Kinvena

Questions and Answers

1. Can I live at The Elms all year round?

Yes. The Elms has a full residential license so you could live here every day of the year.

2. Other than buying the home, what are the costs of living at The Elms?

Over and above normal running costs for heat and light etc, each home pays what is referred to as a pitch fee. The pitch fees at The Elms varies depending on the property but we have provided examples on our running costs page in ‘Useful Info’ on this website.

Pitch fees can be and usually are increased each year and you can read up on how the pitch fees can be increased by referring to point 16 in Part 3 of the Implied Terms of the Written Statement. As a general rule pitch fees can be expected to go up in line with RPI. Our running costs page also illustrates averages for consumption of gas, electricity etc. Each property is also liable to Council Tax all of which are rated band A.

3. In what way is a park home different to a bricks and mortar home?

Basically it is the way they are constructed. They are manufactured off site then transported to site and connected to mains services. The homes at The Elms have what is called skirting fitted around the bottom of the home once it is sited to conceal the underneath from view. Steps are built up to the doors and there is a path laid around the property.

Other than that living in a park home is just like living in a bricks and mortar property. Once inside the homes look and feel like a conventional bungalow and certainly benefit from modern construction features such as central heating, double glazing, insulation etc. Our homes do not come fully furnished as do some park homes but they are all fully fitted which means they come with the obvious items such as cooker, hob, fridge freezer etc but also with wall lights, fitted carpets, curtains and so on.

The added benefit is that of being on a well managed park which provides the setting for your retirement. People who move to The Elms are looking to not only downsize and release capital but to get away from all the hustle and bustle of living in a regular town or village. All the daily traffic and noise that comes with family life is left behind together with all the irritation of vandalism, littering, noisy pets, neighbours from hell etc!

4. How does buying a park home differ from buying a bricks and mortar property?

Typically it is not necessary to use a solicitor when buying a park home. This may seem unusual, but it is normal for this industry. When moving to The Elms you will be issued with a completed Written Statement 28 days prior to committing to purchase a home so you will be fully aware from the outset of the terms under which you will be buying the home. As managers of The Elms we prefer to assist purchasers and sellers by over seeing the procedure to ensure that the sale runs as smoothly as possible.

5. What is the Written Statement under the Mobile Homes Act?

This is a legal document that has been specifically designed for the park home industry where people are buying homes but do not buy the land that the home is on. It is inportant that both parties – the home owner and the park owner – have clearly defined legal positions. The Written Statement provides this security.

6. Could I use my home at The Elms as a second home, or rent it out?

No. It is a condition of the Written Statement that your home at The Elms is your main UK residence. Many of our residents have properties abroad having released enough capital from their bricks and mortar to split their re-investment in property over two homes. We are often asked by people who want to spend more time abroad if they can rent their home out when they are not here but as we have just mentioned this would break the terms of your Written Statement.

In addition to this we feel that in order to maintain the community atmosphere and relaxed retirement environment that we have at The Elms it is important that properties are not rented out.

7. As a resident of The Elms, is the way in which you are able to sell your home restricted in any way? I have heard that some park owners say you must sell your home back to them.

Residents at The Elms are free to sell their homes themselves though an Estate Agent or similar, or use us the park managers to sell their home for them for which we charge a 1% selling fee. Some residents chose to sell their home back to us. We then decide on what level of refurbishment we would need to carry out before we then re-marketed the property.

8. What sort of warranty comes with the homes?

A new park home at The Elms would come with a 10 year Gold Shield Warranty. These are similar to for example and NHBC 10 year warranty that you would get with a new bricks and mortar property. There would also be 1 year after sales cover with the manufacturer of the home for minor items. The homes at The Elms have been manufactured by either Homeseeker Homes or Country Homes but to our own unique specification.

Homes that we have bought back from residents and refurbished that no longer benefit from the 10 year Gold Sheild Warranty come with 1 year after sales cover from us on the items that we have refurbished.

9. Could my park home be passed on in my will?

Yes. The Written Statement provides for this. If the home is left to someone who does not currently live on the park then they may only move into the home with the consent of us, the park owner. In practical terms what this means is that they themselves would have to be retired or semi retired as this is a condition of living at The Elms and they would also have to comply with all the other park rules such as having no pets or children living with them. If this were the case then the Written Statement for that home would be transferred to them.

The beneficiaries could also sell the property if they wish in which case we would assist them with how to do this.

10. As no pets or children live at The Elms, can my family still come and stay with me?

Absolutely yes. Many residents have their grandchildren come and stay with them for the weekend or during school holidays. Residents and visitors are just asked to respect the fact that people have moved here for peace and quite and whilst children laughing and playing is a joyful sound to hear their football banging up against the side of your home is not!

Visitors with dogs are asked to keep their dogs on a lead at all times and to clear up any mess after them. As we are a no pets park and some residents will have given up having a pet to come here, the visiting dogs are restricted to a stay of no longer than 3 nights.

Residents enjoy going about their normal daily routines and lives within the park rules.