Ownership guide · Lodges
Holiday Lodge Ownership Explained
Lodge ownership works on the same skeleton as static caravan ownership — you buy the building, pay an annual site fee, and live within the park’s rules. What changes is the scale: bigger prices, bigger fees, and usually a longer, more comfortable season.
Here is everything we tell lodge buyers to get in writing before they walk onto a show deck.
By the team at Best Caravan Parks · Updated August 2026
The short answer
How does holiday lodge ownership work in the UK?
You buy the lodge (the building and its fixtures) and pay the park an annual site fee for the plot. The lodge is your asset but generally must stay on the park, and the contract governs season length, use, subletting, pets and resale. Budget for the purchase price plus site fees, rates, utilities, insurance and maintenance. Most lodges on holiday parks are restricted to holiday use — not year-round residence. Get every term in writing before signing.
What you are buying
A lodge is a timber holiday building placed on a park, usually on its own sub-plot with decking, parking and often a pretty outlook. You buy the lodge itself and the right to keep it on that pitch, subject to the park’s agreement. The building is yours to maintain and upgrade; the ground is not.
The ownership costs, in writing
- Lodge purchase price — well above static caravan prices
- Annual site fee — typically higher on lodge parks; ask for the three-year history
- Council tax or business rates — through the park on most sites
- Utilities — metered electricity, water and drainage
- Lodge insurance — usually a park requirement
- Maintenance — timber needs repainting and care; budget for it
Season, subletting and resale
Lodge parks generally run longer seasons than caravan parks, and some run year-round for owners. If you plan to sublet to offset costs, confirm the park’s rules and any letting commission. And plan the exit: lodge resale serves a smaller market, so understand the park’s resale process and how long sales typically take before you buy.
Pros
- +A genuinely house-like holiday home
- +Long seasons and better winter comfort than caravans
- +Beautiful settings on the best lodge parks
- +Strong family appeal if you will use it the year round
Cons
- –High entry price and high site fees
- –Depreciation applies to a larger purchase
- –Smaller, slower resale market
- –Park rules still govern use, letting and selling
Questions to ask before you buy
What is the complete first-year cost, in writing?
Lodge, site fee, rates, utilities, insurance, maintenance fund and any setup extras — an itemised first-year quote is non-negotiable before you compare parks.
What facilities are actually open in the closed season?
If you holiday year-round, get a printed list of what operates through winter — the clubhouse, restaurant and shop can all have different hours.
How does this park sell lodges, and how long do sales take?
Lodge resale can be slow. Ask about current listings, typical time-to-sell and the park’s resale commission before you commit.
Can I sublet, and what does the park take?
Subletting terms and commissions vary widely on lodge parks. Get them in writing and factor the tax in.
Get lodge ownership numbers you can trust
Tell us your preferred areas and budget and we’ll shortlist lodge parks with current written quotes — fees, seasons and terms included.
Get Lodge Ownership Options
Tell us where you would like to be and roughly what you want to spend, and we will point you to parks and ownership options that fit.
Frequently asked questions
Can you live in a holiday lodge full-time?+
How much are lodge site fees?+
Is lodge ownership better than caravan ownership?+
Still deciding between lodge and caravan?
The head-to-head comparison lays both sides out plainly.