NCC guidance for consumers thinking of buying a residential park home or a holiday caravan or holiday lodge
The NCC as the trade association for the UK caravan, motorhome, holiday park and residential park industries reminds and urges anyone considering purchasing a residential park home (mobile home) or a holiday caravan or holiday lodge to carry out extensive research before committing to a purchase.
The NCC has a series of Top Tips that all potential residential park home and holiday caravan/holiday lodge owners need to know.
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Permanent residential park homes
If you are thinking of moving to a park and buying a park home (mobile home) so you can live on the park and use the park home as your permanent residence:
Do your research and make sure:
That you are eligible to live on the park as some parks are for retired people only
Check the park website for any additional details
Arrange to meet the owner of the park home at the park and have a list of questions ready to ask – the park home may be privately owned by the existing owner, or it may be owned by the park owner
Consult a professional adviser such as a solicitor so they can help you understand what ownership means
Download a copy of the Government’s advice booklet Buying a Park Home
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Holiday caravans and holiday lodges
If you are thinking of moving to a park and buying a holiday caravan or holiday lodge so you can stay there for holidays and short breaks remember that you cannot live in a holiday caravan or holiday lodge on a park that is licensed for holiday use only:
Do your research and make sure:
· Check the park website for any additional details
Arrange to meet the owner of the holiday caravan/lodge at the park and have a list of questions ready to ask the owner or the sales team – the holiday caravan/lodge may be privately owned by the existing owner or it may be owned by the park owner
Think of your holiday caravan as a long-term lifestyle purchase and not as a property investment - a holiday caravan is a depreciating asset, like a car, and the resale value will be less than the original purchase price.
Check that the park operator is an NCC member and complies with the NCC’s Best Practice Guidance for Holiday Parks with Holiday Caravans /Lodges in Private Ownership which reflects the points raised in the government supported Business Companion advice issued in Spring 2023. These documents provide guidance for park owners and operators on marketing and the sales process, and the importance of using clear and transparent documentation (the contract), helping new owners to understand the costs and obligations of becoming a holiday caravan owner.
Consult a professional adviser such as a solicitor so they can help you understand what ownership means for you and if it is the right choice for you and your family
Download a copy of the NCC's Making the best-use-of-your-holiday-caravan which is a Q&A guide on holiday caravan ownership. It explains what ownership means and crucially why a holiday caravan sited on a park licensed for holiday use only cannot be lived in as a permanent residence (either by an owner or someone the owner has allowed to rent it).
NCC’s Dispute Resolution Service
If things don’t go quite as expected, then the NCC offers holiday caravan owners who have purchased from, or have a holiday caravan sited on, an NCC member park the opportunity to engage with the Informal Dispute Resolution Service (NCCIDRS) free of charge. This aims to help both parties come to a mutually satisfactory conclusion, but if things remain unresolved it may be eligible for referral to the Independent Case Examiner, as part of access to Alternative Dispute Resolution. The complaints guidance and form can be downloaded here.
In the recent Panorama episode, it highlights that consumers should be aware of exactly what they are buying, to do their research and to seek professional advice first. The NCC remains committed to raising and promoting high standards of best practice across the parks sector and will continue to work with park operators and other relevant stakeholders to achieve this for the benefit of our members and their consumers.
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