When you buy a holiday lodge, the price is only part of the cost. Every year you’ll also pay a site fee to the park. If that fee jumps, it can change how affordable your lodge feels. That’s why a lot of buyers now look for lodges for sale with frozen site fees.
At Epworth Fields, a small, family-run, owners-only lodge park just outside Epworth on the Isle of Axholme in North Lincolnshire, the annual site fee is £3,000 plus VAT. It’s frozen for 5 years for every buyer, whether you buy a new lodge or a pre-owned one.
What is a site fee?
A site fee (sometimes called a pitch fee or ground rent) is the yearly charge you pay the park for your lodge’s pitch and the upkeep of the park. At Epworth Fields, the park looks after the grounds and shared areas.
Water is included in the site fee. Electricity is metered, so you pay for what you use, and gas is bottled, bought by the bottle.
Our site fee freeze in brief
| At Epworth Fields | |
|---|---|
| Annual site fee | £3,000 + VAT |
| Freeze | Frozen for 5 years from the day you buy |
| Who gets it | Every buyer, new or pre-owned lodge |
| Lodge prices | From £49,995 |
| What’s in the price | Siting, connection, decking and furnishings |
| Utilities | Water included in the site fee; metered electricity; bottled gas |
| Season | Open 12 months a year |
Why a frozen site fee matters
- You can plan. You know what the main yearly cost will be for the next 5 years.
- It’s simple to compare. You can set the fee next to the lodge price and see the real cost of owning. With water included, there’s one less bill to budget for.
- It applies to pre-owned lodges too. You don’t have to buy brand new to get the freeze.
Questions to ask any park about a site fee freeze
If you’re comparing parks, these questions help you see what a “frozen” or “fixed” fee really means:
- Is the fee quoted with or without VAT?
- How long is the freeze, and when does it start?
- Does it apply to pre-owned lodges, or only new ones?
- What does the fee cover, and what’s billed separately?
- How will the fee be set once the freeze ends?
- Are there other yearly charges, such as insurance or utilities?
You can ask us all of these at your viewing. For a full picture of yearly costs, see our site fees explained page and our guide to the cost of buying a holiday lodge.
Other things worth knowing
- No mortgage. You can’t buy a holiday lodge with a mortgage, so plan how you’ll pay. Part-exchange is accepted on lodges, motorhomes, static caravans, touring caravans and chalets. See part-exchange.
- No council tax. Owners don’t pay council tax on their holiday lodge.
- Owners only. Lodges are for owners’ own use and aren’t let out, so the park stays quiet.
- Dogs welcome. There are woodland walks in our 12.5 acres, a picnic area, and a fishing lake for owners only.
See the lodges we have now on our lodges for sale page, or call 07919 961115 to book a viewing. Viewings are by appointment.
