When Andrew and Sue Dawson purchased a static caravan at a holiday park along the East Yorkshire coast in 2022, they envisioned blissful weekends spent by the seaside, enjoying the company of their daughters and grandchildren. However, their dream was shattered when, in February of this year, Andrew, 59, received a terminal cancer diagnosis. “The doctors estimated I had six months to a few short years,” he shared. “Naturally, we started contemplating the future, and it turned everything upside down.”
Faced with this life-altering situation, the couple decided to sell their caravan at Parkdean’s Skipsea Sands resort. What happened next left them reeling. The three-bedroom caravan, which had cost them £62,400 just two years prior, was now worth a mere £17,000. “We were absolutely stunned,” Mr. Dawson recalled. “Nobody told us we would encounter such drastic depreciation. The salesman painted a rosy picture but never explained the reality.”
The Dawsons are not alone in their experience. As the popularity of caravan getaways has surged since the 1960s, many families have invested in holiday homes. Today, over 3,000 parks beckon holidaymakers in the UK, contributing approximately £7.2 billion to the economy last year. However, many caravan owners, like the Dawsons, have reported severe financial losses that have drained their life savings and pensions.
The founder of a support group for caravan owners expressed outrage, calling it “scandalous” that individuals’ lives are being profoundly affected. Despite Parkdean’s website stating that purchasing a holiday home is not a financial investment, Mr. Dawson revealed that a Skipsea Sands salesperson assured him that caravans “mostly retain their value.” It was only when the couple attempted to sell their caravan that the harsh reality hit them.
After some negotiation, the couple reluctantly agreed to sell their caravan for £17,000. However, as they prepared to finalize the sale, Parkdean lowered their offer to £16,000. “The way we’ve been treated feels incredibly deceptive and lacking transparency,” Mr. Dawson expressed, adding that there was a disturbing lack of empathy given their circumstances.
Following the BBC’s inquiry, a Skipsea Sands manager contacted the Dawsons and offered to resolve the situation with a £1,000 compensation. Mr. Dawson, however, made it clear that it was “never about the money,” and his opinion of Parkdean and the industry remained unchanged.
Similarly, James and Emma Richardson invested £110,000 in a caravan at Tattershall Lakes resort in Lincolnshire in 2022, using part of an inheritance left by Emma’s late parents. They intended to provide their family with free holidays and rent the caravan to offset costs. “I wanted to give back to my family, as my parents worked so hard,” Emma, 43, explained.
Despite promises from a salesperson that rental income would cover their monthly finance payments of £1,269, the Richardsons found themselves “haemorrhaging money.” James, 46, described a scenario where rental income of £1,200 would yield only £200 after fees. Ultimately, they lost over £50,000 in two years, crippling their financial situation. “It’s a bitter pill to swallow, losing my parents’ hard-earned money,” Emma lamented.
Sally Nicholls, 70, from Sheffield, faced a similar fate after investing her entire pension and taking out a small loan for a £69,000 caravan at Tattershall Lakes in 2021. Initially optimistic about the rental income, Nicholls quickly learned that escalating park charges made it nearly impossible to compete with the park’s offerings. After the park declined to buy back her caravan, she sold it for just £17,500, forcing her to sell her house to secure her financial future.
Legal expert Ibraheem Dulmeer emphasized the importance of due diligence for caravan buyers. He urged potential buyers to get promises in writing and seek legal advice, noting that many do not fully understand the agreements they’re signing.
The British Holiday and Home Parks Association (BHHPA) and the National Caravans Council (NCC) recommend that prospective buyers thoroughly read contracts and fully understand the agreements before making such significant financial commitments. Consumer protection in the industry is governed by laws enforced by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which ensures businesses do not mislead customers.
Despite these protections, a petition for stronger regulations garnered 27,000 signatures last year but was rejected by the government. The Holiday Park Action Group’s founder, Carole Keeble, criticized the CMA for failing to address consumer concerns, calling the current situation a “national scandal.”
As Ms. Nicholls reflected on the devastating impact of her experience, she called for regulatory action to ensure that future buyers are adequately protected. “It’s had a monumental effect on my life,” she stated. “I want a regulatory body to take control of the sector.”
