Should I buy a static caravan? It’s a question we were asking ourselves again and again before taking the plunge!
Is it a static caravan? Or is it the cheapest and easiest way to own a luxury holiday home? I’ll go for the latter. But yes, it’s still a caravan.
If you follow me on social media you’ll already know that Sam and I recently bought a static caravan in the gorgeous seaside town of Abersoch on the Llyn Peninsular in Wales.
Buying a static caravan was a big decision for us.
Static caravans are expensive and, if you’re looking at it from a purely financial perspective, they’re not a good way to invest your money as they deteriorate in value so quickly.
But, as a family who wouldn’t be able to afford a bricks and mortar holiday home, a static caravan was the best option for us.
Since sharing the news about buying a static caravan, I’ve had lots of questions about buying a static caravan and how we did it and why we did it etc, so I thought I’d answer all your questions here! If you have any more questions about buying a static caravan then please do leave them in the comments below or send me an email and I’ll do my very best to answer.
^ I gave up on trying to take photos without a child or a dog doing something weird!
What’s it like to own a static caravan?
Wouldn’t it be lovely to go on holiday every single weekend?
To go somewhere beautiful and somewhere that’s usually sunny – but still only two hours from home. Somewhere you can drive to so you don’t need to worry about the extra time and expense of flying (and you can take the dog!)
And when you arrive all your stuff is already there!
All your clothes and favourite things are ready and waiting.
Your favourite wine is already chilled in the fridge, the book you started last weekend is there, the kid’s toys are all there and their favourite blankets are on their beds and their best PJs and bedtime stories are there waiting. Even the dog has a little bed waiting by the fire with his ball and bone inside.
You know all your neighbours and they greet you with a friendly wave and a smile. They ask how your week was and you all agree you’re happy to be back on holiday.
There’s no stress, no hassle, no worries and you’re straight into holiday mode. You don’t need a day to settle in and find your feet. You are on holiday the second you arrive.
This is exactly what it’s like with our static caravan in Abersoch.
And THIS is what encouraged us to finally take the plunge and buy one!
Now I’m the first to admit that I was a static caravan skeptic. I didn’t understand it all.
Why would you pay THAT much money for one? (I’ll get on to how much money THAT MUCH is later!)
Why would you opt to stay in what is basically a posh shed? And why would you keep going on holiday to the same place when there’s a whole world to explore?
The simple answer for me is this: The kids.
Static caravans are an amazing way to holiday with kids and we definitely wouldn’t have bought one if we didn’t have children.
Sam grew up with a static caravan and spent most weekends with his family near the beach. It sounds like such a dreamy, idyllic childhood. His entire summer was one long holiday.
There are lots of kids on our caravan site and every single one of them just seems so flipping happy. They’re constantly outside so they’re all sporty and healthy and tanned. They’re not indoors haunched over iPads; they’re on the beach, swimming in the sea, chasing their dogs, surfing and getting up to mischief like kids are meant to!
This is what I want my kids to do!
We leave all our stresses at home and spend the weekend doing holiday stuff. We go to the beach, go for walks, go for picnics, go out for dinner, go shopping, go to the pub (it has a great play park so it’s not just for us!), we have BBQs with our friends, we cook, we play and have movie nights snuggled on the sofa with the boys. But mostly, we just spend time as a family in a way that we don’t at home.
I honestly and genuinely don’t know why it isn’t this simple and relaxing at home. We can do all of these things at home (except the beach bit because our nearest beach is hideous) but it just isn’t the same!
^ Views from our bedroom window
Buying a static caravan: Should I buy a static caravan?
For us, it was the cheapest and easiest way to have the closest thing to a holiday home as we could afford.
That’s basically it.
We did toy with the idea of buying an actual holiday home which, admittedly, is a much better investment. But there were a few reasons why we didn’t go down that route.
- We can’t afford one – that’s a biggy!
- Houses involve a lot of maintenance and we’d end up spending every weekend doing all the house jobs we’re trying to escape at home.
