The rise of the Static Lodges

[DoneSneddin]

Hi all,
I admit that this is more of a moan than a question.
We've just been travelling around the West of Scotland, my home holiday area since 1956. In those days caravans were few, motor-homes almost unknown and I don't remember any campsites at all. Then campsites sprang up. Just small areas of field to start with, where in time water taps, toilets, electrical hook-ups and small shops were added. All very good. With the grass and occasionally mud still underneath us, they are still campsites. But on this trip the disturbing image of holidays to come, reared it's ugly head.
More than half the long established campsites we visited have abandoned their best pitches, and in one case the entire site, in favour of row upon row of statics. OK, we're personally spoilt by living in the country and understand that statics are more profitable than pitches, and accept that for many the prospect of holidaying in a village of tightly packed lodges is a welcome break from city life.

But with those campsites that still cater for motor-homes and every half decent 'wild camping' place, being jam packed from March to October, should we consider heading for Benidorm next year?
The only consoling thought is that with luck climate change will mean genuine campsites here may remain open well into the winter.

Are we the only people troubled by this?

 

[DDJC]

Hi all,
I admit that this is more of a moan than a question.
We've just been travelling around the West of Scotland, my home holiday area since 1956. In those days caravans were few, motor-homes almost unknown and I don't remember any campsites at all. Then campsites sprang up. Just small areas of field to start with, where in time water taps, toilets, electrical hook-ups and small shops were added. All very good. With the grass and occasionally mud still underneath us, they are still campsites. But on this trip the disturbing image of holidays to come, reared it's ugly head.
More than half the long established campsites we visited have abandoned their best pitches, and in one case the entire site, in favour of row upon row of statics. OK, we're personally spoilt by living in the country and understand that statics are more profitable than pitches, and accept that for many the prospect of holidaying in a village of tightly packed lodges is a welcome break from city life.

But with those campsites that still cater for motor-homes and every half decent 'wild camping' place, being jam packed from March to October, should we consider heading for Benidorm next year?
The only consoling thought is that with luck climate change will mean genuine campsites here may remain open well into the winter.

Are we the only people troubled by this?

Not even slightly troubled.
We know people who hire statics for their summer holiday. It is all they can afford.
I would never use one, because I can't see the point of going somewhere and staying in the same place. I don't use hotels, gites or chalets for the same reason.

I don't understand how UK sites are full. Many cost an arm and a leg, and the facilities are usually basic.

Nowadays, we will usually cross the channel, where the infrastructure caters for motorhomes brilliantly. I don't know about going to Benidorm, but no question, the continent, especially France loves motorhomes and most UK local authorities are indifferent, or outright obstructive to them.

 

[Figaro]

Stay well clear of benidorm if you don't like high density living

 

[Barryh]

We know people who hire statics for their summer holiday. It is all they can afford.

Blimey, have you seen the price of statics in the summer! It’s certainly not a cheap holiday.

 

[DDJC]

Blimey, have you seen the price of statics in the summer! It’s certainly not a cheap holiday.

Compared against >£80,000 for a motorhome!!

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[philann]

Statistics at Haven Perran Sands for sale from £50k to £98k plus £12k per year site fees plus water, electricity and gas plus council tax/business rates. After 15 years it has to be removed. Certainly not cheap!

 

[Thornebt]

Statistics at Haven Perran Sands for sale from £50k to £98k plus £12k per year site fees plus water, electricity and gas plus council tax/business rates. After 15 years it has to be removed. Certainly not cheap!

So if you 'own' one of these statics from new for 15 years it will cost £180k just for the site fees!

I am amazed anyone would buy one.

 

[Neckender]

We have the best of both worlds as we own a static in North Wales and also have our VW T6.1 campervan.

John.

 

[gradyp]

We.re the same have a static in North Wales in Cearwys , and we have the motorhome in storage on the site. Now we are retired we spend more time at the static, if we are going away in the motorhome we pull it out of storage park it at the static and prep it for going away (we have done this now as we are going York Monday then down to Lincoln for the show). Works great for us

 

[SpeedyDux]

The site owners have their static tenants (because nobody sells the freehold of the pitch) over a barrel. Licence to print money.

If you were to pay the CAMC for a seasonal pitch + winter storage for a big touring caravan it would probably work out a lot cheaper. As we know, the CAMC ain't cheap any more.

