Frequently asked questions

There are a number of UK based static caravan manufacturers, with a long history of producing static caravans for holiday parks and holiday home owners. Each manufacturer produces a range of units and if your chosen holiday park has new or empty plots available it is often possible to ask the holiday park to source a static caravan from your chosen manufacturer and commission bespoke builds, interiors or choose between layout options and include additions. For those, with their own land you can work with the manufacturers directly to get the right static caravan for you. Find out more about our UK static caravan manufacturers here: http://manhattan.monkey-nutz.co.uk/Manufacturers

Park homes are generally a safe and secure way to live and can bring peace of mind to retirees choosing this way of life for their later years. Many residential parks have on site security, gated entrances and/or CCTV which provides an additional level of security for you and your park home. What's more, being part of a community means there is always someone watching out for you. Neighbours, park owners and staff are all able to help safeguard your wellbeing.

Park homes are mobile homes that are able to be lived in as a main residence. Generally park homes are kept in one position once sited, but they are manufactured in an off site factory and transported to their final location. Park homes are governed by a unique tenure where you own the property but lease the land it sits on.

There are a number of specialist static caravan insurers who will provide cover against weather damage, damage through holiday letting, public liability cover and contents insurance. Many holiday parks will insist that you adequately cover your static caravan and will require annual evidence of your policy. You can find out more about caravan insurance here: http://manhattan.monkey-nutz.co.uk/page/6332/insuring-holiday-home

The best place to buy your static caravan will depend on the reason that you want to buy, your budget and also on where you live. If you are buying a static caravan mainly for your own enjoyment you will want to buy in an area that you are keen to spend more time in, whether it is close to the coast or ensconced in woodland. Make sure that the caravan you choose gives you access to the things that you like to do in your leisure time, this could be fishing, pub lunches or cycling. Many owners find that buying a holiday home relatively close to them ensures that they get the most use out of it by keeping the commute simple. If you are buying with holiday letting in mind you will want to consider locations that will get you the best returns, or those with year round appeal to extend your letting season. Bear in mind that the most popular locations or those with the most stunning views will make the static caravans more expensive to buy and so consider your budget when deciding on where to buy your static caravan.

A luxury lodge is generally a temporary structure that has been built in much the same way as a single unit static caravan but is double width. The lodge is usually manufactured and transported as two single units which are then joined together once they are at their final location. Luxury lodges are usually sized at 40ft x 20ft or larger and will consist of a high standard of fixtures and furnishings. Many luxury lodges have larger beds, residential size baths, en-suite showers and sometimes added extras like utility rooms. The majority of luxury lodges will consist of an open plan living area and separate bedrooms, although there are many designs and configurations to choose from. Although luxury lodges are built in such a way as to make year round living possible, you are only able to do so on designated residential parks and where you are given a Written Statement. Holiday parks issue holiday licences which means you can take holidays in your luxury lodge throughought the year, but it must not be your primary residence.

The worth of a holiday lodge can only really be determined by you. If you can afford to buy a holiday lodge and meet the annual payments and are confident that you will firstly get enjoyment out of using your holiday lodges and secondly will use it regularly, then it is likely to be a very worthwhile venture. Regular users of their holiday lodges save money on holidays by enjoying self-catering holidays that are already booked and paid for. Holidays in your lodge are not subject to fluctuating price changes and lots of additional travel costs. You are also more likely to enjoy taking more holidays than you usually would as the more you use your holiday lodge, the more worth buying it becomes! It is possible to recoup some of your purchase price and annual costs through holiday letting and particularly with Guaranteed Rental Income agreements and you will find some limited purchases across the UK that have capital appreciation potential, but we advise that you examine the potential returns carefully with a financial advisor to ensure that you are well informed before purchasing. Take a look at UK holiday parks offering Guarnateed Rental Income here:

Some manufacturers advise that their lodges are built to last as long as 80 years but it will depend on the quality of materials used, the age of the lodge when you buy it and how well it is looked after. Regular maintenance can elongate the lifespan of your lodge but you should also check the details of your licence, as some parks will place a restriction on how many years you can have your holiday lodge on their park, so even if it has life left in it, you could be required to move it or sell it back to the park. There are some lodges on the market which are not of the traditional build, such as timber lodges and these may have a longer lifepsan than most holiday lodges.

