Ownership guide · Costs
Static Caravan Site Fees Explained
Site fees are the single biggest ongoing cost of static caravan ownership — and the item most first-time buyers underestimate. The purchase price is fixed and knowable; the site fee is an annual bill that tends to climb every year.
Here is what you are actually paying for, how fees are set, and the questions that protect you from surprises.
By the team at Best Caravan Parks · Updated August 2026
The short answer
What is a static caravan site fee?
The site fee is the annual charge you pay the park for the pitch your caravan stands on — covering ground rent, the park’s infrastructure, amenities and administration. It is usually paid up front each season, it tends to rise year on year, and it is entirely separate from the price of the caravan itself.
What the site fee covers
No two parks itemise fees identically, but the annual site fee generally pays for:
- The ground your caravan occupies and the right to keep it there
- Access, roads, paths and general upkeep of the park
- Shared facilities — pools, clubhouses, toilets, play areas and grounds
- Park administration, security and, in many cases, water and drainage
- Your pitch’s share of the park’s operating costs
How fees are set and why they rise
Fees are set by the park operator and reviewed annually. Increases are driven by park costs, maintenance, rates and — in many cases — the operator’s pricing power, because moving your caravan to a cheaper park is expensive and disruptive.
Some contracts link fee increases to inflation (for example RPI or CPI); others state a fixed maximum percentage rise. Knowing which kind of clause you have is the single most useful piece of fee homework you can do.
The fee questions to ask before you buy
- What is the current annual site fee, in writing?
- How has the fee moved in each of the last three to five years?
- Is the increase capped, or linked to an inflation index?
- What exactly is included — water, rates, sewerage, wifi?
- Are there additional charges for decking, storage, pets or visitors?
- What happens to fees if the park is sold?
- Are fees payable if you sell mid-season, and is any portion refunded?
The honest numbers question
We deliberately do not publish a single “average site fee” figure, because the spread between parks is wide and changes quickly. Instead, ask three to five parks in your target area for their current fee and fee history — that comparison will tell you more than any national average.
Pros
- +Fees are predictable once you know the clause that governs them
- +A well-run park’s fees buy genuinely maintained facilities
- +Fee history is usually available if you simply ask
Cons
- –Fees rise most years and are largely outside your control
- –Fee increases can outstrip inflation on many parks
- –A low fee today is no guarantee of a low fee in five years
Questions to ask before you buy
How have site fees moved at this park over the last five years?
Ask for the actual figures or at least the average annual increase. This is the best predictor of your future bills.
Is my fee increase capped in the contract?
Some parks commit to inflation-linked or capped increases. If yours does not, factor in open-ended rises when you budget.
What is included in the fee at this park?
Get the full list in writing — water, rates, sewerage and wifi are included at some parks and extra at others.
Get fee comparisons for your shortlisted parks
Tell us the parks or regions you’re considering and we’ll help you compare current site fees — and introduce you direct for written quotes.
Get Park Fee Comparisons
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
Do I pay site fees even in the months the park is closed?+
Can a park increase my site fee by any amount?+
Can I avoid site fees by moving my caravan to my own land?+
Fees are one brick in the wall
See the full picture of holiday home ownership costs before you commit.