Living in a static caravan

[blitznbobs]

Hi there,

I dont want to reveal too many details as this project wont be truly up and running for probably a year but im a bit out of touch. I need a head person for a yard to
live on site and after discussions with the planners its going to have to be a static caravan for the first 3 years to test viability. Is this acceptable to people looking for grooms jobs in this day and age… ? Has anyone done it? Any advice greatly received.

 

[oldie48]

Rose's previous yard had grooms living in static caravans and they seemed very happy with them. I know they had them at a very reasonable rent with gas and electric as part of the deal. Having been in one, I thought they made super homes. Their big problem was finding people with the right skills for the job as they had fit big horses to handle + young stock but there didn't seem to be a shortage of applicants.

 

[ihatework]

As long as they are a well kitted out modern static caravan I can’t see and issue.

 

[scruffyponies]

They're very cold in winter. Not so much of an issue if you have and out-doorsey lifestyle, so you're on the move and wearing layers and hats, but folk who are used to central heating would struggle. Perhaps the ones with double glazing are a bit better. Have only got experience with the older, single-glazed units.
It must also cost a small fortune to heat one to an acceptable standard using electric.

 

[Meadow21]

A friend lived in a very well insulated modern one for a year while her employer was refurbishing the annexe she stayed in (there were delays so it took a year). It was lovely, very warm in the winter but cool in the summer. I do remember it being a very expensive one, with big double glaze windows and proper heating. She was very happy staying inside it and would have happily stayed there long term. I think the only complaint she had was the layout being a bit odd, the bathroom and shower were separate and you entered from outside onto the carpet of the living section. Other than that she loved it!

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Insulation is key - with proper insulation it would be fine.

 

[Otherwise]

A modern insulated one would be fine, an old single glazed one is absolute hell in winter and summer.

 

[twiggy2]

I lived in one for 6 yrs with no mains electric or drainage, had a porch built on the door we used and a log burner put in, it got cold at night but was old, lacked I sulation and was single glazed.
A log burner chases any damp out and dries off all wet clothes, I wouldn't use a gas fire in one.
Then i lived in another one that was a bit more modern and an oil filled radiator was enough to keep it warm all winter.
I prefer then to houses as I feel more connected to the outside.

 

[FestiveG]

My concerns would be around ensuring adequate insulation and decent plumbing. Anyone working outside is going to need comfort when they get inside

 

[sbloom]

Winterised ones are pretty good from everything I read (groups on FB), we're going to be living in one for a matter of years while we self build. Many self builders install woodburners too, but you'd want to trust the occupant not to do anything silly with it!

 

[Gloi]

There were six of us living in one when I did a summer as a trek leader in my teens. A bit cramped ? but I was young.

 

[rabatsa]

Modern ones are very comfortable. There are several at a local farm and there are no complaints about them from the people that are living in them.

 

[Birker2020]

Hi there,

I dont want to reveal too many details as this project wont be truly up and running for probably a year but im a bit out of touch. I need a head person for a yard to
live on site and after discussions with the planners its going to have to be a static caravan for the first 3 years to test viability. Is this acceptable to people looking for grooms jobs in this day and age… ? Has anyone done it? Any advice greatly received.

You need to make sure you have planning permission for this. My partner lived in one for his job for 18 months until the planning Department at the local Council (who were looking into a planning application for a lodge his employers wanted to put on site) realised he was living in it and said it wasn't permitted as no planning permission had been sought. Our particular council is very hard on things like this and go on google earth to detect ones that can't be seen from the road!

The employer sought retrospective but the council said no and my partner was evicted (not forceably dragged out lol, he packed up and left before the 2 year deadline had gone.) It worked out well in the end as we ended up getting our own house together.

The mobile was a 38ft one, 2 bedded one, it was lovely and cosy and I loved stopping over on weekends. It was also sited on part of the XC course so we ended up post and rail fencing a huge section for our back garden and having rescue ex batts which made it even more homely.

We had a log burner and it kept the place warm throughout although the log burner needed a lot of attention, ie. cleaning, maintaining, kindle, etc.

 

[sportsmansB]

I lived in one as a groom several years ago. It was cold in the winter, a sauna in the summer, and if they have the old fashioned fixed seating it is hard to get comfortable. Would be very challenging to have more than one person living in it I think. However, the newer ones or if you clad it in wood are supposed to be better temperatures.

 

[sbloom]

You need to make sure you have planning permission for this.