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[seasideBill]

So if you 'own' one of these statics from new for 15 years it will cost £180k just for the site fees!

I am amazed anyone would buy one.

And after the 15 years you’ll need to pay a lot of money to get it taken away and your initial investment will now be worth £nothing. Quite a few sites give vague promises of licence extensions if it suits them, but it’s a gamble and the site operator holds all the cards.

 

[busbuddy]

No idea about owning holiday static/lodge/park home but I purchased a residential one on a local marina in june this year which being residential has different rules to holiday ones.
It will easily out last me, I went to the factory and spec'd mine personally, it works for me but it's not for everyone.
I dont really understand the holiday ones as most are still being built to the lowest price possible and in looks they have not moved on from the 70s but then I'm sure a lot of people think that of motorhomes/caravans.
I was born near billing aquadrome in northamptonshire and I watched that become filled with statics over the last 50 years with only minimal touring pitches now, some sites I used to go to have stopped touring pitches completely and have switched to all statics.
Where I am was not a touring site so no change there but I have noticed more residential sites, rather than holiday sites appearing in the countryside when I away in the van

 

[gradyp]

When you buy a static you need to go into it with your eyes wide open and ask the right questions. How long can you keep the van on site , how long is the season , get the right seasonal price including not only site fees but council tax , water rates , average electrical prices , winter drain down costs , on average what are the cost increases per year.

We looked around for a while and lots of sites where not what we wanted and we knew this current site and the owners reasonably well. On this site there is no time on length of age of van , all they say after about 25 years they inspect the steel work under the van to make sure it is not heavily corroded as they will at some time need to tow it off site , the site is open 10 months a year , and this year the site fees went up £75+vat so we are paying £3150 all inclusive plus electrics and gas

We love it here especially since we can store the motorhome here

 

[scotjimland]

We have also notice many sites now have statics, also so called 'glamping' tents (hate that word) shepherds huts, etc .. some have closed the touring area to make more space for the statics.

Easy to understand why, it's more lucrative and with a guaranteed income ..

I think this is also one of the reasons why touring pitches have now become more expensive.. fewer pitches, increased demand, = increase in pitch fees..

I would also suggest that's the reason why more and more van owners are looking to camp off-site.. in any place they can find do it cheap ..or free .. as I've witnessed at out local riverside car park. It has been full all summer with vans parked up for days and weeks at a time.. all free, with a handy toilet block to use for water and dumping..

 

[seasideBill]

We have also notice many sites now have statics, also so called 'glamping' tents (hate that word) shepherds huts, etc .. some have closed the touring area to make more space for the statics.

Easy to understand why, it's more lucrative and with a guaranteed income ..

I think this is also one of the reasons why touring pitches have now become more expensive.. fewer pitches, increased demand, = increase in pitch fees..

I would also suggest that's the reason why more and more van owners are looking to camp off-site.. in any place they can find do it cheap ..or free .. as I've witnessed at out local riverside car park. It has been full all summer with vans parked up for days and weeks at a time.. all free, with a handy toilet block to use for water and dumping..

I think they also change the character of sites, generally speaking glampers & statics are a different breed to tourers and not always in a good way. Something I’ve increasingly experienced abroad but not here (yet) is large school groups occupying these sites in low season which is great for them but isn’t ideal if you were expecting peace & quiet.

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[DBK]

The trend isn't confined to the UK. You will find lots of campsites in Europe where touring pitches are in the minority with the rest of the site give over to wooden chalets, plastic sheds or permanent caravans. It is just the way it is and you can't blame site owners.

The one place you don't find them is on aires.

 

[Tombola]

We know people who hire statics for their summer holiday. It is all they can afford.

Not true I'm afraid.
I have 2 statics one of which I rent out. I can guarantee half the folk who rent them (mostly regulars or people i know) are what I'd call wealthy. 3 of which aswell as myself own motorhomes aswell.

 

[Tombola]

I am amazed anyone would buy one.

5 have just gone on my site brand new "lodges"....140k.
3 sold

 

[Thornebt]

5 have just gone on my site brand new "lodges"....140k.
3 sold

...but are the fees as expensive as £10k per year?

 

[Toady]

You should live in Pembrokeshire. I open my front door and I can see three holiday static parks with more to come.

