Scotland Kit Builder

[James HS]

Hey - thought I'd say hi.

 

My family is actively looking for a half acre in Inverness / Aberdeen areas and we're going to build a little kit home.

 

Budget is about half a worn-out shoe string, so I'm looking for a very cheap kit and I will do all the build myself.

We live in Hereford at the moment, so...there's a challenge, there too.

I've got 4 months to get on the land and start digging foundations. Let's bring it on.

 

j

[ProDave]

If your budget is small. why are you looking in the two most expensive parts of the north?

 

Do you really want to be IN a city?

 

We moved here 17 years ago and our requirement was "within half an hour of Inverness"  and we ended up 23 miles north, where building plots are about 1/3 the cost of plots close to the city.  And 5 years ago we bought our second plot that we are now on, 1/3 of an acre for £50K

[Bozza]

Welcome James.  I’m building just outside Aberdeen but using a turn key service.  We have family and work commitments in Aberdeenshire.  Are you familiar with the NE of Scotland is there a reason you’re looking here?  

[jamieled]

Hi James. I'm also just out of Inverness as it's a bit cheaper. Nice area. 4 months is quite tight to start building if you don't yet have a plot - is there a reason for the rush?

[ProDave]

I doubt you will start building in 4 months.  Buying the plot can take a while, then there is planning and building warrant.

 

About the most I would expect in that time is setting up a static caravan, and then probably not with drainage as that needs the building warrant.

 

And getting services on site is not that quick either.

[James HS]

4 hours ago, ProDave said:

If your budget is small. why are you looking in the two most expensive parts of the north?

 

I was being a bit careless with 'areas' - I meant within an our of each city - or longer. We're looking in the shires of those cities

[James HS]

Thanks everyone. To clarify

 

4 months to be on the land living in a static caravan, without services, looking at some dirt and holding a shovel.

4 months because we're sick of arsehole landlords in England and want to make this tenancy our last.

And location wise - definitely in the country. Definitely in the middle of nowhere. More shire than city.

[ProDave]

4 months is still probably tight, depending if you have a plot in mind.

 

Take a look here for Highlands  https://www.hspc.co.uk/search.asp?searchtype=form

And here for Aberdeenshire  https://www.aspc.co.uk/search/?PrimaryPropertyType=Buy&SortBy=PublishedDesc&LastUpdated=AddedAnytime&SearchTerm=&PropertyType=Plot&PriceMin=&PriceMax=&Keywords=&ByFixedPriceOnly=false&ExcludeUnderOffer=false&IncludeClosedProperties=true&ClosedDatesSearch=14&MapSearchType=EDITED&ResultView=LIST&ResultMode=NONE&AreaZoom=13&AreaCenter[lat]=57.14955426557916&AreaCenter[lng]=-2.0927401123046785&EditedZoom=10&EditedCenter[lat]=57.14778499299764&EditedCenter[lng]=-2.1418352661132722

 

 

 

 

[Taff]

Hi,

 

we live in Northumberland it took approx 10 months to get everything in place such as plot/plans and everything else that costs a fortune before a single blade of grass was removed. Contractor was delayed 3 months, they turned up, then put the scoop in the ground 8 weeks ago and that was it “DOWN TOOLS AND RUN FOR YOUR LIVES”. Covid bloody19 was attacking them from all sides, and this is a field in the middle of nowhere! Not seen them since. So that’s the first 15 months and all we have is a hole ?? if no progress in the next 2 weeks I’m gonna have to graft myself too. ?

 

but welcome tho it’s a friendly site ?

[ProDave]

2 hours ago, James HS said:

4 months because we're sick of arsehole landlords in England and want to make this tenancy our last.
 

Assuming you are on an assured short tenancy, at the end of the tenancy period it should roll over to a rolling tenancy month by month. You should not have to renew it for another fixed period.

 

You really want your static caravan to be serviced if you are going to do a Highland winter in it.  A more realistic timeframe would be to stick it out where you are with a view to moving onto site next spring, say March 2021, 10 months away.

