We couldn’t afford to buy a house so revamped a damp, leaky static caravan instead & saved a fortune on rent & bills
WHEN Cerys Evans and her boyfriend Llyr realised buying their first house together was out of the question due to escalating property costs, the steely pair refused to give up on their dream.
Determined to get on the property ladder and have a place they could call their own, the young couple have instead renovated their own static caravan – and have saved literally thousands in rent and bills in the process.
Vet receptionist and farmer Cerys Evans, 22 from Pembrokeshire, South West Wales, has now lived in a static caravan with her partner Llyr, 24, for six months, having moved in December 2022.
She’s relished the opportunity to renovate the caravan, and has been sharing the journey over on Instagram using the handle @our_static_home_reno.
She says: “When we first got it the caravan it wasn’t in great condition.
“It did leak in some places and we had to replace the flooring which was rotten, so we knew it would require a lot of work and TLC.
“However, we were so lucky to have been gifted the caravan as a farmer was looking to get rid of it, and we’ve saved a fortune in rent and bills so it’s definitely been worth all the hard graft.
“It’s also a great way of gaining independence and getting out there and learning how to stand on your own two feet – without having to spend a small fortune on buying or renting a house.”
‘Rent is so unaffordable’
It’s the first time either Cerys or Llyr have ever lived in a ‘mobile’ home, which is currently situated on the farm where Llyr works.
Their caravan is a 1997 two-bed 37ft x 12ft Cosalt Static model they were generously gifted, and the couple have since spent up to £6k transforming it into their own customised home.
Cerys says: “The main reason for deciding to go for a caravan was that anything else was just not an option due to increasing prices of houses.
“I’ve also always just liked the idea of being independent and not having to rely on anyone all the time too.
“As Llyr is full-time on the farm he couldn’t really move far, and the price of houses and rent is so unaffordable for young people at the moment.
“So, in March 2022, we decided it was the next best option for us.
“The original idea was to buy a ready renovated caravan and just move in, but then we were offered this one for free from the farm I worked.
“They wanted to get rid of it as they no longer had the use for it and it was taking up space.
“We realised it had so much potential and just needed a lot of TLC and time putting into it so we decided we would give it a new home, and make it into our own.
“We were so lucky at this point to be gifted the caravan, as it would’ve cost the farmer more to get rid of it, so he said “if you can move it, you can have it!”
“So that was our next mission, to move the caravan!”
A leaking roof and rotten floorboards
While Cerys was excited to have a place they could call their own, it did require substantial work, having been neglected over the years and had fallen into disrepair.
Cerys says: “Once we started ripping things out we quickly realised how much work there actually was to do.
“We replaced all the floor boards that were damp and rotten, re-insulated the floors using foil insulation and built a new stud wall on the inside of one wall where it had started to cave in.
“We also installed a new bathroom, ‘new’ secondhand full-sized kitchen, new carpets and flooring – basically the whole caravan was ripped out and started from scratch!
“We installed a wood burner in the living room instead of the gas fire, and also have gas powered central heating, hot water and a gas stove for cooking.
“The only original bits left are the dining room dresser, ceiling beams and the doors and double-glazed windows.
“All in, we have probably spent around £5 to £6k including new furniture, but we have done most of the work ourselves in our own time.
“However we were very lucky and hadn’t had to pay for the actual caravan, which meant we could afford to spend more on doing it up.”
‘It was the best feeling’
Once the essentials were carried out, the couple finally moved in a few months later, and were able to enjoy Christmas together.
Cerys says: “When we first moved in, it was the best feeling.
“Obviously there were a few teething problems – getting used to things in general, and moving in during winter maybe wasn’t the best idea as it can be drafty, but we managed.
“We both felt like it was now our home and looking back at the photos it’s so hard to believe that we did it and made it happen.
“The feeling of independence and just everything about it was perfect.”
‘We’re saving so much on rent and bills’
Now, the couple are continuing to make the place their own, and are in the unique position to save up for a house deposit without having to live at home with their parents.
Cerys says: “We are also saving so much on rent and bills – especially now in the summer.
“We are still currently carrying out renovation works too – we’re building a porch and decking area outside, which we’re hoping to enjoy before the end of summer.
“We absolutely love living in the caravan, but as time goes on we would one day love to expand and look at buying a house somewhere.
“Living here means we can continue to save to one day get our own place.”