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[seasideBill]

...but are the fees as expensive as £10k per year?

£5k to £7k seems typical where I am in Cornwall depending on facilities - 10 month agreement.

 

[Tombola]

6k Per year 12 month season..holiday only

 

[Nanniemate]

Compared against >£80,000 for a motorhome!!

2 bedroom static approx 22ft last week £80,000 plus cost of decking and approx £6000 ground rent pa
The one next door more lodge type £150,000 second hand plus ground rent pa

About 1990 my parents paid £20,000 for a 3 birth 40ft site fees about £700 pa

All school holidays moved down and the workers would turn up on weekends the kids loved it not a huge site 50 in total 30 privately owned none rented out

It suited the family at the time horse's for courses

 

[Nanniemate]

You should live in Pembrokeshire. I open my front door and I can see three holiday static parks with more to come.

Yes but you also know where the best fields with water are

 

[Jonno1103]

You should live in Pembrokeshire. I open my front door and I can see three holiday static parks with more to come.

When we lived in Pembrokeshire when we opened our front door we saw the Western Cleddau, but yeah, far too many statics.

Most of the sites on the Norfolk and south coasts are now mostly statics.

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[starquake]

Wierdly we actaully started motorhoming as we liked teh weekends at the in-laws static, but didn't like #1 the location they had it in, and #2 the annual fees, so couldn't justify getting our own. We also liked #3 the ability to be in different places every weekend. Their static was about £40k for a lodge, £6k a year in fees (with decking inc). The site they on is members only, no public on site, and max of 10 registered "people" per static allowed access year around (strictly no guests). Rentals prohibited in the site rules.

We looked around for a static around places more suited for a weekend getaway (ie, 1.5 hours from our house instead of 4), but then found they all had "better" campsites and touring pitches nearby ... and without the £6k annual site fees... The facilities in the ones nearer home were also far worse, and worse than that, they all had public and rental access so as an owner you were fighting "weekend warrior" weekend Haven/Parkdean rentals.

So we ended up buying a MH, as the way we looked at it, 10 years of fees = a free MH. And it's working as we go away 3 out of 4 weekends now, usually spending £50-60 on fees plus diesel and LPG, but we also don't pay on weekends we can't go!. Total cost is less than a night away (what we were doing before) and less than the PETROL to the above in-laws static. The in-laws have a static for other reasons though, they play golf (golf course on site) and have friends on the park they on, and the site fees although £6k, they do get value (fees include gym and swimming pool, and fitness classes), given they live in their static 10 months of the year. (There is no silly max days in residence rule, but the site does shut for 1 month a year). Thing is we will be staying on the site next door and walking over a few times!

I understand the appeal of statics though, having family with them -> it's just its more a not for us thing, despite us having access to the above static year around with our own bedroom, we only tend to visit for 5-6 weekends a year. If we were retired and the travel time up there was not so much of a drag, I think we would actually consider a static on the site the in-laws now use, as it's very good value for the entertainment provided (live music on 5 days a week, a good weekend entertainment package combined with the gym/golf), along with reasonably priced draft beer/pub on site (£3-£3.50 a pint for owners), spa facilities etc. It also says it to us, that everyone except my in-laws who has owned a static has sold it usually 5 years later.

IN the MH we now own we have not visited the same site twice yet, or even same area -> we just poke a pin in map for something thats drivable between 30 mins and within an horu and half from home, and book a site a day or two ahead of going. We've also now learnt not to pre-book as if weather is rubbish its just not as nice as a nice sunny weekend, and we will go for a pub stop instead. It's a very different experience, but statics are right for some -> as if your entire social circle use the same park, why woudln't you live there.

Ref the wealth of people on static parks -> all I can comment is there are more brand new cars on the in-laws static park than I've seen in percentage on "normal" households. Most cars on their site are under 3 years old, and many are EV's.

 

[DT]

6k Per year 12 month season..holiday only

That seems reasonable.

 

[Nanniemate]

That seems reasonable.

Much the same as a van if you use it great value but if not its just sat there empty and lonely

 

[Tombola]

Much the same as a van if you use it great value but if not its just sat there empty and lonely

Yes..but family can make use too..

 

[Nanniemate]

The only family that used ours was us we in some format were always there from when it opened in April through to november and went down for day visits in the winter