Search for residential lodges for sale near you and the results mix three different things together: holiday lodges, park homes and timber cabins. Only one of those gives you a permanent address you can live at every month of the year. This guide sorts out which is which, what to check before you commit, and how to find one close to where you want to live.

What makes a lodge residential

Two things decide it, and neither of them is the way the lodge looks.

The first is the build standard. Homes intended for permanent living are built to BS 3632, the British Standard covering insulation, heating, ventilation and weatherproofing for year-round occupation. Holiday-spec lodges are built to a lighter standard (BS EN 1647) and cost less to buy for that reason.

The second is the park's licence. The site needs a residential site licence from the local authority and planning permission for 12-month occupation. Without both, you cannot register the lodge as your main address, no matter how well built it is.

A holiday lodge on a park with a seasonal licence will always be a holiday lodge. Ask for the licence before you fall in love with the decking.

Residential lodge or park home?

In law, very little separates them. Once a home sits on a protected residential site, the Mobile Homes Act 1983 covers your rights either way: a written statement, security of tenure, and the right to sell.

The difference is size and finish. Lodge-specification homes tend to be wider and longer than a standard park home, with vaulted ceilings, larger glazing and a more open layout. They cost more. Some parks list both and use the words interchangeably, so read the specification sheet rather than the label.

Five things to check before you buy

The site licence. Ask to see it. Confirm in writing that the pitch permits 12-month residential occupation.

Age restrictions. Many residential parks are over-50s or over-55s. Plenty are not. If a younger household member is moving in with you, this decides whether the park is even an option. Browse residential parks with no age restrictions or residential parks for the over 55s depending on which suits you.

Pitch fees and how they rise. The pitch fee is your monthly rent for the ground the lodge sits on. Ask what it covers, whether utilities are separate, and when it is reviewed. In England and Wales the annual review presumption moved from RPI to CPI in 2023, which usually means smaller increases than owners saw before.

Commission on resale. When you sell, the site owner is entitled to a commission of up to 10% of the sale price. Budget for it now rather than at the point of sale.

The written statement. Buying from the park owner, you should receive a written statement before the agreement is made. Buying from an existing owner, ask for the Buyer's Information Form and a copy of the park rules lodged with the council. Read all of it. It sets out the pitch fee, the review date and what you can and cannot do on your pitch.

How to search for a residential lodge near you

Blanket searches for "lodges" pull in holiday stock, which is why the results feel confusing. Narrow it at the start instead.

Set the search to Residential Park, then pick your accommodation type and your area. You can search residential parks by county if you have a region in mind, or browse park homes and residential lodges for sale across the UK and filter down from there.

If budget is doing most of the deciding, start with residential park homes under £150,000 and work upwards. If location matters more, residential parks by the sea is a good place to begin.

Ready to look properly?

Shortlist three or four parks within your area, ring each one, and ask the same set of questions about licence, age policy, pitch fee and review date. The answers will thin the list quickly.

Search residential parks and lodges near you, or get in touch and we'll point you towards parks that match what you're after.

Can you live in a residential lodge all year round?
Yes, provided the lodge is built to BS 3632 and sits on a park with a residential site licence and 12-month planning permission. You can register it as your permanent address and receive post there. A holiday lodge on a seasonal-licence park cannot be used this way.
Are residential lodges age restricted?
Many residential parks set a minimum age of 50 or 55, but a good number have no age restriction at all. The restriction belongs to the park, not the lodge, so check the park rules before you view. Ask whether the policy applies to all occupants or only the named owner.
Can you get a mortgage on a residential lodge?
Standard residential mortgages are not available, because you own the lodge and rent the pitch rather than owning land. Most buyers pay cash, part-exchange an existing property, or use a specialist park home finance provider. Rates on specialist finance are typically higher than a high-street mortgage.
What are the site fees on a residential lodge?
You pay a monthly pitch fee to the park, reviewed once a year. It covers the pitch and communal upkeep, with council tax, utilities and insurance usually charged separately. Fees vary widely by park and location, so always ask for the current figure and the last three years of increases.
Can you sell a residential lodge whenever you want?
Yes. Under the Mobile Homes Act 1983 you have the right to sell your home on its pitch and pass the agreement to the buyer. The site owner is entitled to commission of up to 10% of the sale price and can only object to a buyer on limited grounds.