Buying a Park Home

Mobile home communities usually offer a relaxed lifestyle and community to provide a quiet and sociable life. They are particularly popular with retirees or those nearing retirement.

Single-storey and smaller than most properties, they are usually easier to maintain and, cheaper – and you only have to pay the lowest band of council tax.

Their location in parks with plenty of outdoor space is great if you want to garden or just enjoy nature around you every day, and many locations offer shared community activities and events to encourage socialising.

What should I be aware of when buying a park home?

Be aware if downsizing to a park home of how much space you need – if you can’t fit all your possessions in your new property, you will you need to either arrange alternative storage or sell items off.

The quiet community feel of most park home locations is also not for everyone – you don’t want to feel restricted, especially as other residents are likely to be familiar with such an environment and may not appreciate you being livelier or noisier than the norm.

For that reason, some parks have certain age restrictions, but overall most people can buy a park home - the main thing is to find one that suits you.

Can I live in my park home all year round?

If you are interested in buying a residential park home which you live in throughout the year, it is important to check with each park you visit if their licensing arrangements allow for permanent occupation. This is because some park home parks require you to leave for a month or two each. To avoid this, find a park home within a protected permanent residential site.

Read more about what to consider when buying a park home on the UK government’s website.

How much do park homes cost?

Like any property, park home prices can vary due to a number of factors – notably ‘location, location, location.’ As they are smaller properties which are easier to maintain, they are invariably cheaper than brick and mortar, but popular areas may see higher prices.

Check what type of roof your park home has, as different roof constructions have individual features that affect costs – especially those with a gable pitched, mono-pitch, flat or truss roof.

Buying new will, as with standard homes, mean energy-efficient doors and windows with a higher initial cost but these which save on energy costs. Similarly, choosing a park home that is well-insulated with thick insulated walls, floors, and roof would increase purchasing cost but save money in the long run.  

Note also that groundworks and services – such as site clearance, white goods, and furniture - are not usually included in the initial costs.

What insurance do I need for a park home?

Standard home and contents insurance won’t cover you for a park home because it is a ‘non-standard’ construction property. Instead you should protect your mobile home with specialist cover, designed for the unique requirements, ‘non-standard’ construction and legislations relating to these properties.

Park home insurance from Towergate

As a specialist insurer of mobile homes for over 20 years, we’ve worked with our customers to understand what they want from their insurance. We’ve developed our park home insurance to offer a flexible approach to insurance, crafted around your needs, covering what matters to you most, and giving you peace of mind.

Get a park home insurance quote and buy online, or call 0344 892 1413 to speak to a specialist adviser.

About the author

Adam Summersby is a respected leader with 11 years’ varied experience in niche personal and commercial lines insurance, including caravan, site operators and excess reimbursement, with proficiency in leadership, sales and account management.

What is different in owning a park home to a standard property?

Legally, park homes are a unique form of home ownership, very different to a traditional property: most notably, as you don't own the land your mobile home stands on. This is because your park home is not physically attached to the ground.

The site you are located on is also important, as different laws can apply to different types of sites. For example, park homes and their sites can be permanent or just for holidays, which can affect how long you can reside in them over the year.