I think we're all assuming that she's having to go for a static as the planning dept have advised a house isn't possible, the post says this is after discussions with planners.

 

[blitznbobs]

They're very cold in winter. Not so much of an issue if you have and out-doorsey lifestyle, so you're on the move and wearing layers and hats, but folk who are used to central heating would struggle. Perhaps the ones with double glazing are a bit better. Have only got experience with the older, single-glazed units.
It must also cost a small fortune to heat one to an acceptable standard using electric.

A lot of them have wet central heating these days

 

[Cortez]

We lived in a caravan for 3 and a half years whilst we were rebuilding our house, the old, old, old type with no insulation, etc. It was freezing in winter and scorching in summer. It would have been OK for a year, but after three+ years I was never happier than when they towed the old girl away as we moved into our habitable (just) house. Never again.

 

[tda]

Like many others, we lived in one for 2 years during house build, quite old so awful in winter, we probably could have done more to insulate but originally thought we would only be in it for 8 months over the summer ??
I liked it tho, easy living, nowhere to put unnecessary stuff and no stairs

Edited to add, the council were very keen about the council tax even tho it was only temporary so don't forget to factor that in

 

[sbloom]

I lived in an uninsulated one in the winter of 2010/11 which was cold and snowy, and it was so old that it only had one bar left that worked on the electric fire in the living room. We had one oil filled radiator which we moved from living to bedroom as needed. And it was the last time, apart from camping, that the 10.5 tog duvet came out.

I survived (and wasn't a whipper snapper either!) but I'd not want to do it again. Being smaller than OH I was the one that also had to get under the van to defrost the pipes, had to do it three times.

Definitely put boarding around the outsides of the van to stop wind whistling underneath, makes a huge difference.

 

[PurBee]

I have a single glazed standard 2 inch walls static on my land as overflow space and use as art studio, which is currently dripping from the ceiling inside, water running down the walls…condensation everywhere, i barely use it/heat it, it’s like a cold fridge in there in the winter. Dehumidifier lives in there! Theyre really only designed for summer living.

Ive had to sleep in there this winter while refurbing bedroom, and despite gas fire on all night, im sleeping in a thinsulate hat when night temps get 0 and below!
Wouldnt wish it on my worst enemy…as they say!
Its because of lack of insulation, they lose the heat youre creating inside so rapidly.

Theyre horribly cold in the northern hemisphere winters.…from november until beginning april.
Mines sheltered by forest and not absolute direct sun all day, so is lovely in there in the summer.
Many people add insulation and cladding to the 2 inch walls to improve their insulation. Buy a single glazed one for 3k, spend 1k on double glazed windows refit, (many advertise this service), 1k on insulation and 2k on wood/cladding - for 7k youve got an insulated large living space, that would cost easily over 20k for a ‘winter pack’ double glazed insulated static.

I gutted mine - took out all fixed seating etc…even interior walls as it was 3 bed, didnt need 3 bed. It really opened the space up for me to put furniture where i want it. Repaint, new laminate flooring, insulation underneath floor cost around 2k for materials..

Theyre great for most months of the year, but late autumn/winter its a real challenge to retain heat and not struggle with masses of condensation. Condensation = everything/clothes/books/furnishings etc gets damp = probability of mould growth. A dehumidifier in a winter lived static is a worthwhile investment.

 

[Starzaan]

I lived in one for a few years whilst my yard was being built.
Absolutely fine in winter. We had lovely thick curtains made, and treated it as a tiny house so decorated it etc. We put in a lovely Provence gas fire (looks like a wood burner but is portable and gas) as well as several electric heaters. Never got cold, had sky tv and good WiFi etc. The things we got wrong initially were no porch - no covered area to hang wet horsey coats and put wet muddy boots. When we added a porch it was soooo much better!
Finally, the summers were HIDEOUS. Sooooo hot and horrible and BLEGH. Eventually we bit the bullet and put in air con. But Christ. I was worried about the winter. How wrong I was. Summer was a killer. Like sitting in an oven.

 

[EventingMum]

We had one on my yard for my Dad which we then lived in while we built our house, it was modern with double glazing and central heating and we built a porch on which housed the freezer and washer/dryer and stored boots and coats. We also boarded round the base of it. It was very comfortable and warm and the showers in it were great unless the gas ran out mid shower! To be comfortable you need a modern one which won't be cheap and they don't retain their value well. Don't be tempted to buy from a site as their mark up is huge, we bought new direct from the manufacturer (Willerby) which saved us £10,000 on the same model being purchased from a site, they just needed confirmation that it was to be sited on private ground. The only thing to be aware of is after renewing the planning permission for it a couple of times the council then wanted us to build a permanent house which was fine as this was always our plan anyway.

