Buying a motorhome-sized lock up

[Pablotti]

I have the opportunity to buy a bridge arch, central in the city where I live. It has mains electric, water, and is about 8m deep by 6m wide. It’s a residential garage. It’s also around 6 m tall at the tallest point. It has an electric roller door, which would need changing for a taller one. It’s a few mins stroll from my house.

If you had the opportunity, and the funds, would you buy? My Moho is 6.9m and I don’t have enough off road parking where I live, so my van lives 9 miles away. It’s not a cheap purchase (around 40k might be realistic) but it could be a sound investment given its centrality and rarity. Garages are scarce at the best of times (a single sells for over 20k) so it might be a good investment whatever.

I know it’s near impossibly for anyone to properly advise without knowing the area and this specific location (which I’ll keep private for now). I’m thinking aloud here more than anything else!

 

[CazPaul]

It’s expensive just to park your van I would look at storage sites. Would insurance be an issue as not parked at home or a cassoa secure site?

 

[Scotch mist]

Pablotti , doesn’t sound bad to me , I’d buy it , you will always get your money back with interest , it’s just an investment, better than money in the bank
I have just finished building a new shed for my motorhome , next to my new house I’m going to build , all in when finished it will have cost more than the MoHo but worth every penny

 

[poppycamper]

Somehow I don't think that was built just for Motor Home.....Jealous..

 

[Pablotti]

Pablotti , doesn’t sound bad to me , I’d buy it , you will always get your money back with interest , it’s just an investment, better than money in the bank
I have just finished building a new shed for my motorhome , next to my new house I’m going to build , all in when finished it will have cost more than the MoHo but worth every penny

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Now that is impressive!

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[dazandandrea]

Shed?
My idea of a shed is a 6 x 4 timber box at the bottom of the garden . not jealous one bit

 

[Bobby-gg]

I'd say if you can afford it, yes, buy it.

The only thing is once you've bought it, you'll fill it with more than just a Motorhome!

But, also, you'll need to consider how much the utility costs are, and are there any rates to pay on the building - I know it's not a building but someone will want payment somewhere!

I was lucky in so far that a few year's ago I purchased a plot of land with a garage already built on, with plenty of room for my toy's, but I've quite quickly filled it to capacity

 

[Lenny HB]

Sounds like a bargain compared to prices here in Sussex and probably a good investment.

Providing you are using the van all the time it will be an asset but if you leave the Motorhome unused for 3 months or more in the winter it would probably be better outside.
I remember years ago when my daughter went travelling I put her car in our double garage after a couple of months it got absolutely filthy covered dust a right pain to clean, put it back outside & it stayed clean.
Clasic car owners when they put there cars in the garage over winter they always put expensive dust covers over them.

 

[Carpmart]

Is your MH Euro6?

It’s hard to advise as your a little coy about location…? However numerous cities are now looking to implement clean air zones, so having your MH storage in that kind of area will limit your MH choices. Will that impact the value of that type of railway arch freehold property in the future too?

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Wish I had something like that around my area, £100+k for a small single garage near me
If you pay for storage it’s dead money if you buy this it will serve a purpose and be a good investment.

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[Jamesh]

Do you know if there is a rat problem in the area? MH / caravans make wonderful homes for vermin. Our previous caravan was stored in a tunnel and the rats had a field day.

 

[AndyPK]

Do you know if there is a rat problem in the area? MH / caravans make wonderful homes for vermin. Our previous caravan was stored in a tunnel and the rats had a field day.

Yes - be careful, especially if it’s a railway arch as they’re (generally) rat breeding grounds and impossible to get rid of……

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

Most definitely worth it. All our motorhomes are special so why not? If i could afford to do it I know I would have one...

Kev

 

[Wack]

I'd be looking at crime statistics for the area and how much extra it'd be to insure the MH with it being left unattended , how long has it been for sale ,on the face of it 40k doesn't seem like a lot of money but if nobody else wants it it might be difficult to sell on should you need to.

Property that's reasonably priced
in the north west is sold before it hits the estate agents window at the moment

 

[Scotch mist]

Yeh I have mice traps set all year round in my old shed , probably kill about 100 mice a year
a must for any confined dry space

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[Shrimp]

I would have thought that if you have the money it is a good investment and let’s face it we all want more space for the ‘junk’? we collect!

 

[busbuddy]

That's not a shed it's a funster cl

 

[Scotch mist]

It replaces this shed which is 5m longer. But not very high

 

[RobertJary]

Just a though - is your city council likely to introduce a ULEZ zone and is your motorhome Euro 6?

 

[chaser]

I have the opportunity to buy a bridge arch, central in the city where I live. It has mains electric, water, and is about 8m deep by 6m wide. It’s a residential garage. It’s also around 6 m tall at the tallest point. It has an electric roller door, which would need changing for a taller one. It’s a few mins stroll from my house.

If you had the opportunity, and the funds, would you buy? My Moho is 6.9m and I don’t have enough off road parking where I live, so my van lives 9 miles away. It’s not a cheap purchase (around 40k might be realistic) but it could be a sound investment given its centrality and rarity. Garages are scarce at the best of times (a single sells for over 20k) so it might be a good investment whatever.

I know it’s near impossibly for anyone to properly advise without knowing the area and this specific location (which I’ll keep private for now). I’m thinking aloud here more than anything else!

If you have the money without stretching yourself, it's got to be a good investment, you might even be able to rent out a bit of storage to other people.

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[Pablotti]

Some excellent points here, thanks everyone.

The van is a 2022 (when it gets here) so will be compliant.
There is a ratable value, but it’s very small. I would qualify for 100% rate relief anyway.
Vermin is a valid point. Trapping would be always be prudent!

It also has some water ingress. It’s not major, but it would need resolving going forward. The freehold is for the area within the arch and not the structure, so I expect any water ingress liability due to external issues would be borne by the council. Something for the solicitor to check on

 

[The Wino]

I'd go for it I suspect by the time you're finished with it and sell it the cost will be close to nothing and you will have saved a fair bit in storage fees

 

[mitzimad]

most of the railwayarches in london are lined with corrugated plastic to divert water to the floor

 

[Pablotti]

most of the railwayarches in london are lined with corrugated plastic to divert water to the floor

It has this already in place. Might be the best I can hope for in terms of dryness.

 

[Snowbird]

Even if you dont use it to park the MH am sure it will give a better return than 40K sitting in a bank account.

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[Pablotti]

Even if you dont use it to park the MH am sure it will give a better return than 40K sitting in a bank account.

My thinking too. A city centre lock up of 45+sqm, plus mezzanine, power and water is likely to be highly rentable.

 

[PP Bear]

Yes, I’d buy it without any hesitation.

 

[Pablotti]

I'm going to make an offer.

This wasn't on the market. I bought the title deeds from the land registry and wrote a letter, and he called saying he's just sold his house and is moving away, so the garage needs to sell too. He hinted at a rough price, but let's see what happens when I formally offer.

 

[scotzsue]

Dad had a haulage firm premises were 3 railway arches one with 'cow shed' sliding door where he could get the lorries in for servicing, another was storage and the third was an, at that time, used as a car storage garage for those who didn't want their precious vehicles left out in the elements. Don't remember rats but we did have bats.

 

[Pablotti]

I didn't see any traps in the garage. The owner had his sportscar in there and various other items, so vermin might not have been an issue for him. I wouldnt take the risk myself.
The arch is bricked up, with an electric roller garage door, so I'd hope there are no bats either!

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