Before you so much as consider buying a park home, it is essential that you are certain how you intend to use it.
Residential park home or static holiday home?
For many, a park home means a mobile home or static caravan in which you can live the whole year round – it is your permanent, residential home. For others, a park home may be a static caravan that is berthed at a holiday park which has rules prohibiting permanent occupation and limiting your stay to certain months of the year – it is your holiday home.
The distinction in your intended use is critical in choosing not only the type of park home you buy but also where it can be berthed, because of the different local authority licensing requirements of the two types of caravan park.
The government website makes clear that every caravan park needs an operating licence from the local authority. If the park permits caravans for residential use – as your permanent home, in other words, the local authority also needs to have given the relevant planning permission and you could be forced off your site if you are found to be living there permanently when the park does not have the relevant planning permission.
So, ask the specific question about the kind of licence held by any caravan park in which you might be interested. The relevant local authority, of course, will have the details but you may also want to investigate the matter further through the websites of the National Caravan Council (NCC) or British Holiday & Home Parks Association.
With that critical question answered about how you intend to use your park home – as a residence or holiday home – here are some of the additional questions you might want to ask about any caravan site before you go ahead and buy a park home there:
Has the site experienced any problems with flooding or storm damage?
- you should definitely ask this question, and not only for your own peace of mind;
- whether the site has experienced flooding or storm damage could affect your insurance premium
- your insurance provider may ask about flooding and storm damage when providing park home insurance quotes, so make sure you find out – all you need is the postcode to check the government’s Flood Warning Service about past and current threats;
How much are the pitch fees?
- this is one of the most important questions – sometimes it is easy to only think about the cost of the actual park home, but your ongoing monthly or annual budget is also an important consideration;
- as well as asking about the fees, ask about any previous increases in charges and whether there are likely to be any further increases in the near future;
Are static caravan insurance and park home insurance the same?
Definitely not. Park home insurance covers a residential park home that you permanently live in. Static home insurance covers a static caravan that is used as a holiday or second home.
While there may be some shared elements of cover, they are two both very different products covering different risks. It is crucial you get the “correct” cover for your park home or static caravan.
Failure to do so could see any future claim you make declined.
What security features are available at the park?
- you may want to ask if theft has been a problem at the park and what security features, if any, they have in place – many park homes sites have a 24-hour warden;
- once again, this is not just for your own peace of mind, but also for insurance purposes because it may affect your premium;
How are gas and electricity supplied?
- you may be able to arrange your utilities directly with the suppliers, but alternatively, you may have to buy your energy and water through the park’s management;
- if it is the latter, it means that you may not be able to switch suppliers, even if you find a cheaper deal elsewhere;
Can I bring my pet?
- this will clearly only apply if you have pets, but if you do then it will be a matter of critical concern;
What are the age restrictions, if any?
- if you have children, this is also going to be an important concern, as typically, some of these parks are aimed at the over 50 age group, whose children have already left home;
- however, you may want to invite your grandchildren to stay at some point – ask the relevant questions since different sites have different rules.
Get the answers you are looking for
These are common questions that you may want to find answers to before you buy a park home. It is likely to be a large investment that you will be making, so it is important to be completely comfortable before you make a decision.
Use these questions to narrow down your search for your perfect park home, and then start looking for a suitable place to live.