Full time camping out of neccesity.

[Pendrag0n]

Hello all,

I have a long term illness (I am 53, single) which means I get help
(housing benefit) with rent. Rent is £400pm and I was paying £50. New
austerity measures now mean many of us are going to be unable to
afford to live where we are now and HB is being reduced to £300, which
is what they reckon we should be paying for South East Lincs. Which is
ridiculous. My illness means that in a few years I wont be able to
*hit the road* and so if I am gonna go I need to go now. So the shove
I'm getting could be timely.

I have lived in caravans/campers for weeks at a time and it would be
no problems really, apart from laundry, but even then it's doable.

Housing benefit said they would pay site fees. Though I can see this
would not be an easy task, given previous comments about site owners
being reluctant to give receipts etc. I imagine moving around quite a
bit from site to site year round and fees averaging about £10pw Maybe
a week at one, a month at another, a day at another. Eventually maybe
finding a dream slot and staying put as long as current rules allow,
so maybe two ideal sites eventually?

The money I save on households bills etc, would probably offset the
extra costs of heating and stuff in a *van environment.

Internet access would be limited, but again doable even if it means
visiting hotspots to catch up on mail etc.

I need to leave this area anyway cos the kidney docs are terrible here
and so I need to assure when my time comes I am in an area with good
facilities.

So here are the options as I see it. I'd appreciate your thoughts?

1: Stay put and cough up the extra £100pm and lose the dream, or even
move elsewhere.

2: Buy a caravan (2berth) (£1 to £2k) and if it all goes bottoms up,
no great harm. Plus I get to keep the car I already have

3: Buy a motorhome (£5k to £10k) but I imagine running and maintenance
costs would be prohibitive) not too fussed about motorhome
restrictions in parking etc.

4: Get a small boat to live aboard. But again anything nautical is
very expensive running costs, and nothing like as luxuries as a modern
caravan, certainly not in my budget,

I want countryside and isolation, rather than town facilities. My
hobbies would be walking and visiting anything historical.

The freedom in downsizing to a *van would be liberating for me in
itself. I want to travel light these days and I can sell off all my
excess baggage.

If I ever do need to move in to bricks and mortar again, no real harm
done because my furnishing needs could be met with about £1k.

I am really raring to go and have been thinking about it for years
anyway, so the spirit is willing :)

Any thoughts on full timing?

Cheers

[Roy]

The 10k for a camper van equals 15+ years increased rent - job done, stay
put, a 10k camper van is unlikely to last 5 years of constant habitation.



Pendrag0n said the following on 11/12/2011 10:02:

[Pendrag0n]

On Sun, 11 Dec 2011 11:49:20 +0000, Roy <r...@pikey.ie> wrote:

>The 10k for a camper van equals 15+ years increased rent - job done, stay
>put, a 10k camper van is unlikely to last 5 years of constant habitation.

LOL great point :) And most apt at this moment. I am doubting I would
be up to the job of mobile life any more.

I do like the KISS philosophy. Cheers.

[GrahamX]

You also put: "site fees averaging about £10pw".

The CLs I use are £10-12 per night (not per week).
That's £300-360 per month. Not much of a saving if any.
Regards, Graham.

[DieSea]

"GrahamX" <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message news:jc5j4i$qt5$1...@dont-email.me...

Don't forget that there is a maximum time you can spend on a CL before you have to
leave ( 28 days ?? )

I've heard of one commercial site that charges about £100.00 a month plus electric
, but closes from 1st of January until the 1st of March

When I get to see my friend again I'll try to find out where

--

DieSea

[Pendrag0n]

On Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:07:16 -0000, "DieSea"
<Die...@nnttwlwoorrlldd.ccoommm> wrote:

>
>"GrahamX" <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message news:jc5j4i$qt5$1...@dont-email.me...
>> You also put: "site fees averaging about £10pw".
>>
>> The CLs I use are £10-12 per night (not per week).
>> That's £300-360 per month. Not much of a saving if any.
>> Regards, Graham.

Thanks Graham, yes I meant per night. It depends I guess on how much
HB reckons is reasonable per week. I am assuming that they would think
£300pm was ok to pay. Not sure where I would stand with council tax
either. I'm guessing if I get HB I would need to pay CT too, and so
that would also make it less appealing.

