Static Caravan, Anyone live in one?

Subject: RE: Static Caravan, Anyone live in one?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 10:02 AM

GUEST,julie,

Re your query above, I think its to do with the law on mobile home dwellings.

In order to avoid poll/ roof tax, other taxes/rates, if you live in your van for 50 weeks each year & move out for the other 2 weeks,then your van's classed as temporary.

Check out the govt. website

Subject: RE: Static Caravan, Anyone live in one?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 04:19 AM

Two Gundulfs have just gone north to live in one, but due to a slight glitch in their plans (and UK "holiday home" regs) they may be under canvas from December to March. One is about 60 and the other about 50. It may not be fun...

Subject: RE: Static Caravan, Anyone live in one?
From: GUEST,awils
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 04:28 PM

I fix these things.
1.Single? ok to live in.
2.Stinking hot in summer.
3 If in country, can be prone to vermin damage inside, mice etc.
4. Anything previous 2000 date in age, likely to leak from rooflights,doors etc. due to sealent mastic going hard, so water can get past.Also same problems can occur with silicone sealed models in newer vans, usually caused by poor manufacturing, or rough transporting, or rough handling when site-ing.
5.Annoying drafts from permanent fixed (Legal Reqirement) vents, floor and upper ones.
Seen these taped over etc, can cause gas appliances to not burn correctly, flue's not to perate correctly when covered.
6.Winter living in all vans are generally crap. Think statics as a tin box in the middle of the field !
Frost damage biggest problem, blown pipes fittings, appliances blow to bits!
You can have c/heating on full blast inside, but water pipes outside can and will freeze solid if temp keeps around -5 degree or worse for 12 hrs say.
When water freezes, it cant be compressed, air can though !
So what happens is frozen water freezes, compresses air in the water, this gets forces up to hundreds of punds per square inch!
These forces is what blows fittings apart, splits tap blocks, splits shower valves, and also blows centra heating boiler/water heater components apart !
7. That covers a few probs , have fun!!!

Subject: RE: Static Caravan, Anyone live in one?
From: kendall
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 09:52 PM

In Maine if you remove the wheels you can avoid that pesky vehicle registration. But then there's the property tax. You can't win.

Subject: RE: Static Caravan, Anyone live in one?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 10:52 AM

In the UK there can be charges and regulations which put up the cost of living in a static caravan - such as the 'taking down the fence' charge for getting one onto or off the site, 'letting tradesmen in' charge for not using the owner's family for installations and repairs, 'not being burgled' charge for when you are absent for a weekend - though of course they have other names on the bills.

When you sell the thing you can get a massive bill for 'making good the plot' plus a request for part of the proceeds, so you really do need to check what the regualtions are, and be sure that the person you are taken to see to get a residant's opinion isn't the manager's auntie.

Anne Croucher

Subject: RE: Static Caravan, Anyone live in one?
From: romanyman
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 04:06 AM

born in one brought up in one moved to bricks an mortar not by choice would be back in one at first chance, if done properly it ok but sadly many people by a holiday trailer as opposed to a residential, theres a difference in structure insulation electrics and pipework
as for "just gettin land and move on" hope ya do, but aint holdin me breath, i can tell of hundreds of travellers that bought land got plannin and still get slung off latest case in essex, a family had been livin on thier own land for over twenty years, had all proper paperwork and they got notice three weeks ago, got nothin to do with the new housin estate next door i suppose. good luck

Subject: RE: Static Caravan, Anyone live in one?
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 09:25 PM

A friend lives in one and deals with the limitations (no overnight stays for six weeks Feb-Mar, telephone cost a fortune to connect, expensive gas has to be bought through the site, etc) for the benefits of living in the countryside (great variety of bird-life including the occasional woodpecker just outside the windows).

The requirement for "another address" is to meet the fiction that this accommodation is not your permanent address - during the six-week lay-off mail would be forwarded to the nominated "permanent address" - maybe that of a co-operative friend?

The same park has a few permanent sites which cost about twice as much to "buy" (you still won't own the land, and the park owner still has a big say in what alterations or additions you might want to implement.)

Ross