- We could rent it out but we actually want to be in it for the majority of the summer or spontaneously think, ‘It’s sunny this weekend, let’s go to the beach!’ You can’t do that if it’s rented out for most of the summer.
Buying a static caravan: Should I buy a static caravan or a touring caravan?
It really depends if you want to be in one place or tour around. We started off with a tourer and drove it around but we quickly realised this was actually quite hard work, especially with two little kids (our boys were aged 1 and 3 when we got it).
We’d imagined we’d drive somewhere pretty, find a campsite, park up the caravan and, hey presto, you’re all set and your home is ready and waiting. But the reality wasn’t like that at all.
Firstly, campsites get booked up quickly so you have to be really organised and book a long way in advance. Yep, no spontaneous weekend breaks here unless you don’t mind staying somewhere a bit shit.
Secondly, it was taking us hours to get set up. You have to level the caravan, set up the awning, hook up the water and gas and electrics and entertain a baby and a toddler at the same time! For two adults in a small van it wouldn’t take long but it was a big van and we also had two little children to entertain.
If we left after work on a Friday it was 9pm before we were settled – by this time we had two overtired children and everyone was stressed and grumpy.
So the following year we decided to site the caravan for a whole summer and keep it in one place. We sited it in Abersoch and LOVED it. We loved ease and simplicity of having everything ready and waiting and absolutely adored Abersoch.
But the novelty of being squished into a caravan was wearing off. If we were doing it once a month it wouldn’t have been so bad but we were going almost every weekend. There wasn’t enough space and we all kept each other awake at night so we’d be tired and naggy the next day. This wasn’t feeling like a holiday.
The more we fell in love with Abersoch, the more we realised we’d want to be here the next year and the next, so we started looking at static caravans rather than tourers. It seemed silly to have a tourer we never toured and we realised that for an extra £10k, we could have something 5x the size.
We’d been keeping eye on second hand statics for sale in Abersoch. There really wasn’t a lot around so when one popped up that was within our budget we excitedly went to have a look and bought on instantly.
To put it simply, a touring caravan feels a lot like fancy glamping. A static caravan feels a lot like a slightly shitter holiday home.
^How we spend most weekends
Friends + Beach + Beers = Happiness
How much does a static caravan cost?
Prices can vary enormously.
A new static caravan can cost anywhere between about £30,000 and £250,000.
Our new caravan is near a place called The Warren where static caravan prices start from £219,000.
Of course, you’re not really just paying for the caravan, you’re paying for all the facilities you get to access – things like epic spas and swimming pools and lovely grounds and beaches.
How much does a second hand static caravan cost?
Anyway, we bought ours second hand for £25,000 and it’s 9 years old. When it came to choosing the actual caravan, we really didn’t have many options within our price range so we’ve ended up with a Pemberton Serena which is lovely so it worked out well!
Additional costs involved when buying a static caravan
Once you’ve bought your static caravan you need to pay site fees to keep it somewhere. Our site fees are a little over £3,000 a year but, again, site fees vary massively depending on the facilities available and the location of the site.
Our caravan site is in a stunning location but it doesn’t have any facilities other than a laundry room, a play park, a dog field and boat storage. Sites that offer pools and spas, cafes, restaurants, play areas, tennis courts etc will be considerably more (more like £6,000-£12,000 a year).
Most caravan sites close for the winter to avoid paying extra tax. Ours is open March until October but some of the more expensive ones are open for longer.
We also have to pay for our insurance, gas, electric and water at the end of the year.
How long can you keep a static caravan?
One thing to be aware of when you buy a static caravan is that you can’t keep it forever. They obviously don’t last forever because, at the end of the day, it’s not much more than a fancy shed, but some sites require you to upgrade every 10 years. Our site requires us to upgrade after 15 years – although we have been told that it could be longer if your van is kept in good condition (and I think if you’re liked on the site it can make a big difference too!)
So it’s not cheap!
Technically, we have 6 years left before we need to upgrade so it’s essentially costing us just over £4,000 per year for the van and £3,000 site fees. That’s £7,000 per year for the van and the site fees.