 

[Annagain]

Would a log cabin be acceptable? I know someone who had a log cabin in her (very large) garden for her parents to stay in when they were home from Spain. They loved it and apparently it was lovely and warm in winter.

 

[Parksmum3]

My in laws are currently living in a static as they are self building. They have cladded all around the bottom of the static for extra insulation and installed air source pump unit. Was expensive but ? worth every penny according to them. Gives them heating in the winter and air con in the summer. I’d quite happily live in one

 

[chaps89]

Can you look at a park home as opposed to a static caravan? Admittedly likely to be much more spendy but designed for use as a home as opposed to short term/holiday use and can be sold on once done with
If you get past the sales pitch, this link does explain the difference quite well
https://www.tingdene.co.uk/static-caravans-vs-mobile-homes

My only experience with statics is of older ones and I’d not fancy it that’s for sure, but maybe the more modern ones are ok!

 

[paddy555]

The things we got wrong initially were no porch - no covered area to hang wet horsey coats and put wet muddy boots. When we added a porch it was soooo much better!
.

this. We lived in an old one for 5 years whilst we built our house. Definitely need somewhere to dry wet clothes as they may need them the next day in a wet winter. They can't go in the caravan because of condensation. Also somewhere to wash clothes and a means to dry them (to avoid condensation) or a local laundrette..
Definitely an enclosed porch/airlock so they don't loose all the heat opening the caravan door plus they have somewhere to leave muddy boots etc. and keep the caravan clean.
Some form of central heating or at least heating they can afford unless you are paying. Getting up in a morning in a freezing cold caravan is no joke if you have to go to work. Similarly somewhere warm to go to after work. Not much fun if you finish hard outdoor work at 6pm in the cold and wet in winter and then have to go in and light a woodburner to get some heat. Gas heating wasn't great for us as it made the air very dry.

where it is sited is also important. Behind a building or wall for shelter perhaps, somewhere shaded from the sun.
We loved living in ours but it was very basic, no electric, log burner but we had it in a barn so it helped the condensation and provided a large outdoor "porch" Our great incentive was very little cost so more to spend on building materials.
I would happily live in one again just with a few more luxuries.

 

[ruth83]

I've lived in 2. Both whilst working as a groom. One was hideously poor, freezing cold and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. The other was better and plenty comfortable in all but the coldest weathers except for when we ran out of gas and the yard owner 'couldn't' source us more for a week (read, couldn't fit it in between shopping and drinking), so do make sure you have an idea of how frequently new gas will be needed and an arrangement for who replaces it and how.
Neither were especially modern, the more modern ones, or insulated older ones are better still. I've lived in worse 'permanent' accommodation (the 'loft' space above stables with beds squeezed in and a toilet and shower across the yard was a highlight!)

I would agree that if possible, an additional porch or even lean to at the entrance would be a huge help in being able to store boots and keep the worst of the mud out of the van. Think about laundry facilities - both washing and drying.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

We lived in one for a couple of years whilst our house was being renovated. It was during the beast from the east!! Just make sure its double glazed and well insulated. There are some lovely ones out there!

 

[Cocorules]

Rented one for just over four years when I was just starting out. It didn't occur to me to mind then as it was my first independent home that didn't involve sharing. Now I am older I wouldn't want to live in one again, but it was great at the time.

Your issue may be that if they are experienced and have bricks and mortar accommodation at their current place they may be less keen.

 

[Orangehorse]

My son lived in one for nearly 12 months while they did up the house. It was nice and had central heating, but
extremes of temperature were a bit trying. They had washing machine available in a barn. My son got a gas and electricity check before they moved in. I think they were comfortable enough most of the time.

They bought from a local place that delivered it on a lorry and said that they would buy it back within 12 months, can't remember the price, but it was about half I think. They decided to sell it privately, but then had trouble finding a transporter. The first one wouldn't take it back as they thought the access was too difficult, narrow bendy lanes and lamp post in the way! Which is something you don't think about much when buying. The purchaser finally found a transporter with the correct sort of lorry but it was a bit anxious. Apparently the lorry has to tip, which is something you don't really think about at first and the people who were selling in the first place have lots of experience with tricky access.