Static Caravan to be or not to be

Val with her Brother Johm outside Static

After many years of touring in a Caravan I booked a seasonal site at a very large national caravan park ¾ hours from my home and we liked the idea of not hooking and unhooking. Well last year both Val and myself purchased a static caravan at the Homing Park Seasalter a small family run business. The Park is very clean and has great Clubhouse with lots of entertainment plus it does great food it also has a swimming pool it has a very friendly atmosphere. This cannot be said of some other Static Caravan sites,I recently met some friends who own a Static on one of these big sites, which has just been taken over by another company. The first difference you know is price the Statics can 25% more and on this site the ground rent is £1250 dearer and gossip tells me he could go up by £500. It seems the new owners imposed many new rules many of them trivial for example only 3 flower pots per static. Now the Site can charge what they want and apply what rules they like if you do not like it you can leave but not so easy as you have to sell your Static back to the company at most probably at 20% of the value or you can take it off site at your own cost but I am told they still want 15% plus by all accounts they move statics when they like. What the thing that should concern everyone buying a Static is the clause “Anyone bringing the Site into disrepute can be given 28 days notice”. Gossip is rampant on this site where people have been evicted for trivial offences to make room for new Statics.

Now I am not sure this all true but what is important the people on site believe it. There is limited legislation that deals with these Caravan Parks, so I looked up the following https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/site-owners-and-occupiers-obligations. One interesting part was the following section

Protection of occupiers from eviction and harassment

It is a criminal offence for anyone to make an occupier leave a caravan without a court order, such as making them leave by threats, violence or withholding services such as gas, electricity or water.
It is also the occupier's right to the 'Quiet Enjoyment' of their home, a legal term, without the site owner or anyone else intruding into their home.
You can find more information in the links below:

• Guide to the Caravans Act 2011 - Guidance booklet
• Caravans Act 2011 - Detailed Guidance

THE ONE THING I SUGGEST IS THAT ANYONE WANTING TO BUY A STATIC”
1) Walk round the site several times

2) Talk to people on site

3) Read the contract carefully suggest you contact a Solicitor

4) Never sign immediately after the salesman has been trying to sell you Static, remember it his job to sell to you plus he is not your friend he is after a sale and commission. Go away and sleep on it

Myself and my wife love our static one of the best moves we have done and if you buy the right Static on the right park you will to, but be wary it does not become a mill stone round your neck

 

Our last  Tourer good times