If you’re new to the idea of owning a holiday home, the words can be confusing. Lodges, static caravans, park homes, chalets: they can sound alike, but they’re not the same thing. This plain-English guide explains what a holiday lodge is, how it differs from the alternatives, and how owning one works.
A holiday lodge, in one sentence
A holiday lodge is a holiday home that sits on a pitch on a holiday park, which you own and use for holidays, but which can’t be your main home.
How a lodge works
- You buy the lodge. Lodges are sold new by the park, or pre-owned.
- It sits on a pitch on the park. The lodge is sited and connected to services on its own pitch.
- You pay a yearly site fee. This is paid to the park for your pitch. At Epworth Fields it’s £3,000 plus VAT a year, frozen for 5 years.
- You use it for holidays. You can visit as often as the park’s season allows. Epworth Fields is open 12 months a year.
Holiday lodge vs static caravan
Both are holiday homes on a holiday park, and both are for holiday use. Lodges are generally designed to feel more like a home inside, with more space and a more homely layout. Static caravans are often the more budget-friendly choice. For a full comparison, read our guide, lodge vs static caravan.
Holiday lodge vs park home
A park home is different. Park homes sit on residential parks and are lived in as people’s main homes. A holiday lodge is for holidays only. You can use it all year on a 12-month park, but it can’t be your main home.
Holiday lodge vs chalet
“Chalet” is used for lots of things, from ski chalets abroad to small holiday homes on older parks. If you own a chalet and are thinking of moving up to a lodge, we accept chalets in part-exchange, as well as lodges, motorhomes, static caravans and touring caravans.
How buying a holiday lodge works
The basic steps are simple:
- Choose a park. Location, season, letting rules and site fees vary from park to park.
- View lodges. See the lodges in person and ask what’s included.
- Agree the price and any part-exchange.
- Pay for your lodge. You can’t buy a holiday lodge with a mortgage, so buyers usually use savings or part-exchange.
- Move in your things and start using it.
Our guide to buying a holiday lodge goes through each step in more detail.
What does a holiday lodge cost?
Prices depend on the lodge, its age and the park. At Epworth Fields, lodges start from £49,995, and the price includes siting, connection, decking and furnishings. There’s no council tax on a holiday lodge. Our guide to the cost of buying a holiday lodge has the full picture.
Holiday lodges at Epworth Fields
Epworth Fields Holiday Park is a small, family-run park on Newlands Lane, just outside Epworth in North Lincolnshire. We’ve been here for many years. We sell lodges only, with no camping, touring or letting, so the park is owners-only and quiet.
- New lodges by Love Holiday Homes, pre-owned lodges, and a Victory Lakewood built by Victory. See them all on our lodges for sale page.
- Open 12 months a year.
- An owners-only fishing lake, plus woodland walks.
- Dogs welcome.
- Hot tubs allowed. We can add one, or you can add your own (not standard).
