Good or Bad idea?

[B4ssy]

Hi

We need some accommodation for 3 months from December here in the UK to tie in a house sale with a new build completion. We have be planning to buy an A class MH around 8 metres in length anyway. We are a family of 4 ( 2 kids 10 and 6 ) and 2 dogs.

House rentals don't like less than 6 months ( dogs also a problem ). Suitable short term rentals are around £3000 per month.

One option I have is a 3 month seasonal pitch at a nice site at a reasonable rate.

The kids are dead excited to be living in a MH for 3 months. What are the drawbacks ( obvious and not so obvious? ) Or, would it be a great adventure?

Thanks

 

[B4ssy]

Is there a penalty clause in the contract stating if not completed by end of Feb monies will be coming to you.

I don’t want to come across negative but I work in the building trade and seen “promises” before.

Expect the worst then you will be pleasantly surprised when it all goes ok.

Ohh and most delays are client orientated because of indecision or changing minds.

No offence just saying ?

No offence taken...good advice...thanks

 

[B4ssy]

It’s perfectly doable. Lots of people on here full time, plenty have with children, even home schooling them as they’ve travelled.
I came to the UK for a 6 week holiday in my motorhome ( lived in France then) Long story short, daughter was pregnant, became really ill and baby had to be delivered at 28 weeks. Didn’t get to the festivals etc I’d planned on, lived in my motorhome for 9 months with 2 dogs and 2 cats, right through a very cold winter. Loved it so much I went home and put my house on the market, gave the keys to the agent and set off again for another year in the motorhome. Loved every minute despite some hairy moments ( having the van MOTD with the animals all in the garage waiting area was entertaining)
You’ll all have to be quite tidy, quite minimalist and get on most of the time but I’m sure you’ll enjoy it and you’ll make family stories for the future.

Nice story...thanks for your help

 

[Minxy]

Personally I'd be tempted to do a 6 month lease on a property as the likelihood of your new place being ready by end of Feb isn't guaranteed especially if we have a bad winter, they'll have a get-out clause so if it's not ready they'll have to pay you some dosh/reduce the cost/cover your ongoing rental costs etc (check your purchase terms).

Another reason for this is that you will need a 'proper' address for your insurance providers and they likely won't accept a holiday site without hiking up your prices, if at all. You also have to look at the cost of storing your stuff too which isn't necessarily cheap, so renting a property where you can keep all your items could actually work out cheaper than your MH/caravan/static etc option.

For info, we signed up for a new build bungalow back in 2006 (estate development) and put the deposit down in September I think, completion due by mid-December but it didn't get finished until 31 March the following year and there was still work to do on it (snagging), if they hadn't had to get it to 'completion' in the old financial year I'm sure it would have run on until the end of April!

 

[B4ssy]

Personally I'd be tempted to do a 6 month lease on a property as the likelihood of your new place being ready by end of Feb isn't guaranteed especially if we have a bad winter, they'll have a get-out clause so if it's not ready they'll have to pay you some dosh/reduce the cost/cover your ongoing rental costs etc (check your purchase terms).

Another reason for this is that you will need a 'proper' address for your insurance providers and they likely won't accept a holiday site without hiking up your prices, if at all. You also have to look at the cost of storing your stuff too which isn't necessarily cheap, so renting a property where you can keep all your items could actually work out cheaper than your MH/caravan/static etc option.

For info, we signed up for a new build bungalow back in 2006 (estate development) and put the deposit down in September I think, completion due by mid-December but it didn't get finished until 31 March the following year and there was still work to do on it (snagging), if they hadn't had to get it to 'completion' in the old financial year I'm sure it would have run on until the end of April!

Some food for thought there, thanks for your advice

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[TerryL]

Some food for thought there, thanks for your advice

In the end, that's all anyone can do. You've been offered several suggestions, complete with reasoning but ONLY YOU can make the final decision.

May we all wish you the best of luck whatever you choose - and maybe you'll tell us you bought a motorhome anyway!

 

[B4ssy]

In the end, that's all anyone can do. You've been offered several suggestions, complete with reasoning but ONLY YOU can make the final decision.

May we all wish you the best of luck whatever you choose - and maybe you'll tell us you bought a motorhome anyway!

The only thing that will definitely happen is that we will buy a motorhome some time in the near future.

Thank you to everyone that has offered advice. What a lovely bunch of people you are.

 

[flatpackchicken]

What area in the UK are you buying your house and what is the max you can afford per month fir a house !!!!! As I may rent my house out for the duration you require with additional months if needed !!!!!!! Pm me if interested ok

 

[B4ssy]

Update....

So, we bought the Motorhome in October. We moved out of our house on 8th December and spent nearly 4 weeks in the MoHo on a nice site. We have managed to find a house locally on AirBnB for the whole of January. At the end of the month we will have around 3 weeks in Feb to sort out as we are away skiing for one of the weeks.

Verdict...

Ive never slept so well....although the kids love it, the weather has been a bit restricting to get them outside more often....it's nice being able to cook 'properly' in the house.....it's easier in the MH when the kids are at school during the day....I don't want anyone to have any negative thoughts which may marr future travels.

We are lucky to have places to store lots of stuff with us and within easy reach if not actually with us. We are both retired so only really spend evenings in ( retired then had kids .... best thing I ever did )

I reckon the odds are favouring being back in the van in Feb.

Thanks for all your suggestions....as you can see we have used bits and pieces of your knowledge and, so far, so good

 

[Jake Royd]

A simple point I know but check the facilities at the campsite.
Hot showers , shop, gas , wifi etc. and perhaps a club room could go a long way to curing cabin fever in the winter.

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[B4ssy]

A simple point I know but check the facilities at the campsite.
Hot showers , shop, gas , wifi etc. and perhaps a club room could go a long way to curing cabin fever in the winter.

Hi Jake, thanks for that advice. The site has all of the above, we have stayed there previously