Caravan owners can't compete with Lincolnshire Haven's low holiday prices
Hundreds of caravan owners in Lincolnshire Haven struggle to compete with low holiday deals. RV owners are asking Haven to lower site fees to allow them to compete.
Haven, which has 38 caravan parks across the UK, including in Skegness, Cleethorpes and Mablethorpe, has dramatically reduced its holiday prices this year, which is good news for holidaymakers but bad news for owners of private caravans.
With prices as low as £69 for a four-night stay and £169 for a seven-night stay at a Lincolnshire Haven caravan park, it's no wonder why so many caravan owners have been concerned.
With some site fees costing more than £6,000 a year, many caravan owners rely on renting out their holiday home to cover the cost. But this year, with so many cheap deals available at Haven, many caravan owners fear it could be the last year with a big drop in bookings.
Lincolnshire Haven caravan owners have contacted Lincolnshire News Today to share how they are struggling to compete. A caravan owner at Haven Cleethorpes Beach Holiday Park (formerly known as Thorpe Park) has told Lincolnshire News Today he is worried about being able to pay his site fees.
“I rely on renting out my caravan to help cover the cost of site fees, but I've only managed to rent out my van twice this year.”
Sue, who has owned a caravan for more than five years, said she is not the only person at the Cleethorpes holiday park who is struggling.
“I know a lot of owners who are worried that this will be their last year as an owner. With high site fees and running costs including change fees, we can't compete with a £69 holiday.
Haven caravan owners in Lincolnshire cannot compete on price
According to Sue, if she rented out her holiday home for £69 for four nights, she wouldn't have much money left over to pay site charges.
“People think it's pure profit when you rent out your vacation home, but it's not. There are a lot of costs including electricity and gas and then I have to pay £20 for someone to come and clean my caravan and change the bedding for the next tenant.'
Sue has said that if things don't improve then she will be forced to sell her caravan which she knows will sell at a loss and lose thousands of pounds.
While the low prices for Haven holidays are good news for people looking for a cheap stay in Lincolnshire, it's not good news for caravan owners. It's not just Lincolnshire where caravan owners are struggling, this has become a common problem across the country.
Mark, who has a caravan in Mablethorpe, told Lincolnshire News Today that his bookings for this year are down by more than 60%. According to Mark, even regular customers are canceling their reservations and booking directly with Haven.
“I just can't compete. Buying a motorhome was always a lifelong dream, but now it's become a nightmare. I rely on renting out my motorhome at least four months a year to help with the high rates of the site. I'll be lucky to get £1,000 from the bookings site fees this year.”
Many owners have questioned how Haven makes a profit by offering cheap deals. But according to Sue, any money they lose on caravan hire is made up in food and drink.
Haven has plenty of cheap getaways available. In May we found four-night breaks for just £69 and even in June we found seven-night holidays for just £379.
Nigel, who has a caravan at the new Haven Skegness caravan park, said he is worried about the future. He told Lincolnshire News Today that he has regular customers from all over, including Lincoln, Manchester, London and even Boston. But this year has seen many cancellations.
“I've always had regulars come to my caravan every year, some of them come more than once, but this year I've already had ten cancellations. I've even had a client ask me to compete with Haven, which I've declined.”
With more than 65 caravan owners contacting Lincolnshire News Today, it seems the low prices of Haven holidays have become a serious problem. While Haven has the right to charge what they like, RV owners are calling for a more level playing field to compete, which could include lower fees and free entertainment passes.
If you are a camper owner and have been affected by the low prices offered by Haven, please contact us and share your concerns.
