Message Forums

Thanks for all the help and advice gang. We are taking it all in. Just been having a look at some work that you can get on sites. Hs anyone noticed this page on UKCS before.

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=205

Quote: Originally posted by pajaholic on 04/3/2008

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I wish you all the best (my wife and I hope to go full-time when we retire in a couple of years) but please do some careful research before selling up. There are legal issues here:

• In this country, you cannot legally keep a vehicle unless you have a residential address and your driving licence might also become invalid without an address.
  
• Without a residential address, you'll find it very difficult (IME, impossible) to get insurance for your vehicle.
  
• Money laundering legislation will make it difficult to maintain a bank account.
  
• Health care might be difficult to obtain (unless you go 100% private) when you're likely to need it most because without an address you cannot register with a doctor, dentist etc.
  
• Without a permanent address, you're treated pretty much as a vagrant (technically, that what you'll be). You lose the right to vote and the Vagrancy Act takes away even more of your rights.

So however you plan things, you need to ensure that you are a resident of at least one European country - and when you discover the implication for tax, health care, etc. you'll probably want that country to be UK. You can use a willing friend or relative's address, and allegedly some travellers use a willing B&B, but unless things have recently changed it must be residential (i.e. you have to be able to live there).

HTH and ATB,

Geoff

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I think you are going very overboard with either negative or scaremongering.  We have been doing it for 2 years and have not had any problems as everything is directly to my father's address.  The police do not have a problem with that and neither do the insurance people.  i still have the right to vot also although that is generally meaningless anyway. 

PS There a loads of people doing this and I am in contact with a few of them and they do not have a problem either.

 

PS There a loads of people doing this and I am in contact with a few of them and they do not have a problem either.

 

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Quote: Originally posted by Bill the Bus on 05/3/2008

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PS There a loads of people doing this and I am in contact with a few of them and they do not have a problem either.

 

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As it is something we are contemplating in a few years would be interested if there are any clubs where info is readily available or people like you where are prepared to discuss the implications. Cheers.

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Before deciding anything along these lines, have a good think on pajaholics comments which are quite valid.  The most important thing is have an address, i.e. a relation is obviously better and then take it from there.  Our caravan is insured as a seasonal caravan and the caravan insurance company are aware that we use it for 11 months of the year on the site.  The car insurance companies are aware that the cars are on a locked car park with CCTV at another post code so no issue there.  We are a lot happier living in the caravan than a brick and mortar place with all the worries. 

If you find you cannot tour in your latter years, then perhaps consider purchasing a static caravan on a site that is regulated.  This does require a lot of research to avoid being ripped off but is another option for when you cannot tour.

Thanks for that info surfer.

It will be quite a few years before we are in a position to do anything like this so we are trying to map out the possibilities. The sooner we can afford the sooner we can slow down but think the girls will be with us for some time yet so not sure how long it will be.

We started off with the intention of moving into a mobile home in the next few years hopefully the equity from our house paying for the home. They have soared in price and on another thread on here a few weeks ago the pitfalls were pointed out. We have looked at full timing on a boat but thats expensive to maintain and moor so we are trying to explore all possibilities. Static or touring caravan being the next ones to look at, possibly as others and maybe tying in with a warden type job.

So as Mick says any info from people already living the lifestyle is good.

Quote: Originally posted by Surfer01 on 05/3/2008

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I think you are going very overboard with either negative or scaremongering. We have been doing it for 2 years and have not had any problems as everything is directly to my father's address. The police do not have a problem with that and neither do the insurance people. i still have the right to vot also although that is generally meaningless anyway.

PS There a loads of people doing this and I am in contact with a few of them and they do not have a problem either.

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Quote: Originally posted by harrys dad on 05/3/2008

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Thanks again guys. You are all being very informative. Looks like you are taking it all in as well Bill.

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Sure am Mick. Got a few years before we can think seriously but i like to be prepared .

This life is getting to fast for me, would be nice to slow down a little.

I'm with Jan P on this one I think having the safety net of keeping your house and renting it out at least for the first couple of years, for one thing you need to see where the Gov is going on sheltered housing etc, they are making it harder and harder and the fact you live in a van will disqualify you from most council run schemes even now as you would not be considered a permanant resident in the area and so not that councils responsibilitie.

On the other hand you only live once and I can tell you from first hand experiance when you think your number is up its not what youv'e done you regret its what you didn't do Good luck either way