A new park home generally ranges from around £60,000 right up to £600,000 with the price varying based on location, age and condition of the property and the quality of the fixtures, fittings and extras added. Take a look at our park homes for less than £150,000 here for some great value park homes: http://manhattan.monkey-nutz.co.uk/Featured/7869/Residential-Park-Homes-Under-150000---Sell-My-Group

A holiday lodge is a large holiday home, also referred to as a twin unit. It is double the size of a standard caravan at 20ft x 40ft or more. Although lodges can be residential a holiday lodge will be a property that is sold by a holiday park with a holiday licence and therefore can not be lived in permanently or be your primary residence.

A property is considered to be a Park Home if it is able to be moved from one location to another. Whilst wheels might be used to assist with final siting of a park home via towing, the actual unit will be delivered via a Large Goods Vehicle, the wheels are elevated once the park home is safely in its final position.

The life of a static caravan will depend on a few factors including where it is sited, the build quality and how well it is maintained. You can expect a new static caravan to last up to 30 years or more, if well maintained. You will also need to check your licence agreement which states how long you are able to keep your static caravan sited at a holiday park. In order to keep parks looking attractive a licence can often be set between 10 and 20 years but there are some longer licences available out there. Keeping on top of caravan maintenance is an important part of increasing the lifespan of your static caravan and will ensure that your insurance is valid. Many parks offer maintenance services such as gutter cleaning, deck cleaning and wintering which can keep your caravan in top condition.

Static caravans often have a lot of windows allowing you to make the most of beautiful views but this can make them hot in the summer months, just like a conservatory or any other room which allows plenty of light. Modern static caravans are insulated well which can help regulate temperatures and an abundance of windows makes it easy to have air flowing through your holiday home when the sun is shining. Many caravans come with patio doors or French doors, so having these open will let a constant breeze flow through. Blinds can also help to prevent sunlight and are a cooler option than thick curtains. Using appliances can also quickly heat up a living space so in the summer months why not fire up the BBQ, turn off the TV and sit out on your deck for a chat instead?

Holiday lodges are sold with a holiday licence and as such are not possible for you to live in full time. When purchasing you should be required to provide evidence of your primary residence, which you will need to produce annually. The terms of use will be laid out in your holiday licence which you should read carefully before you make your purchase. Some parks will also place restrictions on use either to ensure that owners aren't living in their holiday lodge or due to restrictions levied on them from their local councils. If you are buying a lodge from a park which has a residential licence and you buy with a written statement you are able to live in your lodge and they can make wonderful homes. Built to residential specifications they are warm and comfortable, cheap to run and maintain and offer simple living all on one level. Lodge living is often favoured by retirees as the lower cost of the properties can release funds from house sales which makes retirement more financially comfortable. Search our residential parks here: http://manhattan.monkey-nutz.co.uk/LocSearchRes

Park homes are more often than not residential but you will need to check that the park you are buying from has a residential licence and also provides you with a written statement which legally allows you to live in your park home and class it as your primary residence. Park homes are built to residential specifications and so are suitable to be used as residential properties. Occasionally park homes might be situated on a holiday park and similarly a holiday lodge might be situated on a residential park, so if you intend on living in a park home you must ensure you are purchasing from a residential park and with a Written Statement.

Modern caravans are often built to residential housing standards with excellent insulation, double glazing, central heating and often a fireplace in the living room. However, be being built to this specification doesn't mean that you are able to live in them all year round. That is still dependent on the park offering a residential written statement and not a holiday licence. With modern caravans there is no reason that you should be cold and your holiday home will be economical to heat, so you can take holidays comfortably all year round, if your chosen holiday park allows. If you are looking at a preloved or ex-hire fleet caravan, be aware that these can often be older models and so you will need to check for features such as double glazing and central heating.

Park homes are generally unable to be purchased with a mortgage as you do not buy the land that they are sited on. However, there are specialist finance companies who can help you spread the cost of the purchase and your financial provider also might be able to offer financial products that could assist with buying a park home.

Park homes are probably not the best buy if you are looking to make a profit as they are widely considered a depreciating asset. However, if they are well maintained and in a location that is popular they might hold their value reasonably well. The benefit for many comes when looking to downsize as the relatively cheaper property prices can leave you with savings in the bank from a house sale. Add to this a property in a safe and friendly community that is easy to maintain and cheap to run and you may find that a park home is well worth buying.