>Don't forget that there is a maximum time you can spend on a CL before you have to
>leave ( 28 days ?? )

Yes I was aware of something like that. But the plan was to maybe have
two or three sites to rotate eventually.

>I've heard of one commercial site that charges about £100.00 a month plus electric
>, but closes from 1st of January until the 1st of March

>When I get to see my friend again I'll try to find out where

That would be handy knowledge.

[Pendrag0n]

I see seasonal pitches are also an option for year round occupation
for around £2k.
CCC rules state
*The unit may be occupied on Site for recreational
purposes only, subject to a maximum of 21 nights for
any one visit. An interval of at least 3 nights must elapse
before a return visit to the unit*

That's around £40pw which aint bad at all, and I presume if it was a
club site receipts would not be a problem. Sounds perfick, cos it
includes electric anyway so that means no more bills. If I did go for
year round seasonal pitch, presumably eventually you could choose
prime spot on site as well.

In fact that sounds like a brilliant option. Cos even if I could get a
site for £10pn that works out much more expensive. Am I missing
something?

[Roy]

Pendrag0n said the following on 12/12/2011 22:37:

> I see seasonal pitches are also an option for year round occupation
> for around £2k.
> CCC rules state
> *The unit may be occupied on Site for recreational
> purposes only, subject to a maximum of 21 nights for
> any one visit. An interval of at least 3 nights must elapse
> before a return visit to the unit*
>
> That's around £40pw which aint bad at all, and I presume if it was a
> club site receipts would not be a problem. Sounds perfick, cos it
> includes electric anyway so that means no more bills. If I did go for
> year round seasonal pitch, presumably eventually you could choose
> prime spot on site as well.
>
> In fact that sounds like a brilliant option. Cos even if I could get a
> site for £10pn that works out much more expensive. Am I missing
> something?

'for recreational purposes only'

[Paul - xxx]

You need somewhere else for at least three nights each month .. or a
second caravan on a second seasonal pitch .. ;)

"Recreational purposes only" might be a stumbling block, maybe just say
you're writing a book and need to get away a lot! ;)

OTOH, other, non-club sites might, indeed do, have different rules.
I'd look towards commercial sites that like people staying on them
through winter etc if only to stop other people thinking it's empty!
I'd suggest that living that long in the 'van would need an electric
hook-up and a shower block as bare minimum ...

--
Paul - xxx
"You know, all I wanna do is race .. and all I wanna do is win"
Mark Cavendish, World Champion 2011.

[Harry Stottle]

"Pendrag0n" <nom...@thnx.com> wrote in message
news:ggu8e7djsge315i3g...@4ax.com...

> Hello all,
>
> I have a long term illness (I am 53, single) which means I get help
> (housing benefit) with rent. Rent is £400pm and I was paying £50. New
> austerity measures now mean many of us are going to be unable to
> afford to live where we are now and HB is being reduced to £300, which
> is what they reckon we should be paying for South East Lincs. Which is
> ridiculous. My illness means that in a few years I wont be able to
> *hit the road* and so if I am gonna go I need to go now. So the shove
> I'm getting could be timely.
>

Have you had a letter informing you of this, or is it from hearsay?
I mentioned your post to a friend yesterday and she says that she thought
the housing benefit cuts in April 2012 mostly apply to single people under
35, which will reduce them to a shared room rent of £72 per week, or £312
per month. As you are over 35, you should not be affected by this cut, but
if South East Lincs. has lowered the limit themselves, and informed you
personally, this reply will be irrelevant.

More on housing benefit cuts here:-
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/policy/campaign_housing_benefit_cuts.htm

[Pendrag0n]

On Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:16:40 -0000, "Harry Stottle"
<thiswo...@noitreallywont.co.uk> wrote:

>"Pendrag0n" <nom...@thnx.com> wrote in message
>news:ggu8e7djsge315i3g...@4ax.com...
>> Hello all,
>>
>> I have a long term illness (I am 53, single) which means I get help
>> (housing benefit) with rent. Rent is £400pm and I was paying £50. New
>> austerity measures now mean many of us are going to be unable to
>> afford to live where we are now and HB is being reduced to £300, which
>> is what they reckon we should be paying for South East Lincs. Which is
>> ridiculous. My illness means that in a few years I wont be able to
>> *hit the road* and so if I am gonna go I need to go now. So the shove
>> I'm getting could be timely.
>>
>Have you had a letter informing you of this, or is it from hearsay?

