Thursday 27 September 2012

Static Caravans Can Move!


If you own a static caravan, you may think you are trapped at the caravan park where you purchased your unit, possibly one of the big chains. Allow me to dispel that myth.

Providing that you own your caravan outright, (are not tied in to any finance deal with the company) you are free to move. Some park owners may prefer you not to know this, and should you express a desire to leave the site, will probably offer the following suggestions:

a)    allow them to buy back the caravan from you. Translation: Offer a price bearing no resemblance to the price you paid them, or its current worth, so they can sell it on for only fractionally less than you paid when you bought it.
b)    Sell the caravan yourself on site. Translation: Selling must not involve any on-site advertising; the park owner will not assist in the sale in any way; the company is allowed to approach your potential buyers to sell them a caravan of theirs instead; the company will claim 15% commission when you sell.
c)    Sell for scrap. Translation: cut your losses and clear off.

Of course, I must point out that not every caravan park owner is as ruthless as this, there are some really quite helpful ones out there, who give better advice and help properly with selling your caravan, but there are those who adopt the attitude outlined above – shame on you,  you know who you are!

However, I am pleased to report that there are an increasing number of caravan parks that will allow you to site your own caravan and moving it is not as expensive as you may think, in the region of £350 for transport depending on the distance/area/etc. Of course, you do have to pay a disconnection fee at the site you are leaving, as well as a connection fee at your new site, but if you shop around these costs may be cancelled out by lower site fees at your new chosen park.

Unhappy with our original Park Holidays site, (rising fees, falling standards) we hunted around for a new ‘home’. Initially the parks we visited were either full or not quite what we were looking for, so we managed to put our caravan in storage (£50 a month) to save on site fees whilst looking around.

We have now found a brilliant holiday park, with great management and maintenance staff, friendly atmosphere, lower fees and better facilities. We are not obliged to move our caravan off-site when it reaches 10 years of age, as long as we look after it, nor does the company request a percentage of takings from hiring our unit should we wish to do so.

So static caravan owners everywhere, take heed. If you’re not happy with  your current site – take up your caravan and move!

Follow me on Twitter @shoppersjoy  

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