Terms of static caravan ownership.

Both The British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) and the National Caravan Council (NCC) have recently agreed with the government run Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to offer fairer terms and conditions for those looking to buy a static holiday caravans on uk parks

As the leading industry bodies representing membership from a high percentage of UK holiday parks the BH&HPA & NCC have approached the OFT to discuss a template of best practice terms and conditions relating to purchase and licence agreements for a static holiday caravan pitch.

This agreement forms the key legal contract between vendor and buyer and many disputes relate directly to key issues which are covered within the proposed improvements, including pitch review and sale of static caravan.

These template terms aim to give more transparent terns for customers and will include;

• Increased clarity of rights and obligations of both parties concerned
• Increased clarity of expected behavioural standards.
• Fairer rules with reference to the owners rights when selling a caravan.
• Faire terms with reference to termination terms should an owner wish to cancel and agreement early.
• An improved process for pitch review.
• Preservation of owners rights when a park wishes to move static caravan due to site developments.
• Improved dispute resolution service.

The OFT also publish a leaflet called ‘A Fair Pitch for your caravan’ to help customers seek guidance on unfair terms and conditions in purchase and licence agreements provided to customers by park owners at the time of purchase. For more information visit the OFT’s website.

Static caravans and ownership.

October saw the final results from the annual static caravan ownership survey.

This annual survey targets feedback from new static caravan owners who have purchased a holiday home on a UK holiday parks, and is seen by many as the most comprehensive survey of its kind.

With the launch of many new ‘’luxury’’ specification caravans the average sales value of static caravan holiday homes continues to increase. New sited static caravan prices now range from £15,000 – to well over £100,000.

Many new owners have reported that Static Holiday Caravan ownership has brought many lifestyle benefits over the past year including;

‘’Encourages more breaks with friends and family’’
‘’Gets my husband away from the office’’
‘’No more packing – everything we need is kept in our caravan’’
‘’Friendship and community with other owners’’
‘’Children love caravans!!!!’’

The survey results also gives help and support to prospective new owners as they are able to learn from people with real life experience. Suggestions included;

‘’Find the best pitch’’
‘’Location, Location, Location’’
‘’Facilities on the park are crucial to owners’’
‘’Don’t buy more than one and a half hours from your home’’
‘’Why not buy with friends’’

As with previous years the main negative feedback came from owners who have sold their static caravan a short time after purchase and have been subject to heavy depreciation.

Other concerns included damage to van when subletting, high site fees and the inflexibility of some holiday park ownership contracts.

A spokesperson advised ‘’Many people enjoy huge lifestyle benefits from static caravan ownership whilst subletting to subsidise the cost of ownership. We urge prospective customer to complete as much research as possible prior to purchase to ensure they make the right long term decision. As with any capital purchase (such as a new car) if you make the wrong choice and wish to sell a short time after purchase, depreciation becomes a major factor’’.