Park Homes can last up to 80 years and you can ensure that the lifespan of your park home is lengthened by regularly checking for any maintenance that needs to be carried out. Many parks offer maintenance services and can help you keep your park home in tip top condition, ensuring that it lasts as long as possible.

Similar to buying a caravan, the investment value of buying a holiday lodge will depend on a number of factors including your motivation for buying. The purchase price for a holiday lodge is higher than for a static caravan, so if you are hoping to make money back through holiday letting you will need to earn more. However, lodges also command a higher tariff and can be popular with holidaymakers who are looking to make their holiday special with premium accommodation, so increased earnings are highly likely. As lodges are larger units the annual site fees can be more expensive and also your utility bills are likely to be more than you would pay with a static caravan. However, the added comfort that a lodge can offer can payback in ways that can't necessarily be measured financially. It might make your holiday home easier to enjoy with family as you have more space to be comfortable and a higher standard of fixtures and fittings to make life easier. Like caravans, holiday lodges are generally depreciating assets, best purchased for your own use and sublet to help with your annual costs. However, there are a limited number of holiday lodges on the market which, due to their structure, do also offer capital appreciation potential. These lodges can sometimes be financed by a mortgage and will have a different buying process than the majority of holiday lodges. Take a look at our collection of holiday parks offering Guaranteed Rental Income.

Holiday homes are much like any other business or investment, they have potential to make you a profit but there are a lot of factors that will effect whether you make a profit from your holiday home and how much you can expect to make. The initial cost of your holiday home, its condition and build quality, its location and the amenities that it offers, all will affect whether your holiday home will make you a profit. One thing to consider when buying a static caravan or lodge holiday home is that more often than not the value of your holiday home will depreciate over time which makes it very challenging to make an overall profit. However many owners happily balance the benefits of having a holiday home for their own use with making some income to offset the ongoing costs of holiday home ownership.

The worth of your static caravan will come down to the reason why you are looking to buy a static caravan. If you are buying as a lifestyle enhancement and have experienced and enjoyed caravan holidays, a static caravan could be a very worthwhile purchase. Choosing an area that you know that you love or gives you a base close to family and ensuring that your static caravan is close enough to where you live will help you to get the most back from your static caravan, as you will be more likely to use it often. The extra leisure time, the opportunity to spend more time with family and a bit of time and space away from the every day gives your static caravan incalculable worth. Make sure that you do all of your homework and buy fully informed of the conditions of your licence and there is no reason why buying a static caravan shouldn't be a fantastic, life-affirming experience. If you are buying with financial returns in mind, the worth of your purchase is dependent on many more factors and will need very careful consideration. Many holiday parks offer a sublet service to help owners cover some of their annual costs, rather than promise a profit, but if holiday let earnings are your top priority check out our collection of holiday parks that offer Guaranteed Rental Income for real peace of mind: http://manhattan.monkey-nutz.co.uk/Featured/7796/Holiday-Home-Investment---Earn-Income-With-Holiday-Letting

It is unusual for residential parks to provide park homes on a rental basis and similarly to allow owners to rent out their park homes. There are a limited number of residential parks that provide rentals and if you are buying with a view to let out your park home, make sure you check your contract to see if this is allowed, before your purchase.

Static caravans are able to be moved but it isn't a simple process and can be costly. If you are looking to move a static caravan to another site you will need to check that your chosen holiday park has plots available and is happy to accept your relocated holiday home. You are likely to be charged a disconnection fee at your existing holiday park and may lose a proportion of your site fees. There are also transport and reconnection costs to consider and the positioning of your static caravan on its new plot may require a crane. It may be simpler to look at whether part exchange is an option, many holiday parks will part exchange your existing holiday home enabling you to move to a new pitch on your existing site, or change sites entirely. Take a look at our collection of parks that offer part exchange:

Static caravans vary widely in price. Used static caravans can sometimes be picked up for around £20,000 but it is worth checking the year of manufacturer and the licence agreements on these caravans to ensure you know how many years use you are likely to get out of it. A new mid range caravan is likely to cost between £40,000 - £80,000 whereas a top range static caravan in a desired location could cost up to £150,000. You will generally pay more for larger static caravans, plush interiors and extras such as decking or hot tubs.

Modern park homes are built to residential standards and are warm and cosy all year round. Double glazing, excellent insulation and central heating make sure that your park home is toasty even in the coldest months, whilst their energy efficiency credentials make them relatively cheap to run. Many park homes are also fitted with feature fireplaces for added comfort in the winter months.

