Q. How do I know which static caravan holiday home is right for me?
A. Well, the answer is obviously a Hulse Ross model.
Seriously, there are a few items that you should consider. How much comfort do you want, for instance central heating and double glazing? What are the maintenance issues involved? (Does it have a galvanised chassis or aluminium cladding?) Will I feel comfortable and at home in my new purchase?
Check out the décor standards, the width and closing profile of the doors, the finishing of the kitchen, even small items such as the skirting and the cornice. Do you want a proper, profiled and colour matched skirting and cornice, or are you happy with a piece of light brown plastic strip?
If you are going to be moving in for a long time period each year, consider insulation values, both internal and external,
the amount of storage space (under bed storage, the sizes of wardrobes, cupboard space for Wellington boots.) Is there a gas or electric fire fitted, with sufficient ventilation and systems to reduce condensation, a big worry for a lot of static caravan owners. Are you going to have guests staying? Is there sleeping space for them? A second bedroom and/or a pull down double bed?
Creature comforts – television and telephone points throughout, plenty of electrical sockets, carpet underlay. What about security – alarms, substantial doors and locking systems, security tape on the double glazing units. (Hulse Ross fit a gas cut-off device to our kitchen hobs and R.C.D. electrical circuit breakers to the ring mains for additional peace of mind.)
It may not seem a big deal at the time, but when you settle
in it can make a whole world of difference.
Q. How do I find my ideal park?
A. Check out our ’Find your ideal park’ section
Q.How often can I use my holiday home?
A. This depends on the specific site. Many people now
use their static caravans all year round to live in. These are referred to as 'Mobile Home Community Parks'. Others are only licensed as a 'holiday park' and permit access only for certain months of the year. ( UK planning laws can restrict the amount of time the park is open for or how long you can stay.) Some static caravan owners prefer holiday parks to permanently live in because of a beautiful locations beside the sea or overlooking a picturesque valley, so they sell their main properties and use the cash to buy a static caravan for use in season, then go to the continent over the winter months when it's still cheap and warm.
Most parks are open between 8 to 10 months of the year, a few for 11 months and a very few for 12 months. The government has recently suggested to local authorities that sites be allowed to remain open all year to try and alleviate the problems with housing shortages. Check with specific site operator regarding maximum length of stay restrictions. Some out of season planning regulations forbid overnight use.
Believe it or not, many holiday caravan parks still operate a maximum occupancy period. This varies from company to company, site to site, and means you are not permitted to occupy your own holiday caravan which exceeds a period of unbroken time. For example after 60 days, you must leave for a period of 24 hours and return to begin a new period.
Q.Can I loan my caravan to my friends and family?
A. Check out our ‘Letting out your holiday home’ section.
Q.What maintenance does a holiday home require?
A. Hulse Ross static caravan holiday homes are extremely well constructed and require little or no external maintenance as the external aluminium skin is extremely durable and the pantile roofs are resin coated plastic on a steel base – all very durable. If considering other manufacturers then look for the following when purchasing a new van – galvanised chassis which doesn’t rust and eliminates the need for painting, double glazing to reduce moisture, a wet central heating system, again to reduce moisture and the possibilities of fungal growth.
Bathrooms should have forced extraction and there should be good ventilation throughout, especially in the kitchen areas. Hulse Ross fit all of these as standard, as well as a breathable roof lining, again designed to reduce moisture and condensation and provide additional protection against the elements.
Q.What is the life expectancy of a caravan holiday home?
A. If a static caravan holiday home is built to the same standards as a Hulse Ross unit, the quality of build combined with the features mentioned above will result in a very long life span indeed. The thing that you might have to worry about is checking with the individual parks licence or contract to establish at what age the caravan has to be replaced.
A lot of sites state that if a van is older than 12 years then it has to be replaced with a younger model, or even a brand new one. Some parks are even stating a time period of seven years – our advice? Check.
Q.What if I want to sell my static caravan holiday home at some time in the future?
A. Most parks will offer to resell your caravan for you, but as with all major purchases static caravan holiday homes do depreciate so Hulse Ross advise not to regard a holiday home as a long-term investment, more of a long term purchase.
Q.How much are annual site fees?
A. Site fees will be your main cost and will vary greatly depending on facilities, location and the desirability of the park your chosen static caravan holiday home is situated in. Information on annual site fees will be provided by individual parks in their terms and conditions but obviously the more prestigious the site or the better the view, then the higher the costs.
Q.Who will insure my holiday home and its contents?
A. Please check out our comprehensive ‘Insuring a holiday home’ section
Q.How can I finance my Holiday Home?
A. Please check out our comprehensive ‘Financing a holiday home’ section.
Hulse Ross Static Caravan Manufacturers - Specialists in holiday home design for those with disabilities. |