With bills, you’re talking about £8,000 per year.
You can only use it for 8 months per year, so that’s £1,000 per month!
Yikes, that’s the first time I’ve worked it out like that!
Is a static caravan worth the cost?
Essentially, the answer to that big old question – should I buy a static caravan?
It is expensive but I still think it’s worth it. We’re currently spending most of our time at our caravan and many of the families on our site spend all the school holidays there and every other weekend during term time.
Apparently, the average UK family of 4 will spend £4,792 on a two week holiday (source here) so it’s really only like having two family holidays a year. Most kids get 13 weeks off school and if you spend 8-10 of those at the caravan it’s really kind of cheap…sort of…kind of. Can you see I’m trying to justify it to myself here?
Other initial costs when buying a static caravan
Other initial costs to be aware of is the cost of kitting out a static caravan.
Static caravans come with all the furniture as well as little bits of decor like matching cushions and pictures on the wall.
You’ll need everything like bedding and towels, TVs, kitchen appliances like a kettle and toaster (most come with a proper oven and hob, dishwasher, microwave and a big fridge freezer and some have a washing machine).
If you want decking and a BBQ area that’s extra and most people have a garden shed too for all the beach stuff you’re going to accumulate!
When kitting out a static caravan you’ll need to buy:
- Bedding
- Towels
- Second hair dryer?
- Main TV
- Bedroom TV(s)
- Kettle
- Toaster
- Cups, classes, plates, bowls etc
- Knives and forks
- Kitchen utensils
- Chopping boards
- Pots and pans
- Serving dishes
- BBQ
- Outdoor storage box or shed?
- Outdoor furniture
For us, we had most of these things at home or were able to get them from family members. My parents had loads of old serving dishes and Sam’s parents downsized and gave us loads of glasses and mugs and pots and pans.
Our main expense was the outdoor furniture.
Where would you buy a static caravan?
This is going to be a personal one for everyone but here’s how we decided on Abersoch:
- It’s a 2 hour drive from home
- We have friends there already and know a few people who have caravans in the area
- It’s beautiful
- It has its own little microclimate and the weather is often better than other areas in Wales
- There are plenty of bars and restaurants
- There’s lots to do
When it came to finding a campsite our criteria was:
- Close to the beach
- Close to town
- Affordable
- Doesn’t allow rentals – we didn’t want somewhere where the neighbours could rent out their static caravan as a holiday let as you could end up next door to anyone
Abersoch and the site we’re on tick every box for us. A part of me would have liked a site with more facilities like swimming pools and private beaches but that would have been way out of our price range and Abersoch Beach is incredible anyway!
I’ve got a whole post about the beaches in and around Abersoch so you can check that out here if you’re interested: 12 Abersoch Beaches you have to visit
Do you have any more questions about buying a static caravan? If you do, please leave them in the comments below!
Read more: Owning a static caravan: The pros and cons
Interesting post! Thanks for sharing!
Great post, We bought our static 12months ago and never looked back. We just wish we had done it sooner rather than spending so much money on a two week holiday!!
This was Sam’s argument for buying one. We always knew we’d get one ‘eventually’ and Sam kept saying, ‘why wait for everything? Why not just do it now?’ He eventually wore me down with this argument!
Is it weird that all I now want to do is come and stay with you in your caravan (Claire too?!) Laura x
Oh my gosh no! Come and stay with me!!
Very interesting blog – thankyou! I am agonising over buying a 2nd hand static – 13 years old and £12, 750. The owner has it on a lovely quiet site by the beach in North Norfolk (an area I have fallen in love with). The only thing is the site owners won’t allow the caravan to stay after 5 years (like yours) and I would probably get very little for it. I am not interested in upgrading to a posh new one (and can’t afford it). Just like with yours the outlay would be about 8k per year. I feel so torn because I want this caravan more than anything!! Can you think of any way round this? I don’t want to end up with nothing at the end of 5 years!
Thanks, Shauna.
