‘We’re absolute beginners,’ crooned the late, great David Bowie on one of his most popular and arresting hit songs. While the androgynous artist may not have had park homes on his mind when he penned these lyrics, he was right about one thing: when it comes to learning about something new, nothing’s easy.
Dipping a maiden toe into the previously uncharted waters of mobile home living can, therefore, be both exciting and daunting. Let’s face it: when you’re out of your comfort zone, you can sometimes need a bit of a helping hand. That’s why we’re refreshing and rebooting our popular Beginners’ Guide to Park Home Living for 2017. Our comprehensive 32-page guide, kindly sponsored once more by Tingdene Parks, boasts an Aladdin’s Cave of essential information for the uninitiated… as well as plenty of pointers, real life stories and advice for those who already live the dream on a UK park site. Turn to page 47 and let the fun begin. You never know, your ‘golden years’ may be just about to begin!
For those after help and advice on day-to-day park home matters, don’t fret – we’ve got that well and truly covered, too!
We’ve got a fantastic piece on dewinterizing your park home and getting it ready for the spring and summer months ahead. Now that the worst excesses of cold appear to have disappeared, we’re all probably safe to turn off, or at least turn down, the thermostats on our central heating systems, and plan for kinder, more clement seasons. (If you were unsure, or wavering, Npower and British Gas’s proposed fuel bill hikes have probably made the final decision for you anyway!) Turn to page 79 for all our expert tips!
Many park home residents’ minds also start to turn to their annual pitch fee increases at this time of year, too. With Retail Prices Index (RPI) figures on something of an alarming rise, there’s never been a better time to ensure you fully understand how these increases are calculated and when they can be applied. The Leasehold Advisory Service’s specialist park homes team lend their time and expertise to this specialist issue on page 107.
Finally, we’ve also brought you lots more new homes to inspect and great parks to explore. Enjoy this cracker of an issue!
Alex Melvin, Editor
Email: phhc.ed@kelsey.co.uk
PS: Don’t miss our great reader offer of 9 FREE Hardy Fuchsias worth £20 plus a great magazine subscription offer if you subscribe for 12 months!