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Here are some of the points to bear in mind when you are planning holiday stays in your new holiday home. They have been prepared by the British Holiday and Home Parks Association and the National Caravan Council in the interests of ensuring customer familiarity with park opening periods and to avoid the misuse of caravan holiday homes which cannot be used as a main residence.

Cosalt Holiday Homes Limited
Stoneferry,
Kingston upon Hull,
East Yorkshire
HU8 8EH
 

Telephone: 01482 227203
Fax: 01482 210481
Email: mailto:info@coshomes.co.uk

What is the length of the season?

 
Do check this with the park on which you are intending to buy a holiday home and make sure that you are satisfied that it will allow you the access you want during the year.

Who decides the length of the season?

 
The local planning authority sets the maximum period that the park is permitted to be open for business each year. However, it is up to the park owner to decide, within that period, the actual dates during which the park will be open for you to visit your caravan holiday home.

Why should the park owner decide a different period?

 
There may be a number of reasons, but often the closed period is used to carry out essential maintenance and improvement work so that holidaymakers can enjoy the open period without being inconvenienced by any disruption on the park.

Can I use my holiday home in the winter?

 
Only if the park is open during the winter months. But do ask about the level of insulation in the holiday home you intend to buy: not all units are intended for occupation in severe weather conditions. If a caravan holiday home is used in cold months you should expect a higher level of condensation, both visible and unseen. Where central heating is provided, its primary purpose is to provide background heating in these cooler periods.

Can I move permanently into my holiday home?

 
No. You will normally be restricted to using it for holiday or recreational purposes. If you were to live permanently in your holiday home you would put the park owner in breach of his planning permission or site licence with serious legal consequences for both him/her and you. In addition, a caravan holiday home is not designed to be a permanent residence.

What about spending consecutive months in the unit?

 
Any plans to use your holiday home other that for leisure breaks should be discussed with the park owner before you purchase a caravan. It may be that local authority regulations, or the agreement you sign, will prohibit your taking up semi-residential status.

Are there any other arguments against long-term occupation?

 
Yes. Holiday homes are designed to provide comfortable, high-quality accommodation for recreational use only. On the other hand, park homes for residential use are designed and built to a different specification, with greater emphasis, for example, on storage space and thermal insulation.

Does the Mobile Homes Act 1983 apply to holiday parks?

 
No. This legislation was designed to protect the rights of owners of residential park homes on licenced residential home parks. It does not apply to caravan holiday homes sited on holiday parks.

Then what are my rights?

 
Your rights are all contained within the “Licence Agreement“ that you and the park owner will sign when you buy the unit. This agreement is the contract that will be made between you and the park owner and it includes your right to keep the holiday home on the park for a given period of years and the times during which you can use your unit.