I got a letter from HB confirming this will happen in January.

>I mentioned your post to a friend yesterday

Thanks for that :)

> and she says that she thought
>the housing benefit cuts in April 2012 mostly apply to single people under
>35, which will reduce them to a shared room rent of £72 per week, or £312
>per month. As you are over 35, you should not be affected by this cut, but
>if South East Lincs. has lowered the limit themselves, and informed you
>personally, this reply will be irrelevant.

I think the plan there is to force single people under 35 to shared
room rents. Older people like myself are still eligible for single
room property rates which mean:

Lincolnshire Fens BRMA
Shared Accommodation Rate:£53.50 per week
One Bedroom Rate:£83.08 per week
Two Bedrooms Rate:£105.58 per week
Three Bedrooms Rate:£121.15 per week
Four Bedrooms Rate:£150.00 per week

So it's the age which helps me slightly. Disability/Sickness have no
consideration in the rates.

Even then you still do not get the full allowance as savings and
income affect it. So I don't get the full £83.08 anyway. But in
January it drops, as I said before, to even less and so I will be
short £100pm.

>More on housing benefit cuts here:-
>http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/policy/campaign_housing_benefit_cuts.htm

Thanks for that.

[Pendrag0n]

On 13 Dec 2011 10:31:20 GMT, "Paul - xxx" <notchec...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

Yes I had noticed this. That means say 3x£30 B&B each month. around
£250pm, so still a good deal, especially if I get most of it paid in
HB, which is not definite as it needs to go to rent referral officer.

I wonder if one can put a touring van on residential sites, but I
suppose if so then the prices would be much higher anyway!

>"Recreational purposes only" might be a stumbling block, maybe just say
>you're writing a book and need to get away a lot! ;)

Yes (thanks to Roy for also pointing this out). I have written to CCC
to clarify exactly what this means. I guess as long as you're not
working etc it should be fine.

>OTOH, other, non-club sites might, indeed do, have different rules.
>I'd look towards commercial sites that like people staying on them
>through winter etc if only to stop other people thinking it's empty!

>I'd suggest that living that long in the 'van would need an electric
>hook-up and a shower block as bare minimum ...

You bet lol

[Pendrag0n]

oops that should be £90 every 21 days and if my maths serves me well
that's 15 of those B&B periods a year (CC do 48hrs gaps, but seem
quite strict on the NOT residential wording). So that's £1350 + £2080
(£40pw). If they don't pay for the B&B I'd still be no better off
then I am now!

[Roy]

Pendrag0n said the following on 13/12/2011 17:11:

> oops that should be £90 every 21 days and if my maths serves me well
> that's 15 of those B&B periods a year (CC do 48hrs gaps, but seem
> quite strict on the NOT residential wording). So that's £1350 + £2080
> (£40pw). If they don't pay for the B&B I'd still be no better off
> then I am now!

As I said - Job Done and my favourite sites do not turn into 'Dale Farms'

[Pendrag0n]

Oi...residents of Dale farm would never lower themselves to CC/CCC
sites...have you seen the gear they have!

[Roy]

Pendrag0n said the following on 13/12/2011 17:55:

Yes

[Pendrag0n]

Shocking. Money obviously no object. Wonder if seasonal pitch would
allow a tarmac lorry to park up next to my van!

[Brian Reay]

"Pendrag0n" <nom...@thnx.com> wrote in message
news:ggu8e7djsge315i3g...@4ax.com...

> Hello all,
>
> I have a long term illness

I've a friend who recently tried living under similar conditions. They have
just decided that the health risk is too great. I'd reconsider if I were
you.

There is a bit difference between even a month in a motorhome/caravan when
you are fit in the summer and a few days when you are ill in cold winter.

Regards

Brian

[Pendrag0n]

Sadly I'm guessing you are probably right Brian. If not physically,
but the stress of trying to coordinate it all with housing benefit
etc.

Back to plan B.....now what was that again! :)

[Brian Reay.]

"Pendrag0n" <nom...@thnx.com> wrote in message

news:eh1ue75ohlgp4l9b5...@4ax.com...

I hope things work out for you. I'm trying to help my friend find a proper
home.

Brian