Stage 1) Choosing and finding a Park
With around 500 holiday parks across the country, there's an amazing variety of developments, facilities and locations to choose from. Most will offer leisure lodges or log cabins for sale, so think carefully about where you want to be and the amenities that you might want to have on site or close to hand.
1. You will first have to decide on the setting and environment where you prefer to site your holiday home - on the shores of a lake, in the midst of beautiful countryside, maybe by the seaside or, perhaps, close to an historic town?
2. How far do you reasonably want to travel on a regular basis to get to and from your holiday home? For most families, a drive of two to two and a half hours is more than enough.
3. What facilities are available on or close to the park? Are you looking for a bustling, busy resort with lots of activities for children and entertainment, or a 'get away from it all' retreat?
4. Does a reputable company with a proven pedigree own the site? Is it a member of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association and/or the National Caravan Council Fair Trader Holiday Park scheme?
5. Do you want to invite guests to stay? If it?s a small 'away from it all' park, are visitors, including children, allowed to stay overnight? Does the holiday park operator charge for additional guests?
6. Can you bring your pets onto the park? If not, who is going to look after them whilst you're away?
7. Are you looking to derive additional income by offering holiday lets? Is the park suitable for the sort of families you want to attract and does the park operator allow you to do this?
8. Wessex regularly visit sites with leisure lodges and log cabins for sale and can create a short list based on your required criteria
9. Search for outstanding parks using our Wessex Partner and Premier Parks listings.
10.Search for Vacant Plots
Stage 2) Selecting your new home
Wessex leisure lodges are modular homes available in a variety of sizes, styles and layouts. Before deciding on a specific design, you should always consider the setting of the plot and how you are going to use your home.
1. Plots come in all shapes and sizes. Some tend to be shallow with a wide frontage, whilst others may have a narrower frontage but be much deeper. Wessex modular homes are designed to suit either plot format, with the Milbourne Classic and Milbourne Contemporary leisure lodges having both gable end and side entrances as standard. The stunning Deckhouse has a unique, oblique entrance and decking area,which maximises outdoor living.
2.The beauty of Wessex modular homes is that they can be produced in a range of sizes and floor plan layouts. If you intend to have friends or family regularly staying over, you may prefer to consider a three bedroom layout. Each Wessex model also has a choice of verandah and decking options for superb outdoor living. The cosy 'snug' inside our innovative Deckhouse, complete with feature inset fire, makes a perfect retreat on cooler autumn evenings.
3. Your new leisure lodge will arrive ready for you to move in with fully co-ordinated fabrics and soft furnishings. The Wessex range offers a choice of charming and durable rustic styles or more contemporary interior finishes.
4. Search for Wessex Park Homes for Sale
5. If your circumstances won't allow you to splash out on a brand new leisure lodge, you could always consider buying one that has been previously owned. Wessex strongly advise you to seek the advice of a professional surveyor about the condition of any second hand leisure lodges or log cabins for sale before making a purchase.
Stage 3) Checking out the territory.
You'll be planning to enjoy your new holiday home for many years ahead, so you'll want to be sure that the park and the surrounding area is exactly right for you. Make an appointment with the park operator and go and check it out for yourself.
1. First impressions count. Does the park appear attractive and well maintained, with everything in good order? Are the advertised facilities open and available? Walk around by yourself and speak to existing holiday home owners. Ask them about how the park is run and their relationships with the park management.
2. Make sure the site licence (issued by the local authority) is clearly displayed and that the park operator is meeting the conditions on it. In particular, check out those conditions relating to safety, fire precautions, spacing of plots and the provision of water and other services.
3. The Licence will also clearly display the opening times of the park. Many open for 10, 11 or 12 months, whilst others open seasonally, e.g. from 1st March-31st October.
4. When you sit down with the park operator ask about ongoing charges like site fees covering upkeep of shared areas and facilities, maintenance of roads, insurances and possibly water rates that most be allowed for. You will also have to budget for costs such as electricity and gas and other services like water and sewage. Ask who the utility providers are and who will be invoicing you. If these services are charged through the park operator establish if there are any surcharges levied for this.
5. You should also establish the park operator's policy on sub letting. Some parks allow this and will actually manage it for you, for a fee. Others do not permit it at all.
Stage 4) Buying your home
Understanding the leisure lodge buying process and budgeting for its purchase and siting is crucial. So make sureyou obtain the right information and are fully aware of all the costs involved.
1. A Code of Practice for Selling and Siting Holiday Caravans is in place and provides all the information that helps both the holiday home owner and the park operator understand and use the law relating to buying and living in a leisure lodge in a fair and equal manner. Developed by industry trade associations, it recognises that both the holiday home and park owner share a common aim; a well-run Holiday Park where the benefits of a holiday home can be enjoyed and the purchase of a holiday home is secure for the future. You can download a copy of the Code of Practice for Selling and Siting Holiday Caravans here.
2. Are you buying outright or will you need to arrange Finance?
If you are unable to fund the purchase of your home completely, some specialist finance companies can offer loans specifically for the purchase of Leisure lodges. You can download a list of finance companies here.
3. Although we will help you to select and specify your home. You will actually purchase your home from the Park Operator, Not directly from Wessex.
4. The turnkey price of your home can be substantially more than the manufacturer's ex works price. The actual cost will be dependent on the quality and geographical location of the park, the size and location of the plot and the costs of transportation and installation on site.
Stage 5) Signing Up
The legalities of acquiring your leisure lodge are not complex and you do not need to employ a solicitor to handle the formalities, unless you want to.
1. Once you have chosen your holiday home and plot you will have to sign a written agreement with the park operator, which will come into force when the purchase is completed. You should always see and carefully check through this document before you commit to the purchase.
2. This written agreement is a legal contract between the purchaser and the park operator. It sets out the rights and obligations of both the holiday park operator and the holiday home owner.
3. It should specify the resident's fundamental rights including minimum length of tenure and the right to re-sell to a third party. Other terms agreed between the park operator and the home owner may cover such items as the duty of the owner to keep their home in good repair and a similar duty on the operator to maintain the infrastructure and facilities in good condition.
4. Be aware that in the event of you re-selling the home and assigning the agreement the Park Operator will be entitled to a commission of up to 15% of the selling price.
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