Living in a mobile home?

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Living in a mobile home?

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camper

Joined: 30 Dec 2005
Posts: 10
Location: SE London

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 06 11:07 am Post subject: Living in a mobile home?

I wondered whether people have any thoughts (or experience) of living full time in a mobile home/caravan.

Maybe it's just a romantic notion and might prove to be a very impracticle one in the long run, but I've recently been pondering the idea of moving out of the (very expensive) bricks and mortar, thus shedding the huge mortgage repayments and going to live in a mobile home. Problem is, I don't know whether I'm really brave enough to take the plunge. My feeling is that this would be real downsizer way of life, but as I have a young daughter, I don't know whether it would be a responsible move.

Other problem is that although I do have what some of my friends might call 'hippy' values, I am still quite a conformist in many ways, and also like my home comforts.

I get really tired of all the financial juggling and striving to meet all the bills just to be able to continue living in the house (astronomical council tax, gas, electricity etc which seem to rise more and more each year whilst my meagre income shrinks in comparison) I realise that there are still costs to meet (inc. Council tax and site fees etc.) in a mobile home, but it must be cheaper than my Band E property and would also fit in with the downsizer philosophy quite well.

Anyway, just wondered what other people thought of the idea, and what your own thoughts are on trying to achieve a simpler lifestyle.

Camper

hils

Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 568
Location: Nottingham

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 06 11:15 am Post subject:

Have been in exactly the same dilemma for a year now!
Daughter is 3. I've done loads of research. Mobile homes or static caravans can be ultra comfortable and have up to 3 bedrooms. Can be found relatively cheaply (is that a word?)
I have opted out for a while because I would be living in close proximity to my lovely but sometimes exhasperating father!
I have a towing caravan (which hardly ever gets towed) as a base on the land which I co own. I'm just too chicken to take the leap and I don't know why! It all makes sense on paper but am so frustrated why it doesn't in my head!

Get your self a cheap holiday in a static caravan and see how you like it. You can get a week for around £75 this time of year. I think there are some people on here who have static caravan holiday lets. Just can't remember who"!

ele

Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 814
Location: Derby

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 06 11:24 am Post subject: Re: Living in a mobile home?

camper wrote:

I realise that there are still costs to meet (inc. Council tax and site fees etc.) in a mobile home, but it must be cheaper than my Band E property and would also fit in with the downsizer philosophy quite well.

Band E ?

that's really high isn't it, any chance of simply moving a few bands lower?

Edit: If you want to check up on the banding in your area click here

Deedee

Joined: 10 Jan 2005
Posts: 250
Location: Surrey

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 06 11:40 am Post subject:

I had to look into this quite seriously a couple of years back for my in laws.I was very shocked by some of the prices for the better sites (they wanted one in a village type environment)There were some lovely places but the prices were on a par with bricks and mortar THEN came the site fees THEN clauses often stated homes were livable in only 10 months of the year.Needs a heck of a lot of research before taking the plunge,resale values aren't that great either in certain places.Most of the nicer ones I found had waiting lists of 2 years plus for a vacant plot too

camper

Joined: 30 Dec 2005
Posts: 10
Location: SE London

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 06 11:55 am Post subject:

Ele:
Yes, band E is really high. In my borough it's 1440 per year council tax (and probably going up to at least 1500 in April). Its only a modest 3 bed house (but detached), and I could really do with just two beds for myself and daughter.

I have thought about getting another property but the costs involved in selling this one and then buying another one are so high (plus all the stress factors) so have been toying with that idea for ages, but worried whether all the expense is going to be worth it in the long. I don't think it would reduce my mortgage payments very substantially, just to downsize to 2 beds, unless I move out of the area completely (and this area is one of the cheapest in London for house prices). I don't have any family outside of London, so that would be a big plunge if I decided to move to another part of the UK.

Hils: I know the feeling about taking the leap. I did holiday in a lovely static a couple of years ago and kept thinking to myself while there " I could live in this kind of space" It was really comfy, but it is that problem of actually DOING it, isn't it. Plus all the clauses and site fees etc. that Dedee found when doing her research. You also wonder how secure it would be, I've heard cases where sights were taken over by new owners and they then decided to hike the ground rents and price people out of their homes.

Deedee

Joined: 10 Jan 2005
Posts: 250
Location: Surrey

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 06 12:08 pm Post subject:
Have you had a valuation done to see if the price difference between your property and a nice 2 bed would make the move worthwhile?Around here detached properties are quite sought after as people extend,convert then extend some more I know how you feel with the c.tax mine is £1300 nearly this year

jamsam

Joined: 21 Oct 2005
Posts: 2560
Location: erm....i dont know, its dark.

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 06 4:25 pm Post subject:

as many of the downsizer crew will know, ive been at that point for a while, not knowing whether to stay or go full force into the lifestyle.well, recently my gran passed away and i was left some money, so there i was looking at the property pages to find some land and i spot a static with two bedrooms on a nice site about 12 miles up in the mountains from me (really, really remote). £120,000. YES, £120.000. BUGGER ME...

