Holiday Home Site Fees Explained: What Do You Pay Each Year? 8m Holiday Home Ownership Guides Jonathan 07/07/26 Thinking about owning your very own holiday home is wonderfully exciting. We love seeing the joy it brings, offering a perfect escape for making memories. But we also know that before you get to the fun part, understanding the annual costs is one of the most important steps. One of the main questions we get asked is about site fees. We believe in being completely open about all aspects of holiday home ownership, so let's walk you through a clear and simple guide to what you pay each year. More importantly, we'll explain exactly what you get for it. What Are Holiday Home Site Fees? In simple terms, holiday home site fees (sometimes called 'pitch fees' or 'ground rent') are the annual charge you pay for the rental of the ground where your holiday home is situated. It's best to think of them as your contribution towards the running, maintenance, and continual improvement of the park. These fees ensure the park is always looking its best and that all the facilities and services are maintained to a high standard for you and your family to enjoy, whenever you feel like a spontaneous getaway. What’s Included in Your Site Fees? When you pay your site fees, you’re investing in the quality and upkeep of your home-from-home. This is what makes park life so hassle-free. The fees you pay cover a whole host of services, which typically include: Grounds Maintenance: Keeping the lawns, gardens, and communal areas across our parks in Cornwall, Norfolk, Suffolk, and the New Forest looking beautiful all year round. Park Management & Team: Our friendly, helpful team on the park who are always there to lend a hand or offer local tips. Security: Peace of mind with on-park wardens, CCTV, and secure barrier systems. Park Infrastructure: The upkeep of roads, pathways, drainage, and lighting across the park. Essential Services: Including waste management and refuse collection. Access to Park Amenities: Use of the fantastic park amenities, which can vary from park to park. This could be the swimming pool at Cornish Meadows Holiday Park or the direct access to the New Forest's Canada Common from Green Hill Farm Holiday Village. What’s Not Included? For a complete financial picture, it’s also crucial to know what isn’t covered by your annual site fee. These are separate variable costs you control, much like you would in any home. Utilities: Your personal gas, electricity, and water usage. These are metered to your holiday home, so you only pay for what you use. Insurance: It is a requirement of ownership that your holiday home is properly insured to protect your investment. Non-Domestic Rates: Instead of Council Tax, holiday home owners pay non-domestic rates. This is a local authority charge that we simply collect and pass on. Personal Maintenance: Costs for annual safety checks, like gas servicing, and any general upkeep for your own holiday home. How Much Are Annual Site Fees at Lovat Parks? We believe in being upfront about all holiday home ownership costs. As of June 2026, our annual site fees at Lovat Parks start from £3,650, including VAT. Across the industry, you'll find that average site fees can vary significantly, often ranging from £3,500 to over £9,000 depending on a few different factors 1(https://nacoservices.com/static-caravan-annual-site-fees-what-they-cost-what-they-include-uk-guide). These fees are reviewed annually, which is standard practice across all holiday parks. Factors That Influence the Cost It's helpful to understand why fees can differ from one pitch or park to another. The main factors are: Park Location: A park in a prime coastal location may have different fees compared to a quiet, rural retreat. Pitch Location & Size: Within a park, a premium pitch with a sea view or extra garden space will often carry a higher fee than a standard one. Park Facilities: Parks with more extensive facilities, like a swimming pool or on-site restaurant, have higher running costs, which will be reflected in the fees. How We Handle Site Fees We are committed to being fair and transparent with our owners. As the first UK holiday park group to become a certified B Corp, this ethos runs through everything we do. To ensure there are no surprises, we notify all our owners of the following year's site fees every November. Any changes typically reflect the rate of inflation or any investments we're making to improve the park for everyone's enjoyment. We believe in investing back into our parks for the benefit of our owner community. Other Annual Costs to Expect Beyond site fees, it’s wise to budget for a few other annual costs. Being aware of these from the start ensures your ownership journey is a smooth one. Your Annual Running Costs Checklist Utilities: Gas and electricity are metered to your holiday home. At Lovat Parks, we find that typical annual upkeep costs for water, gas, and electricity start from around £1,000, but this depends entirely on how much you use your escape. Non-Domestic Rates: A key benefit of holiday home ownership is that you do not pay Stamp Duty or Council Tax. Instead, you pay non-domestic rates, which are charged to the park by the local council. We simply pass this cost on to our owners without any markup. Insurance: Comprehensive insurance for your holiday home is essential for your peace of mind and is a mandatory part of your ownership agreement. Maintenance: We recommend budgeting for annual gas safety checks and general upkeep to keep your holiday home in perfect condition. For extra reassurance, all our new holiday homes come with a 12-month warranty. Depreciation: It's important to view owning a holiday lodge primarily as a lifestyle investment for you and your family to enjoy 3(https://www.discoverparks.co.uk/11-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-holiday-lodges). Unlike a brick-and-mortar property, holiday homes typically depreciate in value over time. For more detail, our Ownership FAQs page is a great resource. Financing Your Holiday Home When considering lodge finance options UK, it's useful to know that you cannot get a traditional residential mortgage for a holiday home. However, specialist finance packages are available to help spread the cost. At Lovat Parks, we work exclusively with a trusted partner, Santander Consumer Finance, to help make ownership more accessible. How to Manage and Offset Your Annual Costs A fantastic way to help cover your site fees and other running costs is by letting out your holiday home when you’re not using it. Many of our owners find this is a great way to get a financial return from their property. We offer a fully managed Love to Let service that makes the process completely hassle-free. We take care of everything from marketing and bookings to cleaning and changeovers for a commission of 25% plus VAT. Of course, you also have the flexibility to manage lettings privately if you prefer. Key Questions to Ask About Site Fees Before You Buy To make an informed decision, it's vital to ask the right questions. We want you to feel completely confident, so whether you're visiting one of our parks or another, here are some questions to ask before buying a lodge at a holiday park: What is the exact annual site fee for this specific pitch and home 2(https://www.parkhomeassist.co.uk/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-holiday-lodge)? Can you provide a full breakdown of what is included and what is excluded? How much have site fees increased over the last three years? This gives you an idea of historical changes. When are the fees billed, and what payment options are available? What is the licence length for the holiday home on this pitch? (At Lovat Parks, these can be very generous—up to 100 years at Penmarlam Lodge Retreat!) Are you a member of a professional body like the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA)? (We're proud to be members at Lovat Parks). What happens if I change my mind? (We provide a 10-day cooling-off period where your deposit is fully refundable and even a 30-day money-back guarantee after you take ownership, because we want you to be 100% happy). Ready to Find Your Perfect Escape? Understanding site fees is a key part of your journey into holiday home ownership. These fees are a standard and essential contribution that covers the upkeep, security, and services that make park life so enjoyable and wonderfully hassle-free. At Lovat Parks, we are always here to have an open, honest conversation about all the costs involved. We want you to feel confident and excited about your decision. If you have any more questions, our friendly team is always happy to help. You can reach us on 0333 200 1010 or at hello@lovatparks.com. We can't wait to help you find your perfect escape and invite you to book a park visit to see it all for yourself. Overview Holiday home site fees explained. Understand annual ownership costs, what's included, what isn't, and the key questions to ask before buying your lodge. Citations [1] https://nacoservices.com/static-caravan-annual-site-fees-what-they-cost-what-they-include-uk-guide [2] https://www.parkhomeassist.co.uk/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-holiday-lodge Citations https://nacoservices.com/static-caravan-annual-site-fees-what-they-cost-what-they-include-uk-guide https://www.parkhomeassist.co.uk/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-holiday-lodge https://www.discoverparks.co.uk/11-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-holiday-lodges Link copied
