Holiday Chalets Pros & Cons

[Roonster]

What are the pros & cons of buying a 'holiday' chalet?

I looking to buy one as my main residence, and I wondered if any of you had any first hand experience of owning one?

I know for instance that:

• Many have '10 month-a-year' clauses
• Site management fees are unregulated
• You can't get a mortgage for one
• Their construction means that it might be difficult to secure a cabinet

Are there any other issues, like the lifespan of the construction? I know that static caravans have a lifespan of approx 10 years, at which point hey hay to be demolished - I wondered if holiday chalets had a similar limitation?

Thanks,

R.

 

[TringSaint]

There are loads of people who bought these at billing squadrons near Northampton and didn’t realise the planning limitations re all year use - massively affected their usage and resale values I understand.
Google it as it was in the news.

 

[opticron1]

There have been some absolute horror stories about some Parks - and their dodgy owners riding roughshod over planning laws and increasing charges willy-nilly. Private Eye has been banging on about these sites for years. As ever there will be good ones out there, but the risk is the sites can and will be bought over by some shyster who just wants to cram as many "luxury" homes onto them as possible to increase the return. Buyer beware!
It might be a better idea to try and by a small patch of land with planning consent for a non-permanent lodge/caravan. Friends have just bought a lodge up on the Fife coast and have found it to be great, but there are quite a few restrictions on use.

 

[Roonster]

Yes, that's my fear.

Things can change, particularly when ownership changes hands. There doesn't seem to be any limit as to how much the site owners can increase the charges by.

So if they decide tomorrow that it's £1k per month, then it's £1k per month and if you aren't happy with that then good luck trying to sell a chalet where the monthly charges are £1k a month!

 

[Bo Diddley]

I have a retirement park site just down the road from me, I know it's quite what you are asking about.. but.

The owners all seem to be complete scoundrels, as is their management. The managers of this one were my neighbours for a decade. They fleeced the owners of the homes as much as they could, even down to stopping them from individually buying bottled gas, they told everyone on the site that insurance was invalid for anyone delivering hazardous goods, and every bottle would have to be purchased through themselves... all completely fabricated, but they jacked up the prices per bottle by 60% overnight.
It was quite amusing when it all went pete-tong for them, with ground working tradies knocking on their door at all hours... they hid in the dark like Saddam Hussein.

 

[EMcC]

all the sites l know of have a clause that stops you selling privately, they have to have first option and they will offer you much less than the retail price and you have no option to refuse, if you do refuse their offer they move your van/Chalet to the Disposal area and don't move it very carefully either. I know from experience.

 

[Roonster]

I'm rapidly going off the idea.

Thanks for your insights, guys!

 

[bowji john]

If you can find ANY other solution other than that, I'd recommend that you explore an alternative route

It is loaded with problems and populated with difficulties

None of which are within your control after having parted with your cash

 

[EMcC]

Ground rent goes up every year, value of your Van/chalet depreciates annually too.
To rent out is not cost effective either as more gas is used and increases depreciation as occupants don't treat it as their own.

 

[VSS]

Having seen how easily chalets and static caravans catch fire (shoddy electrics and flammable insulation), and how fiercely they burn, I wouldn't spend a night in one if you paid me, much less live in one.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Almost as bad as leasehold flat ownership.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Having seen how easily chalets and static caravans catch fire (shoddy electrics and flammable insulation), and how fiercely they burn, I wouldn't spend a night in one if you paid me, much less live in one.

I was often at a GFs mobile home that she lived in with her daughter in Biddenden Kent then one morning on leaving the MH there was a burnt out hulk at the back of the site and I never heard any commotion during the night, it an oap was living in it. Must have survived otherwise I would remember more.

 

[jb1]

My take on any time-share is (for me personally) i am not interested in going on holiday to the same place the same weeks for years. I want to explore different places, see more of the country i was born in and not just the same place. And then as mentioned its the nightmare increase costs out of your control. For main residence the worry of increased monthly costs would be a concern, what insurance can you take out on them that would include contents ?
I dont think i would purchase not even for a time share.