Families with caravans on a park owned by 'Gypsy Billionaire' Alfie Best have claimed they are 'trapped' on the site that has been left to fall into disrepair.
Several owners at Seaview Holiday Park in Sennen, Cornwall, said their investment in a mobile home is now worth little more than the paper their contract was written on.
It comes after a string of caravan owners across the country have reported losing their life savings or inheritance money after buying a mobile home - only to find it plummeted in value just months later.
Debbie and Stan Mularczyk, from Somerset, bought a caravan for £32,000 at Seaview Holiday Park - which is owned by Mr Best's Wyldecrest Holiday Parks company - using money from her father's inheritance in 2022.
The pair intended to spend more time in Cornwall during their retirement and rake in extra income from renting out the mobile home when not using it themselves.
They claimed they were promised they would be able to resell the caravan in the future, and that the site owner planned to invest £5million to make the park a luxury destination.
But their dream turned into a 'nightmare' when the site quickly became a 'bomb site', they were charged extortionate annual site fees and their caravan was worth close to nothing.
'The caravans on the website look great and the site shows all the bells and whistles,' Debbie said. 'But there are none.
Debbie Mularczyk outside her caravan at Seaview Holiday Park in Sennen, Cornwall
The crazy golf course at the site appears run down and tired after the park was allegedly left to fall into disrepair
A tennis court at the site featuring a pile of old furniture, car tyres and a washing machine
'We love the location but the site is dilapidated. There are utility cables sticking out of the ground. The children's play area has just two items left and the pitch and putt is broken.
'This is charged to us for fees of £6,000 a year. There hasn't been a manager there now since October, so no health and safety when it comes to antisocial behaviour.'
She added: 'It's just a bomb site. The historical photos are still used to advertise today but it looks nothing like the photos from years ago.'
Debbie said that before buying the caravan, she and Stan asked many questions about resale.
'We were reassured by the then manager that it was an investment and you can't go wrong and you can sell it again at any time,' she said.
'This was supposed to be a legacy from my dad who grew up around here and we'd own our little bit of Cornwall. But It's turned out to be a nightmare.'
Paul and Tracey Chambers bought a static caravan at the site after their son died in a car crash and they lost their pub business following Covid.
But just a few years later, after the site fell into disrepair, Paul claimed he was told the home was worth just £1,000 - only for that offer to be rescinded and the couple to be told they couldn't even sell it on the open market because of a tiny clause in the contract stopping them from doing so.
In an email to Mr Best shared with CornwallLive, the couple said: 'We thought we deserved and needed this when we saw the advert for purchasing a static caravan and pretty much put together all our savings.
The outdoor swimming pool, which some residents have claimed is cold and unpleasant to use
Debbie Mularczyk and her husband bought their caravan under the belief they would be able to sell it down the line to make some of their money back
'We purchased the caravan, paid the site/ground fees and wanted to live the dream. Unfortunately it's gone from bad to worse.'
Paul added: 'We were initially promised back in September 2022 that the site clubhouse would be open within weeks of our purchase. Two years later and it was still not open.'
Several families have expressed similar frustrations, claiming they are now 'stuck' at the park and are unable to resell their caravans.
Some claimed they were told they cannot sell their mobile homes on because they are more than 10-years-old - even though they purchased them when they were already 12-years-old.
Debbie said: 'We would not have bought this place if we'd known what we know now.'
Dave Coates bought his caravan at the site in 2020 as a holiday let for his family to enjoy.
But after his children grew up and no longer wanted to visit the site, he decided it was time to sell up.
'When we bought the caravan, we were told that because of its age we would have to either sell it back to the park or sell it through them. We had no choice,' he said.
'But now we're trying to sell it, there's no-one to be seen.
'It's very frustrating. I have tried to call them. I have emailed them several times but there has been no feedback. I tried to call their head office and it was the same. They told me they're in the same boat as us. How?'
