Buying & Selling
Q How do the costs compare with conventional housing?[Show answer]A They compare very favourably, and many people find that the sale of a larger family house provides sufficient cash to buy a luxurious, modern park home with enough funds left over to provide financial security. As to the actual costs, these of course vary according to the model chosen and the market value of the land on which the home is situated - precisely the same factors, in other words, which influence the price of a conventional house[Hide answer]
Q What if I don't want to use my own funds to buy?[Show answer]A Loans for park home purchase are available from a small number of national finance companies that specialise in park home finance. Park home loans are available as both fixed rate and variable rate schemes and with repayment periods of up to 25 years. The lenders in this market are by and large specialists in park home lending with many years? experience and are able to help you with the entire buying process.[Hide answer]
Q How else are my interests protected when buying?[Show answer]A A new publication covering the law relating to buying and living in a park home in a fair and equal manner is to be available shortly from the Department for Communities and Local Government. It incorporates recent legislation and recognises that both home and park owner share a common aim: a well-run Park Home Estate where the benefits of park home living can be enjoyed and the purchase of a park home is secure for the future. Until this publication is available, you can obtain a Park Homes Fact Sheet (August 2006) by visiting the Government?s website at www.communities.gov.uk or by telephoning their Park Home Officer on 0207 944 6226 - he will be happy to help you.
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Q Should i only buy on a licensed residents park?[Show answer]A Yes, most definitely. The protection offered by the Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amended 2006) applies to licensed residential parks - and is not available to holiday parks. There are also important differences between a residential park home, which is designed and built for year round residential living, and a caravan holiday home, which is constructed to different standards to reflect its use as leisure accommodation. So in your own interests, and to safeguard the value of your investment, always ensure that your prospective park has a local authority site licence for residential (not holiday) use.[Hide answer]
Park Lifestyle
Q How are Park homes different from conventional houses?[Show answer]A Unlike conventional homes residential park homes can be regarded as modular housing, which is scaleable to create homes of differing lengths and widths. The only real difference is the method of construction and that they come fully furnished. Other than this, a modern park home resembles in every way an attractively designed traditionally built bungalow with a pitched roof; once inside, there is nothing to suggest that you are anywhere other than in a fully equipped and luxurious modern dwelling. There will be good-sized living areas and a separate kitchen, built-in cupboards and wardrobes, one, two or three bedrooms and fitted bathroom. Central heating and double-glazing are installed as standard, and so is carpeting throughout.
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Q What are park fees and how much should I budget for them?[Show answer]A Park Fees are charges raised by the park operator to cover the upkeep and maintenance of the parks shared amenities and facilities. These fees vary up and down the country depending on the location of the park, and range from around ?750 to ?1750 per year. Increases in fees can only be made in accordance with the requirements of the Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amended 2006).[Hide answer]
Q What protection for owners does legislation offer?[Show answer]A The Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amended 2006) gives owners of park homes security of tenure - and that is probably its single most important safeguard. It also gives the owner the right to sell the home on the park, and the right to leave it to certain members of the family.[Hide answer]
Q What are the main advantages of park home living? [Show answer]A The social benefits are those most readily appreciated by many. Residential parks are very much communities where no-one need suffer the sense of isolation so often felt by people in retirement - especially those who move away from familiar surroundings. Individual privacy is, of course, respected, as it would be anywhere. However, most park home owners do enjoy being drawn into the activities, committees, clubs and other social opportunities which develop as a result of initiatives by residents themselves. Other members of the family living elsewhere also have peace of mind from the knowledge that parks are semi-sheltered environments often with a resident owner or manager to provide additional security. Many park owners invest heavily in creating carefully landscaped and well laid-out surroundings with plenty of pathways, sitting-out areas and other facilities for residents to enjoy. Parks making exceptional efforts to improve and protect the natural environment can earn a David Bellamy Conservation Award through a scheme run in conjunction with BH&HPA.[Hide answer]
Q Are most park residents retired?[Show answer]A Yes: about 80% are in or near retirement - although some parks do have a higher proportion of couples where one or both go out to work on a full-time or part-time basis. In future we may well see an increase in the number of younger couples opting for residential park life. For the present, however, they mostly benefit indirectly through the release of lower-cost housing onto the market when elderly couples sell up and move into park homes. There are currently an estimated 200,000 people living on home parks, representing some 96,000 park homes.[Hide answer]
Q Can I bring my pets with me?[Show answer]A Some park home developments allow domestic pets, although many don't. Often park owners allow new residents to bring existing pets, but they can-not be replaced when the animal 'passes away'. It is always best to check with the park owner before purchase and, of course, pet owners should always ensure that their pet does not cause annoyance to other residents.[Hide answer]
Technical
Q From what materials is the home built?[Show answer]A Built on a steel chassis, a park home is timber framed and provided with a tough and durable weatherproof exterior, plus a textured finish, styled to resemble traditional render. Constructed to British Standard BS 3632 (2005), 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 a minimum. Park homes, in common with other forms of modular housing, are designed for easy maintenance, and owners are therefore unlikely to be faced with the sudden high repair bills that are a common feature of bricks-and-mortar.
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Q How is the home actually built?[Show answer]A It's not so much 'how' as 'where' which makes the main difference. Like many types of modular housing, park homes are constructed under carefully controlled workshop conditions, before being thoroughly checked and transported to the park. Here they are sited on a concrete base and connected to all mains services such as electricity, drainage and sometimes mains gas. In theory, these prefabricated homes can be disconnected and taken by a low-loader to another location - but in practice most park homes stay throughout their lives on the original plot.
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Q What is the typical life expectancy of a Park Home?[Show answer]A Modular housing like modern Park Homes is extremely robust and longwearing. Properly maintained, prefabricated park homes should easily last for up to 50 years and beyond.
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Q What guarantees do I get?[Show answer]A All new Wessex homes are covered by the Gold Shield 10 years warranty scheme.[Hide answer]