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What to watch out for when buying a holiday home…
5-Minute Read | by Amy, Marketing, Coast And Country Parks
Buying a holiday home should be an exciting, rewarding experience; so let’s make sure it stays that way. Here are the things we’d always encourage you to look out for.
Owning a holiday home is a real privilege, and for most people it represents years of hard work and saving. That’s exactly why it’s so important to go in with your eyes open. A great park and a trustworthy team will welcome your questions; not dodge them. Below, we’ve pulled together some of the most common red flags that can catch owners off guard, along with what we do at Coast & Country Parks to make sure none of these apply to you.
Don’t just take our word for it, we’d also encourage you to check out other resources available – HARPA and The Holiday Park Advice Centre offers a great hub of information.
Coast and Country’s Quick Holiday Home Ownership Tips
Before we get started on Red Flags, here’s our quick tips on finding your holiday home:
- Look at the park’s social media accounts and public review scores – verify whether it’s trusted.
- Watch HARPAs ownership video.
- Find a park and sales team that you are happy and comfortable with – without pressure and stress.
- View the park and holiday homes available, potentially 2-3 times to make sure you are happy (we even suggest booking a short holiday if possible at the park – to get a real feel for it before committing to a purchase!)
- Get everything in writing – whether it’s contracts or discussions, it’s a great way to keep track and also refer to.
- Ask every and any question, owning a holiday home is a massive privilege and often achieved after hard work to be able to afford one. It can only work if you have all the information and are truly comfortable.
- Also, check out all of the resources available, check the sites owners FAQs to fully understand – it can help guide your understanding and conversations about expectations on ownership.
- Ask to meet some of the owners in the park and ask them questions.
- As a longer term view, you could purchase a more affordable pre-loved holiday home first, and see how much you use it and ongoing running costs are manageable. You could then look to upgrade to a new holiday home or lodge if you are happy.
7 Red Flags to look out for when it comes to your first holiday home…
1. “We can change the terms anytime” clauses
Watch out for contracts that give the park total freedom to change rules or fees without any notice or reason. A good agreement, like the one we use from our trade association HARPA; sets clear boundaries. Pitch fees should be tied to inflation, and any rule changes should have a genuine reason behind them (such as new laws or safety requirements), not just a blanket “we can do what we like” clause.
2. No clear end date or review points
If a contract doesn’t clearly set out when fees are reviewed, or how much notice you’ll get, that’s worth querying. With us, pitch fees are reviewed annually, and you’ll always receive around 3 months’ notice before any change takes effect, giving you time to plan ahead rather than being caught off guard.
3. Restrictions on selling or transferring ownership
Some parks charge significant upfront fees to list your holiday home, or restrict who you can sell to. We charge no upfront fee to sell, and you have full say on the asking price. We do need to be involved to protect both buyer and seller; handling finances safely and providing the proper sales pack, but we never stand in your way. Transferring to a family member or friend? No fee for that either.
Important to look out for...
4. Unexpected exit or removal fees
Circumstances change and a park that makes it costly or complicated to leave is one to be wary of. If you ever need to exit, we’ll always explore options with you first, including agency sale or a potential park buyback.
5. One-sided termination rights
A contract should always outline responsibilities on both sides, not just yours.
Our HARPA agreement sets out obligations for both owners and us as the park operator. Enforcement is always a last resort; if an issue ever arises, our first step is always open communication to find a resolution together.
6. Unreasonable pitch fee increases
A dramatic, unexplained pitch fee hike with little notice is a major red flag. Our fees increase in line with inflation only, and major infrastructure works would always be clearly communicated in advance. No surprises.
7. Lack of consumer protections or transparency
You should always be able to read the full licence agreement before you commit, with no pressure and no obligation. Our Pitch & Licence Agreement is available to anyone interested in ownership, and it also signposts external advice such as Citizens Advice. You can pull out of a purchase right up until completion without losing a penny of your deposit.
Trusted, Transparent, and Tailored for you!
We hope you’ve enjoyed this read; if you’re looking for a more in-depth guide, you can download our full 7 Red Flags of Holiday Home Ownership PDF here.
At Coast & Country Parks, we’ve been welcoming holiday home owners into our family since 1988. We genuinely believe that ownership works best when everyone has all the information they need, so please, ask us anything. Our Director Chris is always happy to chat through your questions, however big or small. The right park for you is one where you feel completely comfortable, so take your time, do your research, and enjoy the journey.
Interested in Ownership?
Explore our latest holiday homes for sale or speak to our friendly team…
📞 Call Chris, Director & Head of Sales: 07429 848451
📧 or use the contact form below… and book a park visit or virtual tour and experience firsthand why so many families trust Coast & Country Parks for their holiday home ownership.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Holiday Home Ownership...
Is it possible to buy a holiday home while I’m staying with you?
Of course, please ask at reception for information on which units we have for sale.
We will be more than happy to arrange viewings and answer any questions you may have.
How much does a holiday caravan or lodge cost?
We have a wide array of caravans and lodges across our parks available, with caravans starting from as a little as £19,995 right through to luxury holiday lodges, which can start from £90,000.
What is included in the price?
Our prices include transport, siting, connections, safety tests and inspections and tv aerial installation. All of our holiday caravans and lodges come fully furnished with high quality appliances. For the majority of our caravans and lodges, we also include the cost of brand-new decking. If decking is not included, we will notify you when viewing.
Do you offer finance?
We do not offer finance ourselves, however, we have partnered with Pegasus Finance, who specialise in finance for caravans and lodges. Do let us know if you would like their assistance and we can connect you.
Are there any hidden fees?
There are no hidden fees during the process of buying a holiday caravan or lodge.
The process allows the buyer and park owner to deal directly, so there are no third-party fees.
During the process, there are several elements to budget for:
* Annual Pitch Fees – This includes the security and management of the park, your local authority rates contribution and waste management.
* Utilities – On our parks, these are metered, so you are only charged based on your usage.
* Insurance – All holiday caravans and lodges must be insured.
Does my holiday caravan or lodge come with a warranty?
If the holiday caravan or lodge is new, it will come with the manufacturers warranty.
All our pre-owned caravans and lodges come with our own 6-month park warranty, giving you piece of mind.
How long can I have my holiday caravan or lodge for?
The site license will vary from each caravan to lodge.
New holiday caravans are offered with a 15-year site license, whereas a new lodge is offered with a 25-year site license.
Pre-owned holiday caravans and lodges can vary.
Do I have to keep my holiday caravan or lodge for the full license period?
The site license at the time of purchase is our commitment to you. There are however, several options available to:
* If you are enjoying the park and your time with us, there is the option to upgrade to a new holiday caravans or lodge, with a new site license.
* If circumstances change, you can sell your holiday caravan or lodge to the park or to a new prospective buyer, who will have the benefit of the remaining years on the site license.
* Let a friend of family member take over the license.
Can I live in my holiday caravan or lodge?
We do not allow any owner to live on site or class their holiday caravan or lodge as their main residence.
This would be a breach of your site license and of our park license to the local authority.
Our holiday parks are open for a minimum of 10 months per year, providing a wide window in which to use it.
Can I rent out my holiday caravan or lodge?
We do not allow owners to rent or sub-let their holiday caravan or lodge. We do allow friends and family to use it, at your discretion.
Are your parks pet friendly?
Yes! All of our park’s welcome pets.
We do insist that they are kept on a lead at all times around the park and that they are not left on their own in your holiday caravan or lodge.
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