Thinking of downsizing property ,might be homeless,how do you exist in van?

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pampam

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We are seriously thinking of downsizing ,selling the house and getting somewhere smaller,but still in this area,however theres not much for sale at moment,so if we sold ours we thought we would buy a motorhome to stay in until we find somewhere,the question is what do you have to legally do when you are between properties,with post,internet etc?i wont be going fulltime cos ill be putting belongings i want to keep in storage,cant go too far cos ill still be calling on my mum every day,i think your allowed to stay 21 days on various sites per stay arent you?
cheers pampam
im off to look at one tomorrow but so are lots of other people lol
ps im tryin to declutter but ooo its hard!
 
We have a little caravan in storage but i dont think we could manage for long in it(happily)
 
Would renting a house not be the answer?
 
Does mum have a garden/drive where you can park and get all paperwork directed to hers?

Gordon

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Do some YouTube watching. Look for van life and you will find how various people manage. It's not easy in the UK. Are you able to travel abroad? It might be cheaper and better to rent an apartment overseas rather that jump straight into full time van life
 
With regard to the max stay on sites, you can usually just move off for one night and then return but that obviously depends on the site, some may even let you leave the van on site and you stay in accommodation nearby, friends, family b&b or hotel. If you have storage then you really only need enough stuff in the van for basic living. I've been living in mine for a year now and enjoy living on sites, beautiful views, rivers, trees, wildlife etc. I couldn't afford a house in locations like that and if i get bored where I am I can move, whats not to like :giggle:
 
With some difficulties. You say you wont be ’full timing’, however as far as insurance companies go that‘s exactly what you will be doing, unless you have a permanent address in the UK. So unless you‘re prepared to not be honest with your insurers, you will only have one insurer to insure you (Comfort) and as a full-timer, it is very expensive (compared to non-full timing policy).

That daily chores of living in a motorhome (aside from a holiday/touring) will soon really pi55 you off, compared to a normal house where you can toilet/shower as you please and use water and electricity without too much thought.

The space is also very compact and trying to find parking spots/security will give you a headache after a while, unless you have permanent site options, in which case life is easier with shower blocks etc…

Totally different experience to using a motorhome/caravan for holidays, or touring, in which case it is fantastic!

I agree with the above comments, watch some youtube full timers, not the ones where they park in front of beauty spots and go bathing in crystal warm oceans, but the reality of doing this in the UK :)

Best of luck in whatever decide, however an cheap air B & B, for a short to medium term solution might be better (IMHO only)
 
Same questions often asked on here.
To save folk having to repeat what's already been written see the 'Fulltimers' forum for loads of info.......

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Full Timers

Motorhome Fulltimer? Living in your Motorhome? Questions and discussion about all aspects of fulltiming can be found here in the Fulltimers Forum.
www.motorhomefun.co.uk www.motorhomefun.co.uk
 
pampam said:
,the question is what do you have to legally do when you are between properties,with post,internet etc?
Click to expand...
Nothing. The less you tell them the better.
pampam said:
i wont be going fulltime cos ill be putting belongings i want to keep in storage,cant go too far cos ill still be calling on my mum every day,i think your allowed to stay 21 days on various sites per stay arent you?
Click to expand...
28 ,off for a few goi back.
Chazzer924 said:
however as far as insurance companies go that‘s exactly what you will be doing, unless you have a permanent address in the UK.
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No it isn't. The truth was told when taking the policy out & there is no difference if you drove off the day after & didn't return until the renewal was due.
It is a motrohome ,meant to be used continually & be anywhere except at the owners registered address.
Chazzer924 said:
So unless you‘re prepared to not be honest with your insurers, you will only have one insurer to insure you (
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It would only be dishonest if you lied about the Uk address when taking it out or renewing.

There is always the possibility with insurers that if you mention what you are thinking of doing they will immediately withdraw cover. they did it to someone on here who asked them what the requirements would be if he wanted to leave his vehicle in spain for a couple of weeks. They cancelled the policy on the spot stating that as he had asked he was likely to do it anyway & they did not wish to cover him. leaving him in spain & without insurance.

