Caravan Park Beach Estate | View our great offers at this holiday park (2023)

FAQs

Can you permanently live in a caravan? ›

If you have land (or you would like to buy land) away from your main home that you want to live on permanently in a static caravan, then you will almost certainly need planning permission. The best way to find out exactly what you can and can't do is to speak to the local council, who will be able to advise you.

It depends on whether you choose a residential park or a holiday park. As we've mentioned, the Mobile Homes Act 19831 allows you to live in a static caravan full time if it's somewhere with a permanent residential licence. A residential park gives you permanent residency, so you can live there all year round.

Can you live full-time in a static caravan on a Haven site? We spend every winter making sure our parks are at their best during the warmer months, so we don't currently offer our owners the chance to live on our parks all year round.

There is no age limit on your caravan.

Most holiday parks are non-residential. These parks either close for part of the year or have a limit to the number of days you can spend there. But even holiday parks that never close and don't have such restrictions cannot house you permanently.

Obviously, a 3-bedroom static caravan provides an extra bedroom space that can be valuable for family use, but there may be other aspects to 3 bed static caravans that make them a practical choice for some caravan buyers. Here are some examples.

Why should you drain down a static caravan? Frozen pipes can damage your caravan, which could be costly. If water is left inside your pipework, it could freeze and cause pipes to burst, which may flood your caravan.

How many bedrooms do caravans have and how many people will they sleep? Caravans as standard come in either 2 or 3 bedroom models which will sleep up to 6 or 8 people.

Depreciation costs

As a financial investment, static caravans differ from buying a brick-and-mortar property. Static caravans can depreciate an estimated 15% per year¹, so you can expect to receive less of what you paid for the property when it's time to sell.

Cons of living in a static caravan while building a house:

-You will be limited on space. -There may be noise and dust from the construction process. -The caravan may not be as comfortable as a regular house. -You will need to transport all your belongings to and from the caravan every day.

What are the pitfalls of owning a static caravan? ›

There are also other static caravan costs you may need to consider. Although site fees usually include pitch rent, park maintenance, and access to facilities, they don't include utility bills. You'll need to make alternative arrangements for gas, electric, and water bills, which of course, come as an additional cost.

Once you've agreed on your model and location, the park will also sell you a pitch licence, which tends to last between ten and twenty years. At the end of that period, your options will be to renew the licence, buy a new caravan on the same site, part-exchange, or move your property to a different location.

Although static caravans usually stay put at one pitch site, you usually can move them elsewhere if needed.

Definition of a mobile home

The terms mobile home and caravan are used interchangeably in the law. A caravan is a structure which is designed or adapted for human habitation and is capable of being moved from one place to another.

Static caravans can typically be parked on most operators' parks for 10-20 years. Lodges are allowed to stay slightly longer. However, the length of time allowed depends on your site license agreement. When you visit parks to view a caravan, be sure to ask how long you can keep your caravan in the park.

To maximise your overall comfort whilst caravanning in winter, take extra blankets, woolly jumpers, socks, hats and even a hot water bottle. Make sure you also have plenty of all-weather clothing and lots of spares just in case. It's also a good idea to take a couple of good torches too, along with an extra brolly.

Modern static caravans make fantastic homes all year round, and are even great for winter breaks if you're looking for a holiday home in the colder months.

As kids grow up they might want more privacy and need their own space, especially if they're sharing a bedroom with a brother or sister. While it's not illegal for them to share, it's recommended that children over the age of 10 should have their own bedrooms – even if they're siblings or step-siblings.

Permanently installed in your caravan, the toilet works using a simple style of flushing: the bowl contents drop straight down into a holding tank installed directly under the toilet. You also have the option of plumbing in your toilet, so the waste goes into your black tank.

Can I sleep in my caravan on the road? ›

As far as most motorhome and campervan experts can say, there is currently no specific legislation or law to prevent you from sleeping in a vehicle at the roadside. However, these laws vary when it comes to looking at camping versus sleeping in your campervan.

The biggest cause of toilet odour in your camper is methane gas build up- which is why it smells SO MUCH WORSE either at altitude or in hot countries. This is also why you don't want your holding tank to dry out- more on that later!

Like with freshwater tanks, there are also mobile tanks and canisters and fixed tanks for wastewater. The latter are either installed beneath the vehicle, inside or in the access floor. Slightly dirty grey water from washing hands, showering or washing dishes flows into the wastewater tank.

On the top of your toilet inside the van, you may notice a red indicator light telling you the cartridge is full.

Leave it to us. A static caravan will typically have access to a water, gas and electric mains supply. That means warm showers and a properly functioning toilet. Holiday homes tend to be more spacious than touring caravans, so that you can accommodate the whole family.

The difference between kerb weight and ATM is the caravan's load capacity, the measure of how much you can load into the caravan, usually including any water or gas. The industry standard is to offer at least 400kg, but some offer far more.

6-berth caravans

Not only does it sleep 6 people, but it also allows you to use your caravan on a year-round basis when the cold weather makes spending time outdoors less appealing. You can all enjoy a nice, cosy and warm caravan without compromising on space.

Caravan and motorhome prices have surged in 2022 as a result of increased demand and a shortage of stock, experts say.

If you're considering investing in a static caravan, you might wonder when is the best time to make your purchase. Well, the short answer is that the best time to buy a static caravan is during the winter or the new year.

The short answer is... not really, no. Caravan depreciation will continue to occur whatever you do. The best policy is to keep your caravan in good condition and well maintained, as no one wants to buy a knackered caravan. However, there is another thing to consider: the running fees of your caravan.

Are holiday caravans a good investment? ›

Resale value. Buying a caravan is not a financial investment in the same way that say, purchasing a house on the standard property market is. In fact, a better comparison would be buying a car as static caravans, like cars, depreciate in value over time.

It's the one thing every holiday caravan owner dreads – the smell and sight of damp! Over the winter months, when there's less air circulating through your caravan and you're less likely to be spending as much time in your unit with the heating on, unfortunately, it can be an opportunity for damp to grow and spread.

Your caravan site

Clearly, some static caravan sites are more vulnerable to the effects of storms than others. Even on a relatively sheltered site, however, there may be trees, bushes or structures which may give you cause for concern because of their proximity to your pitch.

Lots of people are too busy to keep time free for the other generations and before you know it, the kids are grown up and ready to head into the world themselves. A static caravan offers a place to shut off those distractions and spend precious quality time with the other generations in the family.

Most finance companies need you to put down 10% to 20% deposit when buying a static caravan or lodge.

A pitch fee is a charge payable to the site owner by a park homeowner for the use of the site. Due to the nature of pitch fees, the costs can vary from site to site and by individual pitches.

Well, being in one permanent location means that static caravans generally have mains electricity and water, possibly gas as well. That's what makes the level of luxury you'll experience possible. But it also means you don't have the freedom to go where you please. Only a touring caravan can provide that.

When retirement comes it is not uncommon to consider having more holidays closer to home and that leads many to think “would a static caravan be a worthwhile investment?”. Here are some reasons why a static caravan is the perfect option for retirement.

Can a person move a caravan? ›

The caravan's wheels can be moved independently, meaning you'll be able to move your caravan into tight spots with much greater precision. Some people like to use motor movers to position their caravans on touring pitches to avoid the tricky manoeuvring process with a car.