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What is the difference between a residential park home and a holiday home?
A park home generally referred to as a "mobile home" is for full residential use and can be used as a permanent UK address. Residents are also protected by the Mobile Home Act 1983 (Link to agreement download if possible). The property must comply with BS3632 residential standard so that it can be used all year round. Holiday homes generally referred to as caravans or statics are built to EN 1647 specifications and can only be used for 10-11 months of the year depending on the parks licence. A holiday home can not be classed as your main residence or permanent address.
How are Park Homes different from regular houses?
Apart from the way they are constructed, a park home looks and feels almost exactly the same as a conventional bungalow. Modern park homes have gas central heating, double glazed windows, pitched roofs and are normally supplied fully furnished. Some even come with wide-screen plasma televisions. They are able to have all regular services connected such as telephone cables, broadband and Cable TV.
Homes are given a designated plot, generally with at least enough space for an outside patio area and garden. They are sited on a concrete base and connected to all mains services such as electricity, drainage and depending on which park even mains gas.
So how is the home built?
Park Homes are constructed under carefully controlled workshop conditions. They are made from a timber frame and provided with a tough and durable weatherproof exterior, plus a textured finish. Particular attention is paid to achieving a high level of insulation – often of equal or superior value to cavity wall buildings. This keeps heat loss and future energy bills to minimum. Before being transported to the park each home undergoes a thorough inspection.
Park homes are designed for easy maintenance, and owners are not likely to be faced with the sudden high repair bills, which are a common feature of bricks-and-mortar life.
How secure are they?
All new park homes come with all UPVC lockable windows and doors and with an added bonus of living on a warden controlled park, theft on Park Home Estates are considered to be less common than on housing estates.
How much does a park home cost?
There are two main factors involved when establishing the price of a mobile home, these are the land the home is situated on and the home it’s self.
The Land
As in any property market, some areas are highly sort after and therefore the land can be more expensive. It can also depend not only on it’s location but local amenities, the size and positioning of the plots.
The Homes
Firstly it will depend on the size, make and model of the home and what features you would like to have, for example en-suite, utility room or maybe a study.
How far the home will have to be transported from the manufacturers, how much it will cost to site he home and connect it to the mains.
Do Park Home hold their value?
A Park Homes typically follow the local housing market and have actually preformed better in the last 4 years.
Can Park Homes be resold?
Yes, Park Home can be sold either back to the park or privately through an Estate Agent.
Before a sale can proceed we ask all customers to inform us of their intent to sell and the price they are asking for. On the completion of the sale we are entitled to 10% commission. This transfer fee is not comparable with commission payments made to Estate Agents. Rather, it reflects the fact that the value of homes is likely to have increased (because the land has increased in value) and the resident is paying back the park owner for as share in that increase value. Commission payments supplement the income park owners received from pitch fees and without them, pitch fees would be higher.
How long do park homes last?
As you are aware technology has increased massively, and the technology used in building park homes has been improving constantly over the years. It is thought that a park home properly care for and maintained can last from 30-40 years.
Can I use a Park Home as my second home?
No, a park home is classed as your "main or only residence". This is not a rule we have created but one that is a condition of the Mobile Home Act.
Do I own the plot/land?
No. We are still the owners of the land, you are granted a licence to use the plot with the home sited on it indefinitely. As the plots aren’t freehold properties, you never actually own them, you only hold the licence.
Do I get any protection as a Park Home owner?
The Mobile Home Act 1983 gives owners of park homes security of tenure. To download a copy click here
How do you purchase a home on one of our sites?
To purchase a park home you will be asked for a 10% holding deposit of the purchase price. This will hold the home for 6 months, in this time we stop marketing the property.
If at the end of the initial 6 month period you are still not ready to complete the sale, we would then need a further small deposit. The full balance must be paid in full by telegraphy transfer before you move into your new home.
If you do not see a home on site you like, can you choose your own?
Any make and model of home can be quoted for please ring our Sales Team at the head office on 01524 68764.
How long will my chosen home take to build?
This will depend entirely on which manufacturer, make and model you choose. If you decide to go down this route you will be given an estimated delivery date from your chosen manufacturer. This could take anything from 6 weeks to 3 months.
Can I get a loan or finance on a park home?
Unfortunately mortgages are not available on park homes, however there are various loan companies who specialise in park home finance click here for just one of them. Park home loans share many features with conventional mortgages and are available as both fixed rate and variable rate schemes and with repayment periods of up to 25 years.
Do the Park Homes come with any kind of guarantee?
All our parks are covered by the 10 Year Gold Shield Warranty, this is a manufacturers guarantee and covers any structural problems. Please click on the link for more information. click here
What is the monthly outgoings on a Park Home?
This amount will differ from each area of the country. Please see the FAQ's section under each of our individual parks for the various pitch fees and Council Charges etc.
Are animals allowed on the park?
Animals are allowed on all our parks at the park owners discretion.
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