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Chazzer924 said:
With some difficulties. You say you wont be ’full timing’, however as far as insurance companies go that‘s exactly what you will be doing, unless you have a permanent address in the UK. So unless you‘re prepared to not be honest with your insurers, you will only have one insurer to insure you (Comfort) and as a full-timer, it is very expensive (compared to non-full timing policy).

That daily chores of living in a motorhome (aside from a holiday/touring) will soon really pi55 you off, compared to a normal house where you can toilet/shower as you please and use water and electricity without too much thought.

The space is also very compact and trying to find parking spots/security will give you a headache after a while, unless you have permanent site options, in which case life is easier with shower blocks etc…

Totally different experience to using a motorhome/caravan for holidays, or touring, in which case it is fantastic!

I agree with the above comments, watch some youtube full timers, not the ones where they park in front of beauty spots and go bathing in crystal warm oceans, but the reality of doing this in the UK :)

Best of luck in whatever decide, however an cheap air B & B, for a short to medium term solution might be better (IMHO only)
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I don’t think you can live in a house and use electricity without too much thought, good grief, our bill has just gone from £52 to over £100 a month
 
Sorry Gus, I disagree. Firstly I was of the assumption the OP had not yet taken out a policy or bought a motorhome, secondly having taken out a policy if you fail to notify your insurer about a change of circumstance, such as a relevant fact like no longer living in a permanent residence, then they could refuse any claim and null your policy.

I suggest the OP should be very careful about taking the advice given in his comment
 
CazPaul said:
I don’t think you can live in a house and use electricity without too much thought, good grief, our bill has just gone from £52 to over £100 a month
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Unless you have solar panels 🤣

I knew someone would come up with something on that point, you win the prize 🤔
 
Not the same scenario, but when we moved house 22 years ago, the house sold very quickly and the new one was still at the planning stage. We moved into our static holiday caravan for four months without furniture in storage. Only issue we had was a mailing address but we were able to use mum's. I spoke to the insurers and we had to pay a small additional premium for the van.

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Chazzer924 said:
if you fail to notify your insurer about a change of circumstance, such as a relevant fact like no longer living in a permanent residence, then they could refuse any claim and null your policy.
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When we sold up and went travelling years ago and before moving to Devon, I just changed all to parents house? What is the difference between owning a house and going away for 12 months and not owning a house? As far as I am concerned it is just another money making scam.
It would never occur to me to inform them ,nor has it ever before, as any claim I'm going to be making,won't be on my insurance or anything to do with them.
 
pampam said:
We are seriously thinking of downsizing ,selling the house and getting somewhere smaller,but still in this area,however theres not much for sale at moment,so if we sold ours we thought we would buy a motorhome to stay in until we find somewhere,the question is what do you have to legally do when you are between properties,with post,internet etc?i wont be going fulltime cos ill be putting belongings i want to keep in storage,cant go too far cos ill still be calling on my mum every day,i think your allowed to stay 21 days on various sites per stay arent you?
cheers pampam
im off to look at one tomorrow but so are lots of other people lol
ps im tryin to declutter but ooo its hard!
Click to expand...
Caravan Club sites limit your stays.

A friend has just bought a BIG twin axle caravan and sighted it on a farm near Blackpool. He's paid £1,350 for the main season and he has to Pay £5 per night they stay for electric.