Park homes can be great to live in. All on one level, they are convenient into advanced ages and easy to look after as well as being economical to maintain. Park homes are double glazed and centrally heated and come fully decorated and furnished, so they are ready to move into and enjoy, plus they are comfortable all year round. Safe and secure and amongst communities of like minded people they can make a very nice place to live.

Park homes are built in a factory before being transported to their final location. Constructed with a steel chassis and a timber frame with walls that are usually made from plasterboard and exterior cladding. During the construction insulation is added to the walls and floors and roof to ensure warmth and soundproofing. The roof is made of lightweight materials, attached to wooden joists.

The lifespan of a holiday home will vary greatly depending on the materials that have been used to construct it, the care with which it is looked after and its location. Many mobile holiday homes such as caravans or lodges are built to withstand 80 years of use or more, but the actual time that you can enjoy your holiday home may be limited by the length of your site licence. These vary from park to park but are usually in excess of 10 years.

Park homes typically are a depreciating asset but have many other benefits that might make them the right option for you. Typically cheaper than bricks and mortar properties, downsizing to a park home can free up funds from a house sale to give you a nest egg for retirement. A park home is also low cost to run as it represents a smaller space to heat and they are generally very energy efficient. Maintaining your park home well and its location will help protect the value of your park home, should you want to sell it on. Many of the benefits of park home living can not be measured in pounds and pennies, but may be of greater importance to you. As a residential park home owner you will be part of a friendly community and could have access to communal facilities that enhance your lifestyle. Residential parks are also usually secure places to live with elements such as gated entrances and CCTV giving you peace of mind.

Park homes are able to have solar panels installed on them but you are advised to buy the panels and install from a specialist provider who will be able to advise on the ideal weight of the panels and wind lift considerations.

Static caravans are generally put together with a steel chassis and a timber frame. The exterior walls are clad and can come in a variety of finishes, these are often dictated by the holiday park to ensure a uniform appearance to the park, but may be able to be customised. Options include wood, aluminium or CanExel, an easy to care for engineered wood. The interior walls are likely to be plasterboard or similar. Insulation is used in the walls, floors and roofs and details of the type of insulation used should be available from the seller. The roof is generally constructed from large sheets of metal or fibreglass and are often styled to look tiled. Windows and doors are most likely to be made of uPVC double glazing. The interior of your caravan will have varying finishes with some sporting real wood finishes, freestanding furniture and branded appliances, and others with more traditional fixed furniture and wood effect finishes. It is also possible to find caravans with bespoke interiors, if you like a more personal touch.

Holiday homes can be bought as investment properties but the return that you can expect is dependent on many factors. To have the best chance of earning income from a holiday let, choose your location carefully. Popular holiday destinations with year round appeal will be best at making you a year round return and additional amenities such as swimming pools, hot tubs and log burners can ramp up the appeal of your investment further. If you are considering a mobile home as your holiday home purchase you should remember that they are largely considered to be a depreciating asset and so although you can earn income through holiday letting to help cover annual costs, it is unlikey that you will make a net return. Holiday home owners have been able to benefit from some attractive tax benefits, not available to residential landlords, as long as they meet the requirements for Furnished Holiday Lets. These benefits will be brought to an end at the close of the 2024/2025 financial year. Another area of policy affecting holiday home owners and their expected returns is the change in council tax for second home owners. Local Authorities can now charge a premium in an attempt to return housing stock to local residents. However, with a caravan or lodge holiday home you are exempt from paying council tax if it is not on a residential site.

Park homes are governed by a type of ownership known as Virtual Freehold, so they are neither leasehold or freehold. A virtual freehold means that you own the property that you buy but you lease the land that it sits on. You will need to ensure that the residential park that you choose has a residential licence and that you are provided with a written statement which entitles you to live in your park home as a permanent residence.

When it comes to buying a static caravan there is a huge range of prices available. You can pick up a compact, single unit caravan which is ex hire or preloved for under £30,000. But as you start looking at newer models the price does increase. Holiday parks spend money on developing secure and attractive plots for the caravans, with landscaping and useful amenities on hand. They have to pay for the static caravans to be transported and sited and will often add features such as decking, skirting and hot tubs, all of which will be factored into the final price that you pay for your holiday home. Location is another important factor when it comes to how expensive a static caravan will be, with the demand around popular locations or plots with stunning views commanding a premium price.