[Bozza]

Your best best would be in the Huntly or Keith areas, near the A96 approx midway between Aberdeen - Inverness.  Plots approx £40k and the folk up there are really nice.  I see there’s a plot with PP at Gartly for oo £18k!   Aberdeenshire Council are very good to deal with planning wise and Moray are too from what I have learned,    When the A96 is duelled prices will go up.  Would avoid the Buchan coast though roads connection not great and weather not as good on the coast.  I’m saying this assuming you don’t know the area, apologies if you do.   The North East of Scotland has a lot to offer as does the Highlands.

 

 

[SuperJohnG]

4 hours ago, ProDave said:

Assuming you are on an assured short tenancy, at the end of the tenancy period it should roll over to a rolling tenancy month by month. You should not have to renew it for another fixed period.

 

You really want your static caravan to be serviced if you are going to do a Highland winter in it.  A more realistic timeframe would be to stick it out where you are with a view to moving onto site next spring, say March 2021, 10 months away.

Welcome @James HS lots of good information to be found here. 

 

I'd agree with Dave. 4 months is unlikely, and even if it does happen it's likely to be a very rushed purchase where you have not had time to do the background work and due diligence on the plot and full coatings. 

 

Take.you time and do your homework early at this stage especially if you are ona tight budget,  mistakes can be costly and hard to come back from. 

 

I recently completed purchase of 4 acres south of Glasgow, from initial discussion to completion was 6 months. Also just to give you an idea I was 18k for power and I need a borehole for water ata cost of anywhere from 12-25k. Both of these things I did my homework on before completing purchase  and knowingly entered into the purchase which was fine however if you buy a plot and find that out later it will hurt. 

 

Aim to move up, in the 4 months, and rent locally before purchasing that way it will give you time to adjust  and ensure you like the area. The rental market should be fairly low up that region in the next 4 months due to oil and gas prices so you may get a deal! Good luck

[James HS]

5 hours ago, ProDave said:

Assuming you are on an assured short tenancy, at the end of the tenancy period it should roll over to a rolling tenancy month by month. You should not have to renew it for another fixed period.

 

You really want your static caravan to be serviced if you are going to do a Highland winter in it.  A more realistic timeframe would be to stick it out where you are with a view to moving onto site next spring, say March 2021, 10 months away.

 

Landlord has already given us notice. So we have to be out Sept 28th. 

The option of renting in Scotland is a possibility, but we'd rather not. It's very disruptive with young kids.

[James HS]

29 minutes ago, SuperJohnG said:

Welcome @James HS lots of good information to be found here. 

 

Aim to move up, in the 4 months, and rent locally before purchasing that way it will give you time to adjust  and ensure you like the area. The rental market should be fairly low up that region in the next 4 months due to oil and gas prices so you may get a deal! Good luck

 

Thanks, yeah, and it's a very active forum which is good.

Thanks for the tips. I have to admit, I didn't realise it would take that long to just purchase - it's not as if there's chain! Helpful to know. 

[ProDave]

How well do you know the area? What are you going to do for work?

 

when we first made the decision to move here, we came up for a 2 week holiday to research. And we already knew the Highlands well from 20 years worth of holidays.  On that trip we bought a flat in Inverness which was our foothold when plot searching and became a but to let.

 

Once you have found an area we can give you more local knowledge, though I don't know much east of Inverness.  That side was too built up and not enough mountains for me personally.

[Bozza]

11 hours ago, James HS said:

Thanks everyone. To clarify

 

4 months to be on the land living in a static caravan, without services, looking at some dirt and holding a shovel.

4 months because we're sick of arsehole landlords in England and want to make this tenancy our last.

And location wise - definitely in the country. Definitely in the middle of nowhere. More shire than city.

 

Would advise you to rent up here rather than living in a caravan on site through the winter especially if you have kids.   Due to socialist govt you have a LOT of tenants rights including including only 28 days notice to leave etc.  No long term / short term lets here they’re illegal.    Sort of a pay as you go arrangement.  Renting in Scotland is weighted in favour of tenant not landlord.

[James HS]

Thanks @Bozza. Helpful to know about tenancy.