Park homes

Park homes are detached, bungalow-style homes, also referred to as mobile homes or static caravans. They're usually installed permanently on sites that are owned privately or by a local authority. 

You can rent the property, or buy the property and rent the land from the site owner, so be aware of how this affects your rights.

You may have to pay your share of utility costs to the site owner. For gas and electricity that comes from the mains supply, they can only charge you what it cost them. In England and Wales, you can be charged a 'reasonable' administrative fee on top of your water bill. In some cases, utilities are supplied and billed directly from one of the national suppliers. In Scotland, your water rates are included in your Council Tax bill.

• The property itself can be cheaper than equivalent 'bricks and mortar' homes.
• Park homes are always single-storey and usually smaller.
• Park home sites are often in rural and peaceful locations.
• Park home sites can offer a feeling of security, as they are often gated and only allow access to residents and their guests.
• Some park homes are designed to assist with independent living.

• You can't get a mortgage on a park home, so you'll need the savings or equity to buy it outright, or you may be able to arrange financing through a specialist finance company.
• Ground rent (or 'pitch fee') and utility costs can change.
• Older park homes aren't always well insulated and energy bills can be high.
• You may not have the same level of access to state support, such as grants for home insulation, as you would in a traditional 'bricks and mortar' house.
• Parks may be further away from town centres, so consider whether this would affect your ability to access shops and services.
• If you decide to sell, you will only receive 90% of the sale price – 10% goes to the site owner.

Make sure to research any sites you look at. In particular, you should look at their facilities, road access, maintenance and parking, and check if the location suits your needs. You should always seek legal advice when buying a property. You can find legal specialists through the Law Society.

If you're considering moving into a park home in England, contact LEASE for more information. Shelter, Shelter Cymru and Shelter Scotland also have information about renting or owning a park home.

If you’re renting a park home, you could get financial help with maintenance costs and pitch fees through Universal Credit and housing benefits. Shelter and mygov.scot have more information about how to claim. 
You can also apply for the Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) if Universal Credit does not cover your rent. This can be a one-off payment or a series of payments. Find out more at Gov.uk or mygov.scot.

To speak to a specialist adviser about these benefits, call our Helpline on 0800 319 6789.

If you claim benefits or if you’re on a low income, you may be able to get a council tax reduction, whether you own or rent. For more information and to work out if you might qualify, contact our free Helpline or visit Gov.uk.