The answer to this really depends on a number of factors including your motivation for buying a static caravan, the price you pay for it, its condition and licence terms. On the whole a static caravan will depreciate in value, but if you buy a static caravan with a long licence you will get many years of enjoyment out of it and may save money on holidays over the years. There are also ongoing costs to consider such as site fees and utility bills and many owners look to offset these through joining a sublet scheme which allows them to make income from holiday letting. If you are buying a caravan purely for financial gain through holiday letting, make sure you do the sums very carefully, ask for average returns of existing owners, find out how many years you would be likely to be able to sublet your caravan for based on its age and licence agreement, make sure you account for the additional costs and ask about the buy back or selling options. Some holiday parks now offer Guaranteed Rental Agreements which will set out exactly what you will earn over a period of years. This can make it very easy to budget, but make sure you are aware of how things will change once the agreement comes to an end. Take a look at our collection of parks offering Guaranteed Rental Income.

Single unit caravans range in size with lengths generally from 28ft for a standard static caravan and up to 40ft for a luxury model. The width of a single unit static caravan is generally sized from 10ft - 14ft with the larger models offering a lot more space or the option for up to four bedrooms. Twin unit caravans, which are generally referred to as holiday lodges, are more often than not sized at least 20ft by 40ft but some of the premium models are even larger than this.

If you are buying a holiday home, in the majority of cases you will need to pay an additional 3% of your total property costs on top of the normal stamp duty and land tax rates. Movable holiday homes such as static caravans and lodges are exempt from these charges so can be considerably cheaper to buy.

Static caravans have a lightweight construction but are generally built to withstand winds of up to 100mph. Whilst it is possible for a static caravan to blow over, the risk is small as they are anchored to the ground. If the foundations of your plot and the anchoring system employed is robust you reduce much of the risk of storm damage from high winds. If your static caravan is in a particularly windy position wind breaks around the plots, such as hedging or fencing can help reduce the force of oncoming winds, but make sure your chosen holiday park keeps on top of cutting back tree branches which could cause potential damage during a storm. Regular maintenance can also spot any vulnerabilities that would be exposed during high winds and you can further reduce risk by shutting any skylights and windows and securing loose items on your decking when high winds are forecast. Despite all precautions extreme weather events could cause some damage to your treasured static caravan and so it is important to make sure that you are adequately insured: http://manhattan.monkey-nutz.co.uk/page/6332/insuring-holiday-home

If you buy a holiday home for your own use, you will be required to pay council tax, unless it is situated in a holiday park. Local Authorities are now able to charge a premium on second homes with some councils setting a 100% Council Tax premium for second homes. Most caravan and lodge holiday homes avoid the cost of council tax, as long as they are not a full time residence, although you may be required to pay rates. With the increased council tax premiums, buying a static caravan or lodge holiday home has significant benefits over bricks and mortar holiday homes through council tax savings. If you run your holiday home as a holiday letting business you do not need to pay council tax but instead would pay business rates.

Static caravans are classed as holiday homes rather than second homes unless you are purchasing on a residential park that has a residential licence and you have a "Written Statement" giving you the right to use your residential caravan as your main home. This means that if you are buying a static caravan in a holiday park with a holiday licence you are unable to live in your static caravan permanently. To ensure that this is adhered to, holiday parks may require proof of your main residence on an annual basis and may have restrictions on how long you can stay in your caravan, check these conditions during the buying process.

As park homes are sold with virtual freehold, meaning the owner of the property is only leasing the land it sits on, there is no title registered with the Land Registry. This means that you are unable to finance your purchase with a mortgage and there is no requirement to instruct a Solicitor, although you may prefer to do so to ensure that all the legal requirements are met.

Holiday homes are intended for you to enjoy as an occasional residence, such as weekend breaks or a longer holiday and should not be your main residence. If you are buying a caravan or lodge holiday home, you will be unable to occupy the property permanently and this will be detailed in your holiday licence, which you must sign when you make your purchase. You will also be required to provide evidence of your permanent residence by the way of a council tax bill or similar.

Holiday homes that are not occupied for long periods of time will more often than not be liable to pay a premium council tax, in line with the premium for second homes. Many councils have opted for this to be set at 100% but for specific details you will need to contact the council where your holiday home is situated. Mobile homes such as caravans and lodges are more often than not exempt from council tax charges and so are also not affected by vacant property tax requirements