What are you actually looking for?
Somewhere as a permanent residential address?
Somewhere to site a static caravan permanently?
Somewhere to site a tourer permanently?
For the last 2, the answer will be no - no leisure camp or caravan site will commit themselves to giving you a permanent pitch. You can get static lease agreements for as long as 30 years (from new), but not permanent. The majority are 10 or 15 years (from new).
I have on rare occasions seen adverts for freehold pitches on holiday sites, where you can put your own static, presumably on a permanent basis - but you will still have no control over access, fees, or terms.
For the 1st, you need a properly licensed residential site, which will be a permanent site and you will be expected to live there.
As said, without knowing what you are looking for, difficult to give much of an answer.
There are plenty of Residential Park Home sites around, but whether you would have to buy a home from them I'm not sure.
There are also loads of static holiday sites around too, but they are a whole different ball-game. You cannot legally live on one, although I know some do. Security of tenure though is virtually nil. You would almost certainly have to buy a caravan from the site in this case, as very very few will allow you to bring on your own. More chance of spotting a unicorn grazing in a nearby field!
I am specifically looking for somewhere to site a tourer permanently and live in it. It doesn't need to have the facility of a permanent address, as I could use another address for that.
You state in the first option in your list "you need a properly licensed residential site, which will be a permanent site and you will be expected to live there". That sounds like what I am after, somewhere I can site my tourer permanently and live there all year round. So this is a viable option and something that is available?
Thanks
Nicho
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Bad news, I am afraid.
NO licensed residential site will allow a tourer to be sited to live in (most will not allow a tourer - full stop).
For permanent living, you will have to buy a park home from the site. This would be your address, you would not need another address.
Touring sites are leisure or temporary sites.
You can (unofficially) live in your tourer; you can either find a seasonal site, where the tourer stays sited for your use - but these sites usually have a closed period, when you cannot stay there, and in order to live there you will need a site that "turns a blind eye" to the fact that you are - effectively - living illegally. Such "blind eyes" can change suddenly and you may get orders to vacate.
The other option is to live in your tourer and be ready and willing to move from site to site at regular intervals, usually every 28 days.
It is perfectly legal to live in a tourer.
The problem is always the land underneath it - which must have planning permission for residential use, which is why non-residential sites either have a closed period, or expect you to leave at regular intervals.
Plenty of people do live in tourers, and motorhomes, but you do have to be prepared to move around quite a bit I believe.
All sites need a licence to operate, and residential sites have to be licenced as such, but these do not permit tourers. All the other sites are licenced just for "holiday use", which means they cannot allow people to live there. As 22seaside says, "It is perfectly legal to live in a tourer, the problem is always the land underneath it", i.e. the site. Living in a tourer is no problem, finding somewhere to put it can be. Nowhere is technically legal, so you have to be very flexible.
Adding to what has been said, sites are licenced to operate by the local authority, and do get inspected from time to time, if found breaching their terms of operating licence they risk being shut down! The terms of licences vary depending on the designation of site, touring sites can only allow anyone to stay for up to 28 days before moving on, etc., it's done SPECIFICALLY to prevent permanent residency.
People do stay permanently, and sites do breach the rules by turning a blind eye, but you should be aware that you risk having to move on at short notice in so doing. A tourer that's stood on the same spot and unmoved for many months may no longer be capable of moving without remedial work first! I know people who've 'acquired' (gifted, bargain price purchases etc.) tourers that've been standing for longer periods, and they've proved troublesome to get mobile again!
As a caravan owner, I don't think I'd have much problem actually living in my van, but siting it to do so may be more problematic!
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
I used the Site Search here & ticked Open All Year & Seasonals. One site in a 20 mile radius from where I’m sitting now. I think the winter months may limit the choice of location as many sites close, for a number of reasons.
Several people have noted sites “turning a blind eye” - that rules out Club sites, in my experience!
Nearest we got to permanent was 10 months on one site and then 2 months on another site and the 2 months was over the winter when the site shut down. Worked for us.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Permanent Pitch For Mobile Home
via mobile 13/5/2024 at 1:22pm
