Holiday-let costs
How much are holiday-let site fees?
Site fees can be one of the biggest annual costs of a caravan or lodge. The important number is the full cost of keeping the property on the park — not only the headline pitch fee.
The straight answer
Fees vary widely by park, property type, location, season length and the services included. Ask for the current written fee schedule and model the total annual cost, including charges that sit outside the main site fee.
There is no single UK site-fee figure
A premium location, longer season, newer lodge, larger plot or park facilities can all affect the annual fee. Some parks bundle more services into the quoted fee; others charge separately for utilities, rates, maintenance or owner services.
For that reason, a price found in an advert or an older online discussion is not enough to use in a purchase decision. It may be out of date, relate to a different area of the park or omit significant extras.
Ask what is included — and what is not
The park should be able to explain the fee schedule and payment timings. Ask specifically about electricity, gas, water, drainage, Wi-Fi, rates, insurance requirements, maintenance responsibilities, subletting charges and any commission or administration fees.
Also ask when the fee is reviewed, whether there are anticipated changes, and what happens at the end of the property's licence or agreement. These details can have a bigger effect on affordability than a small difference in weekly rental price.
Treat the site fee as a fixed cost to cover
Once confirmed, include the full annual site cost in break-even. Fixed costs still need paying in a quiet year, so they deserve as much attention as the optimistic rental scenario.
If you are comparing parks, put each park's full annual cost beside its usable letting season and realistic booking assumptions. The cheapest pitch fee is not necessarily the better rental proposition.
Make it specific
See the numbers for the property you are considering.
BUKDup Check keeps assumptions visible and helps you test the costs, bookings and questions that matter for one property.