You could do something similar maybe?
 
pampam said:
We are seriously thinking of downsizing ,selling the house and getting somewhere smaller,but still in this area,however theres not much for sale at moment,so if we sold ours we thought we would buy a motorhome to stay in until we find somewhere,the question is what do you have to legally do when you are between properties,with post,internet etc?i wont be going fulltime cos ill be putting belongings i want to keep in storage,cant go too far cos ill still be calling on my mum every day,i think your allowed to stay 21 days on various sites per stay arent you?
cheers pampam
im off to look at one tomorrow but so are lots of other people lol
ps im tryin to declutter but ooo its hard!
Click to expand...
Oooh I love to declutter!! I will do it for you for a fee 🤣🤣
 
loads of permanent sites around where you can pitch for "the season" aka seasonal pitches. Most let you stay over winter too for a fee or as on site security

As for living full time in a small van, not far off a prison cell, along with "slopping out" every day. It has broken many relationships being confined together near 24/7 especially in bad weather

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How about a static caravan site off season? You could probably get a good rate at some of the ones on the East coast if that's not too far for you.

Otherwise what about house sitting???
 
pampam said:
We are seriously thinking of downsizing ,selling the house and getting somewhere smaller,but still in this area,however theres not much for sale at moment,so if we sold ours we thought we would buy a motorhome to stay in until we find somewhere,the question is what do you have to legally do when you are between properties,with post,internet etc?i wont be going fulltime cos ill be putting belongings i want to keep in storage,cant go too far cos ill still be calling on my mum every day,i think your allowed to stay 21 days on various sites per stay arent you?
cheers pampam
im off to look at one tomorrow but so are lots of other people lol
ps im tryin to declutter but ooo its hard!
Click to expand...
Ask any long distance driver, you adapt to any size of accommodation. So long as you have outside space.
 
gus-lopez , I’m with comfort , here are some of their terms & conditions

14. This policy is subject to the following conditions:
Policyholders must maintain a full UK residence, either through ownership or long term rental agreement (of at least 9 months) unless a full-timing rate has been agreed and paid.
The address shown on the policy schedule must be the one at which the policyholder is on the electoral roll, (unless a full-timing rate has been agreed and paid) and also the one that appears on the driving licence and vehicle documentation.

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gus-lopez said:
As far as I am concerned it is just another money making scam.
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yep.

Just like the acts of god" they use when they cant find something to deny a claim.
to be an act of god they have to prove god was here in my mind ?

they are the biggest scammers, they employ folk JUST to audit to make sure they pay out as little as possible, (sure they are in business) but I dont see them shoutimg at us when we take out policies about the small anomolies that may arise, so why should the OP shout about his small anomoly.
 
When we fulltimed some 7-8 years ago Comfort charged £1800 for full-time.
They have a clause which says in the event of an accident they can ask for proof that you aren't fulltiming, utility bill in your name that sort of thing.

Plenty of small sites will let you stay well beyond 28 days, we spent a 18 months in one, and a year on another. It's your money they want
 
olley said:
When we fulltimed some 7-8 years ago Comfort charged £1800 for full-time.
They have a clause which says in the event of an accident they can ask for proof that you aren't fulltiming, utility bill in your name that sort of thing.

Plenty of small sites will let you stay well beyond 28 days, we spent a 18 months in one, and a year on another. It's your money they want
Click to expand...
That is what I'm currently paying, it was less last year but I had a claim.
 
Thankyou for your knowledge, i dont fancy renting a property ,as i feel it would be “moving” twice,i think ill declutter,and whats left put in storage,i cant use mums address ( which is actually next door) as she has dementia,my commitment to caring for mum has lessened due to her increased care from carers ,which is enabling me to actually think of moving,anyway ive been valued,and once ive got my finger out and decluttered(we have contents of old relatives bungalow who has gone in care home in garage and workshop)and house looks presentable i think ill be biting bullet and sign will be going up , altho i love my house its too big for just 2 of us….. i think its been dealing with emptying bungalow thats made me want to downsize myself 😱
 
pampam

I think some practical answers if you were to use a MH as an interim are as follows

Use your Mother's address for all things including MH Registration, Insurance, pensions etc.

If you are returning to that address as frequently as you suggest, then it is difficult to see how you could be full-timing, in terms of long-term touring.

Get on the Electoral Roll at Mother's address. That could have implications for her single-occupancy 25% discount on Council Tax, but you could work out something with her.

Hope these help.

Geoff

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