Gai

Joined: 31 Dec 2004
Posts: 408
Location: Ireland

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 06 7:10 pm Post subject:

Get the biggest you can afford. Ours is 40 x 12 with 3 bedrooms. I think it dates from the late 70's so the decor etc is pretty nasty but the space makes up for it.
If it hasn't got heating then install it. They can be bitterly cold in winter. Damp is also a problem, we bought a second hand dehumidifier which seems to help.
Ruthlessly declutter. It may look like there's loads of storage space under seats etc but everything eventually becomes musty and mouldy.
If at all possible have an outside shed wired for electricity. Use this for things like washing machine, freezer, storage etc.
We've been in ours for a year and half now. I was very reluctant to move into it at the start but it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. It's on our own site and we're about to start self building a cottage here. Other things we did to make life easier were to install a decking (reclaimed sheep slats) all around (makes for less mud tramped inside) and rip out all the carpets and replace with lino (less damp and easier to keep clean).

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 06 8:00 pm Post subject:
I may be downsizing to just such an abode in the Spring but if I had a house I'd stick with it if I were you, as a long term arrangement, especially with children. A house is most peoples biggest investment in life, so unless you were releasing the equity for a another form of property or business, you may find you are not quite as disciplined about saving for your retirement/children's future.

jax

Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Posts: 98
Location: norfolk

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 06 8:36 pm Post subject:

we lived in a fairly old mobile home for about 5 years while we were converting an old primary school and as gai said, they can be extremely damp in the winter. but my in-laws bought a brand new one about 2 years ago for around 35,000 with everything they could want already in it. their ground rent though is about the same as your council tax. you have to watch out too for, deflation, the site they are on only allows occupancy for 11 months of the year and they have to renew the caravan when it gets to a certain age.

good luck whatever you decide

camper

Joined: 30 Dec 2005
Posts: 10
Location: SE London

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 06 9:29 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the tips.

Gai, your damp problem in your mobile sounds a bit like my house with the damp and mould!! I've got horrible melamine built in wardrobes and a lot of my bits and pieces in there are getting covered in mould patches - so that wouldn't be an unfamiliar experience!! The house is also really cold in winter (am sitting here in my clothes, but with a sleeping bag wrapped round me now!)

Think you are right Rob, about the long term investment. Bricks and mortar do seem to be the best bet at the moment. Think I might wait until the daughter leaves the nest, then sell the house, buy myself a little flat and perhaps then indulge in a mobile home (but perhaps somewhere nice and warm - like sunny Spain so I could use it as a holiday retreat). Got a few years to go before then, though. Good luck with your downsizing in the Spring. Keep us posted here if you do go ahead with it, to let us all know how it is going.

The cost of the new statics can almost be as expensive as a house - £120,000 - Wow Jamsam. Perhaps you could get something a bit cheaper like Jax's in laws - £35,000 is still quite a bit of cash though,
(plus the fact of the ground rent - electricity etc. which can rise and rise).

Ah well, I'll still be pondering on the idea for a while to come, I'm sure. Probably will never have the courage to do it though.

Bec

Joined: 28 Nov 2004
Posts: 71
Location: Newquay, Cornwall

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 06 2:50 pm Post subject:
I'm going to stick with my shed in a field Becky

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 06 10:58 pm Post subject:

camper wrote:

Good luck with your downsizing in the Spring. Keep us posted here if you do go ahead with it, to let us all know how it is going.

It's definate thing- I have no where else to go

Just how soon is open to (various) complications.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 06 7:08 am Post subject:
Bugs and I have just come back from a holiday park with various types of static caravan and shed/challet type abodes. We were more than happy in our two bed flat pack challet, it was rather cold though. There some more discussion on living in a static caravan here: https://forum.downsizer.net/about8831.html&highlight=caravan

oddballdave

Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 259
Location: Telford, Shropshire

Posted: Wed Mar 22, 06 9:49 pm Post subject:

camper wrote:

Thanks for the tips.
Ah well, I'll still be pondering on the idea for a while to come, I'm sure. Probably will never have the courage to do it though.

While you ponder....
consider this.
Find a static van, work out if you can afford to live there.
Look at properties to RENT in your area.
Rent out your house, provided you get enough to pay the mortgage most lenders are willing to amend their terms.
Your renter then gets the bills.
Technically in 20 odd years you get a house that someone else has paid for.
Meanwhile you have no home but a full income to try your new lifestyle, which may be in the area or not. Just make sure you have a good agent or the ability to get back if you need to sort out stuff.

This has the advantage that in 12 months time you may decide that a 40x12 van with child is not a good move so you move back 'home'.

Another option: Take in a lodger to help with the bills. Depending on your location, students are good because they only stay for a short period of time.

HTH

Dave

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