I know what you mean, it’s a tough choice! I don’t know what it’s like on your site but on ours, the guy who owns it basically said that if we keep the van in good condition and it looks nice then he won’t force us to upgrade it. I think it’s a safety net for them to get rid of people (and their vans) if they aren’t looked after or if the family aren’t liked on the site. There are some caravans on our site that are really old so I think if you have a good relationship, always pay on time, get along with everyone and look after your caravan then there’s room for negotiation.
Good luck!
Hi – great article! I know all parks/sites are different, and you are keeping your caravan just for your own use, but do you know how it works for owners who may want to let their static out for odd weeks or weekends to get a little money back, eg on AirBnB? (I am just thinking those weeks or weekends where it would definitely not be in use, maybe 6 or 7 times a year.) Do site owners take a similar approach as with the age of the caravan, ie. if you are responsible and well-liked you would get away with it?? Or are there very hard and fast rules about keeping the site ‘private’? Not sure if you can advise, but any info helpful!
Hi, yes people definitely do that with renting out their caravans, some sites even encourage it. I know of people who have bought two caravans at the same time and they hire one out to pay for them both! The site we’re on doesn’t allow it – which is something we’re happy with because if the caravan next door was rented out every weekend you don’t know who you’d be next to.
And every site is different when it comes to the age of the vans and how relaxed they are. Some are very strict and you have to get rid of them as soon as they reach a certain age.
I have a few questions as I have been considering buying a caravan for awhile now.
Do you have to buy the static caravan from the caravan park itself?
Also what are pitch fees…is this basically just renting the land and gas and electricity is not included in this price?
I don’t have any children so I am basically thinking of this for myself and my elderly parents to spend some quality time every weekend. We would only be looking for a quiet resort in North or Mid Wales and we do not need any extra facilities such as a swimming pool. Do you think this would lower the cost?
What does alarm me is having to replace the caravan every 10 years. Can you get good part exchange deals? To be honest I would not be renting the caravan it would be for my sole use so I know it would still be immaculate condition after 10 years.
Hi Louise.
To answer your questions:
Do you have to buy the static caravan from the caravan park itself? – No, you can buy it from anywhere!
Also what are pitch fees…is this basically just renting the land and gas and electricity is not included in this price? – Yes, that’s right. Just the land. Nothing else is included.
I don’t have any children so I am basically thinking of this for myself and my elderly parents to spend some quality time every weekend. We would only be looking for a quiet resort in North or Mid Wales and we do not need any extra facilities such as a swimming pool. Do you think this would lower the cost? – This is what we have. Ours doesn’t have any facilities other than a laundry. It does lower the cost significantly if there aren’t facilities there.
What does alarm me is having to replace the caravan every 10 years. Can you get good part exchange deals? – We’ve been told they’re worth very very little. Apparently there are hundreds, possibly thousands, of caravan parks all around Europe where owners have to get rid of their caravans every 10-15 years so there are thousands of old caravans being sold. There’s very little demand for them and a lot of supply.
I hope that helps!
I 1st bought a static at Stourport on seven , 15 years of bliss , took my kids there most weekends and the loved it . Unfortunately they grew into teenagers and football and other events took over . So we sold it 7 years ago , with a heavy heart . They are now grown men of 24 and 27 , so two years ago , me and the wife decided we wanted a static again , this time by the sea , so Barmouth it was , to be precise taly- Bon . Once a caravan owner , always a caravan owner . Best decision we ever made , walks by the sea with the dog , lovely local pubs and friendly people . Now with this covid situation , staycation is the new word .
Hi, I’m thinking of buying a static caravan and I’ve been told you have to have insurance. What is the cost for this and who do you buy it from. Thanks, Jackie
Yes you do. The guy who runs our campsite organises insurance for everyone and gets it much cheaper than we could find it ourselves. It’s £225 for a year.
Great blog, thanks! Last night after a few bottles of red wine my husband and I put a deposit down on a £24,000 2012 static. Today – as the merriment of the wine has worn off – I’m feeling a bit scared. We have a son 4 & daughter 1. Reading your page has reassured me a little that we’ve done the right thing. I hope!