Five caravan owners, including Debbie and Stan, have sought legal advice with a view to take Wyldecrest to court over what they claim to be mis-selling.
A view of the park last year, with some families calling the area a 'bomb site'
Paul, who supports the legal action, said: 'All I want, and I am sure the other static caravan owners want, is reimbursement. A lot of static caravan owners here, like us, put all they had into this as an investment and now are being treated like this.'
Laura Leftley, another caravan owner who feels let down by Wyldecrest, said she too is annoyed by the state of the site and feels trapped in her contract.
'It's been really hard,' she said. 'I viewed other sites and wish I had chosen differently. But a promise was sold and to this day nothing they have promised has come to fruition.'
On its website, Wyldecrest promotes its holiday parks around the country as 'premier holiday parks with spectacular views'.
It says: 'Wyldecrest Parks have a wonderful choice of premier holiday parks around the UK. With spectacular views and locations close to breathtaking coastlines, our parks are designed to help you unwind and leave your worries behind.
'Whatever your preference, we have a park to suit all tastes and budgets, whether that is strolling along miles of deserted golden beaches or the high octane activities of water skiing and speed boat trips, we have a park for you.'
Nick Heywood, head of holiday parks at Wyldecrest - which owns eight holiday parks and 112 residential parks in the UK - said the site in Sennen has been inspected by Cornwall Council recently over its licence and the local authority did not find anything wrong.
He insisted there has been a lot of investment in the site and it looks 'nothing like a bomb site'.
Mr Heywood said all areas are maintained and all the empty plots have only got electric boxes remaining.
He said that since taking over the site, Wyldecrest has put in 14 new concrete bases, opened up the back field and made it fit for purpose for the tourers, cleared nearly 100 unfit-for-purpose caravans and brought over 22 new units onto the park.
He said the complex has been maintained and there is a tenant to run the bar and restaurant, while all caravans have had their electrics updated, a new laundrette has been installed and there is now wi-fi on site.
Mr Heywood added: 'The hire fleet has been upgraded. All empty plots have been cleared of debris and a new road has been installed from the two lodges at the side of the pool round the back of the park.
'We have maintained the grounds to an acceptable standard. Installed additional CCTV and re-opened the games room for the children and the soft play.'
Many people who have used the site posted scathing comments on review websites such as PitchUp and TripAdvisor.
Lisa F posted in September last year: 'The facilities were an absolute disgrace. The toilets were mouldy, smelly and completely outdated, which made using them an unpleasant experience every time.
'The pitch itself was flooded and boggy, leaving no comfortable or usable space to set up properly. The whole site just looked neglected and run down, giving the impression it hasn't been maintained in years. Overall, I would not recommend this campsite to anyone.'
Another holidaymaker added: 'The site had a bit of a run down feel. The crazy golf has a dinosaur theme but the models are all broken and the area is not well kept. The outdoor pool had no heating as parts are broken and have not been replaced.'
Mr Heywood agreed the play park was not at its best right now but said the plan is to remove it all completely within the next six weeks along with the crazy golf and to rebuild and relocate the play park to another part of the site.
As for the complaints owners have made about not being able to sell on, he said: 'Every sale is taken on its own individual basis. Owners have a licence agreement which state the rules about what they can and can't sell.
'There will be an age restriction for caravans, but with that in mind we can communicate with owners on a one-to-one basis and can consider it.'
Mr Best founded Wyldecrest Parks in 2001 when he purchased Lakeview Residential Park in Romford, Essex - marking the beginning of his mobile home park empire.
In 2024, he told the Mail his net worth is into 10 figures thanks to his business interests - having quit Britain to move to Monte Carlo.
He said at the time he does not plan on returning to Britain - because he wants to spend his money in 'economies and countries that are much more welcoming and supportive of business and entrepreneurs'.
The Daily Mail has contacted Wyldecrest Holiday Parks for comment.
