One of the questions that we’re most asked by people who are thinking about holiday home ownership with us is “Can I live in a holiday home all year?”.
Well, the simple answer to this is, no. The holiday home ownership industry can be broken down into two parts; those locations that offer residential park homes and those that offer holiday homes only. We fall into the second category, offering a HUGE range of holiday homes across the UK in our beautiful destinations and having a wide variety of both static caravans and stunning lodges.
Keep reading to find out the differences between park homes and holiday homes. We also tell you about our own holiday home ownership resorts, our open seasons, and site fees (as of April 2022, please note these are subject to change).
what is a holiday home?
A holiday home is defined as being a ‘mobile home’ that is owned in addition to your usual bricks-and-mortar home. The key thing to remember is that you can not live in this property permanently, you must own or be renting a permanent residence along with your holiday home. This is a legal requirement of owning a holiday home in the UK.
There are some pretty serious legal facts to take into account with this. For example, if someone fails to follow these rules, it means that they will be considered to be a breach of the regulations and could be liable to a council tax evasion conviction. This can sometimes result in a jail sentence and/or serious financial penalties, so it’s definitely something to be aware of when choosing your holiday home option.
When you buy a holiday home with us, we will ask if you could please provide proof of your main registered address. This could be a council tax bill or other utility bills for your primary home, you are then required to provide proof every year.
Buying a holiday home is much simpler than buying a brick-and-mortar home, it’s a process you will absolutely love! There are no legal fees, so you don’t have to pay out to consult a lawyer or for them to draw up any paperwork. There’s no stamp duty, so you don’t have to worry about paying any extra for the holiday home than the price you see and you holiday home will come fully furnished, so you don’t have to worry about buying a new fridge/freezer or sofa set.
There are literally no worries, you’ll have everything you need in your holiday home and the process is really simple, with our friendly sales team being able to answer any questions you may have and also offer affordable finance options so you know owning your dream holiday home is closer than you think!
how long can I stay in my holiday home?
The total amount of time you can stay in your holiday home throughout the year will vary depending on the license of the holiday resort you choose to own on. This is called our ‘open season’ and it varies between our holiday resorts across the UK.
All our holiday home ownership resorts are open for Christmas, New Year, and the summer holidays, so those daydreams of spreading your toes in the sand and basking in the summer sun are closer than you think! Get some quality family time during all school holidays and find your next adventure with your family and friends in your own UK holiday home.
Below is a guide of our own holiday resorts open seasons:
- Aberconwy Resort & Spa
- Open 12 months of the year, but this is not a residential resort, you must still have a primary address. Our holiday home license is defined as an owner spending more time at their primary home address than on the resort over the course of a year
- Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa, Hawkchurch Resort & Spa, Piran Meadows Resort & Spa, and Norfolk Woods Resort & Spa
- Open 11 months of the year. Closed to owners between the 10th January to the 10th February each year. These resorts are not residential resorts. Our holiday home license is defined as an owner spending more time at their primary home address than on the resort over the course of a year.
- Talacre Beach Resort, New Pines Holiday Home Park, and Seaview Holiday Home Park
- Open 10 1/2 months of the year. Closed for six weeks of the year, generally between 10th January and 1st March. These resorts are not residential resorts. Our holiday home license is defined as an owner spending more time at their primary home address than on the resort over the course of a year.
When you become a holiday home owner at one of our holiday parks, you can enjoy as many getaways as you wish. There’s no booking or queuing, you can just jump in the car and off you go on your next holiday break away.
Enjoy the feeling of complete holiday freedom, escape to your own luxurious piece of the world where you can relax and unwind, or explore the local area and find your next adventure around the corner! Imagine jumping in the car or hopping on the train and being only two hours away from your own UK holiday home.
what else should I know?
Holiday home owners do not pay council tax as you pay this for your primary residence.
Every holiday home resort will have annual fees you need to pay, these are called site fees. These site fees basically serve the same function as council tax bills, the fees cover the cost of maintaining the park and the facilities, as well as the rental of the plot your holiday home is on.
Your site fees will vary depending on the resort you choose, the location of your plot, and other factors. Our fantastic sales teams will be able to tell you all about these annual costs but below we have our starting site fees costs* at our different locations across the UK.
- Talacre Beach Resort | from £5,854 to £7,947
- New Pines Holiday Home Park | from £5,644 to £7,316
- Seaview Holiday Home Park | from £5,808
- Plas Isaf Lodge Retreat | from £4,995
- Aberconwy Resort & Spa | from £7,473
- Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa | from £7,221
- Piran Meadows Resort | from £6,095
- Hawkchurch Resort & Spa | from £6,792
- Norfolk Woods Resort & Spa | from £5,835
After choosing your perfect destination, you can then start searching for your dream holiday home! Here at Darwin Escapes, we have a huge variety of both static caravans and holiday lodges for sale across our resorts. Whether you’re looking for a cosy caravan to start your ownership journey in, or searching for a glorious lodge with spacious open plan living areas, perfect for entertaining family and friends, our resorts will have the perfect holiday home for you and your budget.
*Please note: these costs are correct as of March 2024. They are subject to change, as well as vary for any current offers, so please do contact us for the most up-to-date costs.
what is a park home?
As with holiday homes, a Park Home is still classified as being a ‘mobile home’ but they are covered by separate legislation.
However, a park home can serve as a permanent residence. They are generally a detached bungalow-style construction, which comes in various sizes and styles. Modern park homes are similar to standard bricks and mortar homes in a lot of ways, without looking like it. They are centrally heated, have double glazed windows and mains plumbed in.
The major difference between park homes and bricks and mortar home is the land on which the property sits. With park homes, residents will not own the land on which the property is situated. You instead pay annual site fees to the owners of the park for as long as you are a resident, these work in a very similar function to council tax bills. This does mean that you will be never in full ownership of the property, it is controlled by the owners of the park.
Here at Darwin Escapes, we do not offer park homes ownership at any of our locations across the UK.
our holiday home ownership options
Here at Darwin Escapes, we have stunning ownership destinations waiting for you to explore, where you can discover a whole new lifestyle and start your journey to endless holidays.
We know that one size doesn’t fit all, we have proudly unique locations across the UK, from the sandy beaches of Cornwall, the coastal region of Norfolk, the diverse landscape of North Wales and the stunning Devonshire coastline. Whether you’re searching for a spa getaway or a family-filled adventure location, our resorts have it all and we can’t wait to meet you and find your perfect holiday home with you!
We also have a HUGE range of holiday homes from sale, including new and used lodges and static caravans from the UK’s leading manufacturers. From cosy static caravans, perfect for the weekend break, to luxurious large lodges ideal for summer-long getaways and entertaining friends and family. With such a varied range we are sure to find the perfect fit for you, and with our fantastic finance options available, there’s never been a better time to buy your holiday home in the UK with us here at, Darwin Escapes!
Find out more information and contact our fantastic team on 0800 717 707