one of the major banks lending money on mobile homes to fund their purchase.It is not for the faint hearted and checking the site owners is vital many are from traveller stock which in itself is not a problem but they do tend top apply their own laws!You will be protected by the mobile homes act 1983 which also gives protection to the site owner.They cannot kick you off the site unreasonably(try telling that to the 25stone bloke at the door)If you sell 10% of the sale goes to the site owner who also has to approve the new owners and can veto a potential sale but he can only withold consent reasonably(try telling.....)If you get a good park with good owners it can be a good way to go,the up sides are the modern units are fully furnished and as well insulated as houses,they have negligable maintainance and the site is invariably more secure from breakins than a housing estate.

 

[Lol1]

BeemerMal, if you think caravaning is expensive, wait till you get a static. You may pay for it (and one way or another, you will), but it never seems like you own it. You are at the site owners mercy and if they say jump, you ask the question! Cris mentioned log cabins, I would presume they have a more friendly contract associated with them, than a typical static's, so look there first. From the prices I have seen, they are not much more expensive either.

 

[ThePlotter]

Log cabins may be an alternative but if sited as a permanent dwelling will still fall under the mobile homes act 1983 and all the issues with the site owner remain.I lent money to purchase log cabins on recognised developments where the were sold with a lease on the land upon which they stood and funded by way of chalet mortgage but were for holiday use usually with 10 or sometimes 11 month site licence meaning they could not be lived in as a prime residence.

 

[ThePlotter]

Log cabins may be an alternative but if sited as a permanent dwelling will still fall under the mobile homes act 1983 and all the issues with the site owner remain.I lent money to purchase log cabins on recognised developments where the were sold with a lease on the land upon which they stood and funded by way of chalet mortgage but were for holiday use usually with 10 or sometimes 11 month site licence meaning they could not be lived in as a prime residence.

 

[cris_408518]

I only know a little about the Log Cabin style homes. They are more permanent than a static caravan and a I believe you need some kind of raft foundation as a minimum base and then they are built or assembled in pieces depending on the style.

Some years ago somebody I knew of bought part of a larger farm as a small holding and got planning permission for a Scandinavian Log cabin home that had been used as a music studio. It took two months to take apart and about three to reasemble so it could be lived in.

Again I believe that log cabins are treated differently to statics as they are wooden and quite eco friendly insulation wise, they are more permanent as a living dwelling but can actually be moved.

I guess you just have out check out the areas and find how the planners treat them and if on a Park setting get the agreements checked in triplicate.

It might be worth talking to suppliers of Scandinavian Log Cabins that are sold in the UK or one of the British Green Oak timber garage and home builders to see what they can tell you re planning.

 

[Bri2]

Beemer, my motherinlaw lived on such a site for 20yrs plus. The site she was on changed hands a number of times but luckily the new owners where reasonable. Home owners on these sites do have a bit more rights than holiday sites but you still get some horror stories from residential sites when they change hands and the new owner has other plans. Your home will depreciate after some time, but with a new home, again providing the site owners are ok, you can get 30yrs or more from it. Please do loads of research into the site and owners where you think you would like to go. Visit the site, talk to the residents etc etc. Remember, speaking to the Warden on these sites about purchasing a home and he has

 

[Steve L]

Unfortunately this counrty seems to have a blinkered view that a permanent home has to be of red brick and a slate roof construction. And woe be tide anyone who dare's to be different.

We have had to appeal to the secetary of state dept for planning. Just because we need to build a house 90deg out of the norm. In other words the depth of the house front to back beind the longest dimension and not the frontal view being the widest.

I've seen many log cabins in USA, Canada and Europe and the design is superb. Due to the often colder winters and the significant snow fall, they are very well constructed and insulated. They are equally as capable of providing many years of duration and will not depreciate like a caravan.

Getting past the old fogies of the local council planning commitee is the "berlin wall" to any inovative/creative planning application. Often the local councillor sitting on the bench doesn't have a "scooby doo" about house design and often is neither an ex architect, or builder. My objector who has browbeat the bench into believing that an existing garage which is being knocked down to put the house on the plot, is actually going to still be there, is actually a retired school teacher.

Now what he knows about building regs or how to build a house is beyond me!

I would recommend a log cabin on your own plot of ground as a good way to go. They do sit on a raft type foundation of multiple pillars at specific load distribution points. This does allow siting on a sloping plot without huge excavation costs as holes can be sunk to get to bed rock locations. Also you get that wonderful balconey view of the land scape. The cabins come in "kit form" with easy to follow plans and a team to build if you want.

Talk to your local planning services office about your idea. You'll find that the planning officers are very helpful and can guide you to an area of the countryside where they believe a developement would be acceptable. Then you could purchase a suitable field (don't forget to factor in electric and water supply costs and installation). Then in our case in Herefordshire draw your plans and for a fee of

 

[BeemerMal]

Unfortunately this counrty seems to have a blinkered view that a permanent home has to be of red brick and a slate roof construction. And woe be tide anyone who dare's to be different.

We have had to appeal to the secetary of state dept for planning. Just because we need to build a house 90deg out of the norm. In other words the depth of the house front to back beind the longest dimension and not the frontal view being the widest.

I've seen many log cabins in USA, Canada and Europe and the design is superb. Due to the often colder winters and the significant snow fall, they are very well constructed and insulated. They are equally as capable of providing many years of duration and will not depreciate like a caravan.

Getting past the old fogies of the local council planning commitee is the "berlin wall" to any inovative/creative planning application. Often the local councillor sitting on the bench doesn't have a "scooby doo" about house design and often is neither an ex architect, or builder. My objector who has browbeat the bench into believing that an existing garage which is being knocked down to put the house on the plot, is actually going to still be there, is actually a retired school teacher.

Now what he knows about building regs or how to build a house is beyond me!

I would recommend a log cabin on your own plot of ground as a good way to go. They do sit on a raft type foundation of multiple pillars at specific load distribution points. This does allow siting on a sloping plot without huge excavation costs as holes can be sunk to get to bed rock locations. Also you get that wonderful balconey view of the land scape. The cabins come in "kit form" with easy to follow plans and a team to build if you want.

Talk to your local planning services office about your idea. You'll find that the planning officers are very helpful and can guide you to an area of the countryside where they believe a developement would be acceptable. Then you could purchase a suitable field (don't forget to factor in electric and water supply costs and installation). Then in our case in Herefordshire draw your plans and for a fee of

 

[woodbush]

Hi, great idea.

We retired early 4 years ago, we have no children and wanted to relase our capital and after 12 months searching for somewhere we found the perfect site. We moved here 2 years ago, but not without a great deal of trepidation.

We sold up and moved to a privately owned holiday site in the Scottish Borders. The site has an 11 month license and we "live" here for that time apart from touring. We move out on Wednesday and live in our caravan on a touring site 1.5 miles away for the next month.

We live in a 2 bedroom cabin with Sky satellite and telephone with 2meg broadband.

We have everything registered to this address and only use an accomodation address for our cabin insurance.

Many threads have been written about this way of life and i'm sure many negative. Our situation is perfect, with a privately owned site and really good owner. The owner has a great relationship with the local council and they are fully aware of the situation here. Most of the current "residents" live here.

The site is a new development so only 10 people here at the moment but will have 37 cabins eventually.

If you require any further info about this why not email me at duffystev@aol.com and i'll answer any questions.

Steve