Static caravan (1 Viewer)

derbyskyblue said:

I've been looking at buying one although not sure where yet. I quite like the idea of having somewhere to escape to now and then for a break. Has anyone else on here brought one and if so what are the pitfalls and advantages ?

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Had access to one for a while in Stratford by the river, great place to relax. There was actually one in front of 'ours' which was owned by a couple with a house on Tiddingron rd, (don't know if you know Stratford but property is very expensive on that street), yet they spent most weekends in the caravan!
The ground rates or whatever it is you pay were about 3.5 grand on that park, we thought of getting one but with work commitments it wasn't worth it.

My mate and his missus have just bought one near the Severn in Worcestershire, very similar set up but the ground rates are only about 1500 p.a.
I've not been over but the missus has and she said it's fantastic.
Obviously you have to buy the static but I think the on going rates is the big expense.
I haven't ruled out getting one in the future.

I personally wouldn't have a static. I bought a tourer last year £5k and I can take it anywhere I like.

If you do get a static, make sure it's not under a tree. The noise of rain dropping off trees when you're trying to sleep is the worst.

I have one in Aberdovey, it's been in the family for years (not the same van).
It does cost a bit to keep it on site, around £1350 a year ground rent, £250 a year for insurance and £100 a year for electricity and around the same for water. Some sites include electric and water in the ground rent, check before signing. Gas bottles are 60 quid a pop. We get through around 2 a year. The biggest expense was the van itself. I bought it in 2017 and it cost £36k
Now our children are grown up we don't use it for our main summer holiday, instead we let family members with children go in July and August. We go for long weekends from March up until October and weeks at Easter, Whitsun and September.
Pitfalls? Obviously you'll be spending a lot of time and holidays in the same place. Make sure there's enough for you to do in the area. Look out for additional fees on top of the ground rent. I know sites which will charge for grounds up keep, grass cutting, as well as road and building maintenance.

derbyskyblue said:

I've been looking at buying one although not sure where yet. I quite like the idea of having somewhere to escape to now and then for a break. Has anyone else on here brought one and if so what are the pitfalls and advantages ?

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You could rent it out during the high season, and make some good money.

no_loyalty said:

You could rent it out during the high season, and make some good money.

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... after making sure that this isn't prohibited by your lease!

Looked into buying one on the Isle of Wight. Site fees of £6500 and vans with 15 year lease about £45000. Cheaper models with shorter lease for around £20000. Once lease expires site owners can insist you move your van or they will offer a silly price to buy from you. Lovely to own but seems a money pit to me.

Sbarcher said:

Looked into buying one on the Isle of Wight. Site fees of £6500 and vans with 15 year lease about £45000. Cheaper models with shorter lease for around £20000. Once lease expires site owners can insist you move your van or they will offer a silly price to buy from you. Lovely to own but seems a money pit to me.

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Site fee seems very expensive.

I looked at a lodge in the Lake District and it was lower than that but on a luxury site with a pretty good standard restaurant etc.

As you say what I couldn’t get my head round was the lease. It means depreciation on the property was in line with the purchase price and makes the thing worthless at the end of the lease. I thought if I died and it had a couple of years left it would almost be a negative asset for beneficiaries

Just looked a bad deal all round unless you are wanting to live in it for several months in peak season

Grendel said:

Site fee seems very expensive.

I looked at a lodge in the Lake District and it was lower than that but on a luxury site with a pretty good standard restaurant etc.

As you say what I couldn’t get my head round was the lease. It means depreciation on the property was in line with the purchase price and makes the thing worthless at the end of the lease. I thought if I died and it had a couple of years left it would almost be a negative asset for beneficiaries

Just looked a bad deal all round unless you are wanting to live in it for several months in peak season

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If you are going to rent out then peak season is when to get the best rental price. Of course this means you can’t use it! If you are prepared to write it off over 15 years then go for it.

Sbarcher said:

Looked into buying one on the Isle of Wight. Site fees of £6500 and vans with 15 year lease about £45000. Cheaper models with shorter lease for around £20000. Once lease expires site owners can insist you move your van or they will offer a silly price to buy from you. Lovely to own but seems a money pit to me.

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A friend of the missus bought a static on Nodes Point Caravan Park, by Bembridge, when we lived down there. She lived in it as her family home for a while and after a year or so, she bought a house in Ryde and sold her static to the site owners. They gave her absolute peanuts. It was the height of luxury as well. It was like a large bungalow inside. Just about the best one on the site.
Just look into these things with open minds. Just sayin', like.

Houchens Head said:

A friend of the missus bought a static on Nodes Point Caravan Park, by Bembridge, when we lived down there. She lived in it as her family home for a while and after a year or so, she bought a house in Ryde and sold her static to the site owners. They gave her absolute peanuts. It was the height of luxury as well. It was like a large bungalow inside. Just about the best one on the site.
Just look into these things with open minds. Just sayin', like.

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We looked at Whitecliff Bay. Nice site with good facilities and private beach. Lovely vans but for us too many negatives.

The question for us would be "How many holidays can we buy for the next x years with the amount we'd need to spend on *any* holiday home/caravan/camper van, and feel obliged to holiday in every year?"
Answer: "Too many to justify the capital outlay".

But that's just us!