Aww you definitely have. Especially at the moment when so many of us won’t be going abroad! I’m a firm believer that the best decisions are usually made after a bottle of red!
Hi
Did you get a survey carried out before you bought your static home?
Thanks, ?
No we didn’t. In fact, we just bought it almost as soon as we saw it! It does help that Sam is a gas engineer, my dad is an electrician and between them and our friends they are very handy – so any kind of maintenance or jobs that need doing can be done by them. A few months after buying our van be realised it needed a new boiler (which wasn’t really a huge deal for us because Sam was able to do it himself) but other than that it’s still in perfect condition.
Thank you for your blog!
Likewise looking for a caravan static did toy with the idea of a tourer but myself & husband have stressful jobs so seems too much hard work which you have confirmed!
We are also looking for a owner only site, ideally with a pool as part of the facilities!
Would you know of any in that area?
Van wise we have about £40k to spend but ideally don’t want to over stretch ourselves.
Thanks
How exciting! I’m afraid I don’t know of anywhere but I hope you manage to find somewhere!
Why a 15 year old static on park site cost as much as 40k . technically the van itself cant be worth more then 10k at a push.
It’s worth as much as people are prepared to pay for it!
Hello Monica, I very much enjoyed reading your information on pros and cons about buying a static caravan. I am at the other end to you, thinking of buying a static caravan for myself as I reach retirement and have more time on my hands. I am going to view a site soon and your blog has given me an idea of all the questions I need to ask. They have sent me some info on site fees and bills and have given me a price for a 2nd hand caravan and have added that the licence expires in 2027. Do you know what the licence covers, does this mean when the caravan has to be upgraded or is this something additional that has to be paid?
I wish you and your family all the best and a happy summer in Abersoch which is a lovely place I visited a few years ago. Best wishes, Vanessa
Hi Vanessa, this is exciting! The licence usually refers to when the caravan will need to be upgraded. So if it expires in 2027 you may need to get a new one in five years time.
What about renting out the caravan when you are not using it ?
Our site doesn’t allow rentals which has pros and cons. On the plus side, we never have strangers on the site and there’s no chance of ending up next to a rowdy group. But on the down side, we could have made a lot of money by renting it out!
Great post and really useful info.
Do you have a fixed agreement for site fees or can the site owner increase then by what ever percentage they wish. Also, is the gas and electric purchased direct from an energy provider or through a site agreement?
What would happen if the current site owner decides to sell?
It’s not a fixed agreement and the fees have gone up slightly over the past 5-6 years. Gas and electric is directly through and energy provider.
And I honestly don’t know what would happen if the owner decided to sell. We’d be able to stay until the end of our contract I’m sure.
Well done you, love your breakdown on Van owning.
I am now 76yrs, tried from tents, folders, a very small rising roof motorhome (taking Grandad as well as 4 of us) tow caravans from old to new, then eventually our dream Motorhome. Yes need a graduation ceremony!
Those months with a family are so precious and priceless.
All on reflection financially not good, loosing out on every upgrade was not cost effective for us so that first step is so important.
I wish we had caravan end from the start.
The hassle of Trains, Airports transfers are a headache, losing two days on these journeys.
With the Van already kitted out, (Stuff increases!) Packing for an anytime you have break is a holiday.
Agree you soon fit in to a wonderful happy community, though think not so much location as to what suits you. Child, walkers, dogs, or Over 55s peace and quiet.
Those children grow quick, not long before they are Teenagers Just go for it!
“Enjoy”
Not a question just a comment…….. I love the way you write your blog, factual and to the point. Given me a bit to think about – thankyou
You’re very welcome Stuart. Thank you for your comment 🙂
Hi,
I’ve loved reading your blogs. There seems to be a fair be of negativity around owning a static caravan. Since covid I’ve stayed in a rental caravan in North Norfolk on a privately owned site and have just bought a second hand one there. It’s easy for me to get to, has decent public transport and is about 10 mins walk from the beach so I’m really looking forward to having breaks there over the next few years.