Static Caravan Site Fees Explained (and Lodge Site Fees)

Static caravan site fees are the biggest ongoing cost of owning a holiday home on a park, and often the least understood. They differ from park to park, they usually change every year, and the headline figure doesn’t always tell you what’s included. This guide explains how site fees work for static caravans and lodges, what to ask before you buy, and how we do it at Epworth Fields, a small, owners-only lodge park in North Lincolnshire.

What are site fees?

A site fee (sometimes called a pitch fee or ground rent) is what you pay the park each year for your caravan or lodge to stay on its pitch. You own the caravan or lodge. The park owns the land, and the site fee pays for your right to keep your holiday home there under your agreement with the park.

Site fees typically go towards:

• maintaining roads, paths, lighting and landscaping
• grounds staff, security and the park’s management
• shared facilities, such as a lake, play areas or a clubhouse, depending on the park
• the park’s own running costs and licences

What static caravan site fees usually don’t include

Every park is different, so always ask. On many parks the site fee doesn’t cover:

• the gas, electricity and water you use in your own caravan or lodge, which are often billed separately
• insurance for your caravan or lodge
• maintenance of the caravan or lodge itself
• VAT, which is often quoted separately, so check whether a figure is “plus VAT”

Every purchase at Epworth Fields is tailored, so we’ll talk you through running costs when you visit.

Why do caravan site fees go up?

Most parks review their site fees every year, so the figure you pay in your first year is rarely the figure you pay five years later. Increases reflect the park’s own rising costs, and some parks link them to inflation. Your agreement should explain how increases work. Ask to see it before you buy.

That’s why the most useful question isn’t “What is the site fee?” but “What will it be over the next few years?”

Static caravan site fees vs lodge site fees

Static caravan and lodge site fees work the same way. Some parks charge more for larger lodge pitches or premium positions, such as lakeside or a better view. When you compare parks, compare like with like: the same size of pitch, the same facilities, and the same season length. A cheaper fee on a park that closes for part of the winter may be worse value than a higher one on a 12-month park.

Our site fee at Epworth Fields

• £3,000 plus VAT a year
• Frozen for 5 years
• For every buyer, whether you buy a new or a pre-owned lodge

That freeze means you know your biggest running cost for the next five years before you buy. Our fee goes towards a small, gated, 12.5-acre park with woodland walks, a picnic area and an owners-only fishing lake. There’s a 12-month season.

Our lodges start from £49,995. The price includes siting, connection, decking and furnishings, so there are no extras to add before your first weekend. See the lodges for sale.

Questions to ask any park about site fees

1. What is the site fee this year, and is it plus VAT?
2. How has it changed over the last few years?
3. How are increases worked out, and where is that written down?
4. What exactly does the fee cover, and what is billed separately?
5. Does the fee change if I buy a pre-owned caravan or lodge?
6. Is there a fixed or frozen period?
7. How long is the season?

For the wider picture, see our cost of buying a holiday lodge guide and the buying a holiday lodge guide.

FAQ

What are site fees on a static caravan?

They’re the annual charge the park makes for your caravan to stay on its pitch. They pay for the park’s grounds, management and shared facilities.

Do site fees include electricity and water?

On many parks, no. Your own use is often billed separately. Always ask each park.

Are site fees paid monthly or yearly?

It varies by park. Ask how and when the fee is payable.

Do lodges have higher site fees than static caravans?

Sometimes, on parks that charge more for larger or premium pitches. Compare what each fee includes.

What is the site fee at Epworth Fields?

It’s £3,000 plus VAT a year, frozen for 5 years for every buyer.

Can I part-exchange my static caravan to move to a lodge?

Yes. We take motorhomes, static caravans and touring caravans in part-exchange. See part exchange your static caravan.