Winchester family claim £175k losses after holiday park scraps promised facilities
A Hampshire couple say misleading sales promises and the removal of key leisure facilities at a Torquay holiday park have left them £175,000 out of pocket over three years, according to consumer claims firm European Consumer Claims.
A Winchester couple say they have lost around £175,000 over three years after buying a caravan at a Torquay holiday park on the basis of promises that were later not honoured, according to a case highlighted by European Consumer Claims (ECC).
David Nicholson, who requires home kidney dialysis, and his wife Jaqueline bought a caravan at Waterside Holiday Park in 2022 for £89,000, funded by a £40,000 deposit and finance for the remainder arranged through the park. According to the couple, a salesman assured them the caravan could be sublet back to the park for up to £10,000 a year, a factor they say was central to their decision to buy.
Subletting refused
When the family tried to arrange the promised subletting ahead of their first holiday in August 2022, they were told the caravan did not qualify for the park’s rental scheme because of its age. They say this was not disclosed before purchase and that, by the time they discovered it, they were contractually unable to withdraw from the deal.
Facilities removed
The Nicholsons say that on returning to the park in May 2023 they found many of the amenities that had influenced their purchase, including an outdoor pool, arcades and an entertainment area, had been removed as part of a reported £3 million redevelopment. In their place, they say, were new caravans, staff offices and an adult indoor pool, leaving only a small children’s swing park from the original facilities.
Financial loss
With the park no longer suited to their needs, the couple sought to sell the caravan back to the operator but say they were offered only £20,000, a drop of £70,000 in under a year. They have since listed the caravan with an estate agent but have not found a buyer. Jaqueline Nicholson said ground rent had also risen, from £6,900 to nearly £8,000 annually, alongside other running costs such as electricity.
Wider pattern, says ECC
Greg Wilson, chief executive of European Consumer Claims, said the Nicholsons’ experience reflected issues seen repeatedly among the firm’s holiday park clients, including steep depreciation, hidden costs and misleading sales presentations. ECC operates a dedicated caravan and lodge park division, the Holiday Park Advice Centre, which it says supports consumers seeking redress from holiday park operators.