‘Ripped off’ caravan owners start compensation fight

Mrs Horner-Bloomfield, who worked as a carer before ill health forced her to stop, and does not yet receive a pension, asked to sell the caravan back to the park owners in September 2023.

However, she was told they no longer purchased caravans manufactured more than 10 years ago.

She said the park also told her that her caravan would only fetch about £5,000 on the open market.

Mrs Horner-Bloomfield said: “I was stunned. I said why did you charge me £29,995 a year ago for something that was only worth £5,000? And he said, ‘well it’s business isn’t it?’ I was furious.”

Watermill Leisure Park said its dealings with Mrs Horner-Bloomfield were “fair and transparent” and it provided buyers with a “clear and readily understood sales contract”.

It said it was “under no obligation to buy back a holiday caravan” but any offers it does make are “a fair reflection of the value to the park of that holiday home at that particular moment”, based on factors such as time of year and level of demand.

A spokesperson said sales staff also advise that holiday caravans are intended as a long-term purchase.