Hi, my partner and I are going to purchase a wooden Shepherds hut to live in all year round.
So we are looking for residential sites or land that will allow us to pitch permanently.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
Marcia and Paul
PLEASE do NOT purchase anything until you have found somewhere to put it.
Buying it is the easy bit - finding somewhere to put it is incredibly difficult.
You will not be able to put this on a licensed caravan site, either residential or holiday - residential sites simply do not allow "bring-ons" of any type, and holiday sites that accept bring-ons are few and far between, and are unlikely to allow anything outside of standard static caravan construction.
You need to find private land that will allow you to site the hut, and this may not be easy as if you wish to live in it planning permission may be needed, to say nothing of sorting out utilities.
If you have a relative or a friend with a large garden, then you may be able to put it there without planning permission - but you will not be able to use it as self-contained accommodation, it has to be "ancillary" to the house.
The alternative is to try and buy your own land, but you will still need planning permission to live in your hut, and this is unlikely to be granted unless you are using it while you build a permanent house.
I completely agree with what 22Seaside has said. It is incredibly difficult to find anywhere to site anything like this, so please DO NOT BUY until you have somewhere to put it. It could easily take you many months to find somewhere, then you have to go through all the red tape of getting planning permission for residential use. I would think well over a year before you would be able to move in.
I wish you luck with your project, please do let us know how you get on as it may help others thinking of doing similar, but please don't spend any money on a hut until you have the land and the planning permission.
I wouldnt trust anyone who is willing to sell you a shepherds hut for the purpose of you living in it full time WITHOUT them ensuring you have a pitch to put it on,
There is a company that sells kits or ready manufactured shepherd hut type things promoted for full time living, with the dream of being ecological, self sufficient and off-grid, no mortgage, cheap option to live, etc.
Strangely enough, the one thing that their website does not highlight is the fact that in the UK(unlike the USA, where it all started)it is extremely hard to find somewhere to site it.
Just another shark in the waters, really.
We have decided against a shepherds hut. Thanks for the replies, any advice welcome. It is our dream to live the camping life, no house. We can't afford to buy a caravan on site.
Might buy a cheaper caravan.
Any advice on how to permanently live the camping lifestyle? Some people must live it.
We sold our house and lived in a 7.5m motorhome for a year we travelled from lands end to the scottish highlands and had a great time. The main thing when you do this, is you need a residential address, whether it's a friends or relatives house. If you dont have this it gets a bit tricky with insurance and bank accounts etc.
Loads of people full time, check out motorhome fun and google - lots of info on line.
I've got my Mums address which I still use since I've been renting. We just can't afford to live in rented accommodation anymore, struggling to get by. Looking at other options, camping lifestyle is something that's always interested me.
We started out in the beast from the east a couple of years ago. Luckily our motorhome had on board fresh and grey waste tanks so we never froze up. Had central heating and our own shower and toilet etc. Which was good as the sites shower and all but one stand pipe were frozen solid for days, we were in Cornwall, only us and one other moho on site.
It is possible, but as above, you have to keep moving. It may not be so easy in winter when the majority of campsites are closed, and if you are considering a caravan you also have to consider the cost of maintaining and insuring the towing vehicle.
I can't help wondering how those who are living permanently in their caravans or motorhomes are coping at the moment with all the sites closed. Must be very difficult for them.
I always fancied buying an old coach to turn into a motorhome to live in. Being a former coach driver I know how much room there is inside one without all the seats. They are huge! A double decker bus would give you even more room, but you would be restricted on the height with low bridges etc. That might be something worth considering. I'm over 70 now though so I've missed my chance. Not got the stamina or the flexibility to do all the work involved.
Some club sites have opened for full timers.
But they want proof you have no where else to go.
A coach/bus is a great idea, but finding a site to take you will be difficult if you're not a standard type moho, 5th wheeler or campervan or caravan.
We met lots of fulltimers travelling round when we toured for a year. I must say 99% of them were in A classes. And lots of them were wardens on site through the season, free pitch etc, they saved their wages and went to Spain for the winter. Then came back in the spring to work on a camp site.
I think that's what the OP should do, have a look at the jobs section on here for something for when we get back to normal.
check out some youtube videos about 'vanlife' - there are a lot of motorhomers who live full time. you may get some good ideas or tips from there? urban van life seems to be on the 'up'
one of your biggest problems is of course affording a vehicle in the first place and being able to pay for its upkeep and maintenance. do you intend working full time? what will you do for money
there are plenty of holiday sites with a 12 month licence, so you in effect stay all year, but you need to buy one direct from the site. DO NOT BUY one thinking you can just site it somewhere (as lots of previous posters have pointed out to you)
youre doing the right thing so far, keep asking questions, do your research etc