A COUPLE who moved into a caravan to save cash has revealed the “only way” to do it cheaply and legally.
Kat and Marek said that “money was trickling through their fingers like water” before they took a leap of faith and embraced life on wheels.
Having moved out of their house in 2017 amid mounting financial pressures, the pair set out on the journey of a life time.
Kat recalled: “We decided that keeping a roof over our head cost us too much time, money and energy.
“We were working flat out and we didn’t see much return.
“We planned a year of freedom…that was almost six years ago.
“We have not returned home yet and to be honest we’re not going to.”
It cannot be your main residence
However, she warned others considering doing the same about the potential legal difficulties of making the move.
There are surprisingly strict regulations governing where caravans can be parked, with many slapped with clear time limits.
Kat explained: “Seasonal pitches [on campsites] are reserved for holiday use only.
“You can only stay for 28 days at a time.
“When you buy such a pitch you have to provide proof of residence, it cannot be your main residence.”
She added that the same rules apply to static caravans in holiday parks, meaning that you can’t turn them into a permanent home.
As such, the only “cost-effective and legal” way to move into a caravan, according to Kat, is a residential caravan park.
This will mean you have to pay council tax on your caravan as your main address but will allow you to live in it all year round without getting into any trouble or having to pay fines.
Kat recommended this as a great option for people priced out of the housing market and especially anyone looking to sell up to move into a van, as static units in a residential park come in at under half the average UK house price.
It comes after residents of the UK’s “caravan city” complained of being left to rot with piles of rubbish mounting up in the area.