Log cabin on freehold site
Discussion
I have an option on a freehold site permitting permanent living in a mobile (!)log caravan. Its by a lake with decent fishing with max of 10 other cabins, most in situ already. There are no annual service charges, etc either. ie. residents form their own management company to sort out grass cutting etc.
Also, whats a price for a decent 2 bed cabin? Who gets the nod for building the best kits?
It's tempting to go for it but I am concerned on its potential re-sale. As its a mobile structure, mortgages will be zero for any potential buyer. However, does that put people off?
Your views are sought!
Also, whats a price for a decent 2 bed cabin? Who gets the nod for building the best kits?
It's tempting to go for it but I am concerned on its potential re-sale. As its a mobile structure, mortgages will be zero for any potential buyer. However, does that put people off?
Your views are sought!
Boosted LS1 said:
OP, what's your issue? This is a retirement plan surely, a dream way to exist. I certainly wouldn't worry about the investment stuff, you're bound to make a profit unless you have a happy death. In which case, who gives a damn.
Or am I way off the mark?
all true what you write but having experienced some massive downturns in my life, i always consider what-if? you are right though, as you get older, it doesn't matter nearly so much!!!Or am I way off the mark?
Boosted LS1 said:
^ There's a place near me on the shores of flooded gravel pit. I'd love to buy a plot of land there and build a cabin. It'll never happen because the council wouldn't allow it.
Why not, do you reckon?Is there a serious prospect of being able to purchase a plot of land? If so, I might be interested in handling the design and Planning... I've been on the lookout for waterside locations for some time.
Anyone else reading this thread: if you know of a smallish plot of land (ideally within a settlement, but not essential) beside water that may be available to buy, let me know.
High flood risk is fine - in fact it would be preferred.
You'll need hard standing or a concrete base for the caravan to sit on, what services are there? Electric, water, sewerage?
I'd estimate £60K+ for a decent two bed with 'winter pack' central heating and double glazing etc.
Delivery and siting cost to think about.
Double check the planning permission, it will probably have a 'caravan park' licence of some sort, check you can use it all year round.
I'd estimate £60K+ for a decent two bed with 'winter pack' central heating and double glazing etc.
Delivery and siting cost to think about.
Double check the planning permission, it will probably have a 'caravan park' licence of some sort, check you can use it all year round.
Boosted LS1 said:
mel said:
Try these
Is it just me or do they look a bit like sheds crossed with wendy houses? Can't complain about the prices though. When I looked at Swedish examples they were well north of £100k but they were permanent homes that could be lived in all year round.kurt535 said:
It has permanent residential siting but
House must be a 'mobile home'.
Is that a requirement of the site management, or the Planning?House must be a 'mobile home'.
If the latter, it will mean that the design has to be in compliance with the requirements of the Caravan Act: I've just had to deal with the enforcement and a retrospective planning application for someone who was naive enough to believe the manufacturer when they said that this would fall within the appropriate definition:
V8RX7 said:
I know a few people who have built large log cabins on large RSJ "skids" so they are in theory moveable although I'm unsure that a tractor could actually move them.
You don't need to be able to move the unit directly - it is perfectly legitimate to crane it onto a flatbed, for example - but the Caravan Act and the case law around it establishes various other criteria that you need to stick to.Usually its the associated works where people fall foul... the degree of permanence of the base, that sort of thing.
The other problem - aside from Planning - can be that if it's not a 'caravan' under the caravan act, it must, by logical progression, be a 'building'. The Building Regulations then kick in, and basically your average log cabin doesn't stand a snowball in hell's chance of compliance.
The case I pictured above, we actually managed (I'm still not quite sure how!) to get retrospective Planning Permission for, but I've already warned the client that if Building Control get on to her, she's had it - it's simply not viable to bring it up to an adequate standard. Fortunately, the Authority involved doesn't seem to be very joined-up, so BC appear not to have picked up on the fact that Planning have granted permission for it as effectively a domestic dwelling.
From my personal involvement in log cabins, I would never buy one! Overpriced and underspec'd. I know this will be an unpopular opinion, but there we go.
You could get a timber framed structure built in such a way that it can be craned. I designed and helped a fried build a residential 'cabin' using timber frame construction methods up to building reg's standard and clad with loglap cladding (it looked more like a log cabin than the standard square-log modern cabins). After he was done using it for a number years, he had it craned onto a flatbed and sold it (not in that order),
Price was a bit more than an off the shelf cabin, but it was to a much higher standard and would last a lot longer. It was constructed on a small number of concrete block piers and so had no slab or major footings.
You could get a timber framed structure built in such a way that it can be craned. I designed and helped a fried build a residential 'cabin' using timber frame construction methods up to building reg's standard and clad with loglap cladding (it looked more like a log cabin than the standard square-log modern cabins). After he was done using it for a number years, he had it craned onto a flatbed and sold it (not in that order),
Price was a bit more than an off the shelf cabin, but it was to a much higher standard and would last a lot longer. It was constructed on a small number of concrete block piers and so had no slab or major footings.
When our kids were kids we had a place on a site called "The Warren" at Abersoch.
They aren't log cabins, but they are definitely caravans, they even have wheels.
Ours had 3 beds, two baths and a conservatory. No doubt it could have been clad in wood if it wasn't on a site.
Have a look at that site at what's possible.
How about a converted shipping container?
They aren't log cabins, but they are definitely caravans, they even have wheels.
Ours had 3 beds, two baths and a conservatory. No doubt it could have been clad in wood if it wasn't on a site.
Have a look at that site at what's possible.
How about a converted shipping container?
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