Buying a holiday lodge can be one of the best decisions you make, or one you regret, depending on whether it fits the way you live. We sell lodges, so we’re not neutral, but we’d rather you bought with your eyes open. Here’s an honest list of the pros and cons of buying a lodge, with notes on how things work at Epworth Fields.
The pros of buying a lodge
1. A bolt-hole whenever you want it. No booking, no checking availability, no packing the whole car. Your lodge is ready when you are. At Epworth Fields the park is open 12 months a year, so that includes Christmas, New Year and winter weekends.
2. Holidays with no planning. Once you own a lodge, a spare weekend becomes a short break. Many owners find they take far more breaks than they did before.
3. Costs you can plan. You know what your site fee is each year. Ours is £3,000 plus VAT, frozen for 5 years, so you can budget with confidence. There’s no council tax on a holiday lodge.
4. Ready to use. At Epworth Fields, siting, connection, decking and furnishings are included in the price, so there’s no long list of extras before your first stay.
5. A quiet place that’s yours. On an owners-only park like ours, there’s no letting, so your neighbours are fellow owners, not a changing stream of holidaymakers.
6. Room for the dog. Dogs are welcome at Epworth Fields, so you don’t have to find kennels or a dog-friendly cottage every time you go away.
7. Somewhere to switch off. Woodland walks, an owners-only fishing lake and open countryside make it easy to slow down.
The cons of buying a lodge
1. It’s not an investment in the usual sense. A holiday lodge isn’t like a house. You buy it for the holidays and the lifestyle, not to make money. Read our honest guide, are holiday lodges a good investment?, before you decide.
2. There’s a site fee every year. Every park charges one. It’s worth asking any park how much it is, what it covers and how it will change. Ours is frozen for 5 years, but it’s still a cost to plan for.
3. You can’t use a mortgage. You can’t buy a holiday lodge with a mortgage, so you’ll need another way to pay, such as savings or a part-exchange.
4. It can’t be your main home. A holiday lodge is for holidays. You can use it all year on a 12-month park, but you can’t live in it as your main home.
5. You’re tied to one place. If you love variety and want a different destination every time, owning one lodge might feel limiting. It suits people who like going back to the same peaceful spot.
6. Travel time adds up. If the park is a long drive away, you may use it less than you hoped. Choose a park you can reach easily.
7. Letting rules may not suit everyone. At Epworth Fields owners can’t let their lodges. That keeps the park quiet, but it won’t suit anyone who wants rental income.
How to weigh it up
Ask yourself three simple questions:
- How often will I really go? If the answer is often, a lodge usually makes sense.
- Can I comfortably cover the price and the yearly site fee? Our guide to the cost of buying a holiday lodge sets out the full picture.
- Do I want quiet and familiarity, or variety? Lodge ownership suits people who want a regular retreat.
If you’re still unsure, the best thing to do is visit. Stand on the deck, walk the park and picture yourself there at different times of year.
Lodges for sale at Epworth Fields
- Lodges from £49,995, new from Love Holiday Homes and pre-owned. See them on our lodges for sale page.
- Part-exchange on lodges, motorhomes, static caravans, touring caravans and chalets.
- Hot tubs allowed. We can add one, or you can add your own (not standard).
