A COUPLE who have lived in their caravan for 21 years have been told to fork out £70,000 for a new one – or be forced out.
Neil and Jean Borrill, both in their mid-80s, have enjoyed caravanning at The Star in Stoke-on-Trent but now face eviction if they don't update their static home and sign a new 15-year deal.
The Camping and Caravanning Club have requested the pair obtain a new licence – which would see them to 100-years-old, or be removed.
Neil told the Nottingham Post: “This has caused considerable upset and anger with everybody.
"The only way we can stay on the site is to purchase another caravan which, if it's comparable to the style and quality of the one we’ve got, would cost £70,000 to £80,000. In our financial position, it’s an impossibility."
The distraught caravan owner explained their only other options are to abandon their current static home and be charged for the removal, or sell it to a dealer.
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"They seem to think we should be buying a new caravan. It’s ludicrous", he added.
"None of us can see the logic in what they’re doing. I think it's disgusting, it's insulting. We’re not young but we’re not idiots, they’re treating us like idiots."
The pair describe their beloved caravan as a "second home" where they can enjoy peaceful holidays in their "little bit of England".
"Unless we can find some kind site owner, this will be the end of us visiting the area", said Neil.
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But the Camping and Caravanning Club have not backed down, and maintain they are following procedure.
A club spokesman said: “While we sympathise with Mr Borrill’s position, the club is a not-for-profit membership organisation and it’s vitally important that we apply our policies, and terms and conditions, fairly and consistently to all our members.
"Any new unit is sold with a 15-year licence from the day of handover.
"If the unit is then subsequently sold, the pre-owned unit is bought by the new owner along with the duration of the remaining part of the 15-year licence.
None of us can see the logic in what they’re doing. I think it's disgusting, it's insulting. We’re not young but we’re not idiots, they’re treating us like idiots."
“These policies are in place to ensure that we meet the requirements of our recreational licences and, given we must apply them fairly to all, unfortunately, we are unable to offer any period of short-term extension.
“Providing our members with exceptional customer service is something we take great pride in and we value the many customer service awards we have received.
"While some of our correspondence on this matter would be standard automated notifications, none of our customer service would be rude or insulting.
“We do understand how disappointing this must be for Mr Borrill, who we have been talking to and will continue to do so in order to work together to resolve the matter over the coming weeks and months.”
The Sun Online has contacted the Camping and Caravanning Club for comment.
This comes as another man who spent his life savings on a static caravan has been left furious after claiming holiday park owners moved it without his permission.
Mark Robinson and his father Raymond, who recently died aged 88, bought the caravan in Towyn, Conwy, for trips away together.
But when Mark travelled from his home in the West Midlands to the caravan's site in Lyons' Oaksfield Holiday Park last week, he found it had been moved and someone else's vehicle was parked in his spot.
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He was shocked to then find his caravan 100 yards away, close to the site's entrance.
Where to go for help
The sale of holiday mobile homes and pitch agreements are governed by contract law.The use of a mobile home in a holiday park is also a contract, not a tenancy. The contract should stipulate the rights and obligations of both parties.
The Government funded LEASE Park Homes provides free advice and guidance on residential park homes law and can be contacted on their freephone number: 0808 196 2212.
In addition to a solicitor, advice can be obtained free of charge from Citizens Advice or by contacting the Citizens Advice consumer helpline: 0808 223 1133.
The Commons Library’s briefing paper: Legal advice: where to go and how to pay may also be of interest.
Further information:
- Commons Library briefing paper: Mobile (park) homes.
- Gov.uk: Park homes
- Commons Library briefing paper: Mobile (park) homes: 10% commission on sales
- Commons Library briefing paper: Consumer protection: leisure homes
Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk
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