8 Reasons For The Rise In Popularity Of Park Home Living

Park Home living is becoming a popular choice for many individuals, from retirees looking for their forever home, to those looking to live closer to their family. Residential and retirement parks have seen demand grow and we have noticed a significant increase in new parks opening across the UK each year. 

When buying a park home, the living experience will be worlds apart from buying bricks and mortar property. Pitch values have increased for park homes, and the majority of park home standards are leaning more towards affordable luxury for their owners. Scores of residential parks are now open located close to some of the UK’s most picturesque locations. It has never been more affordable for example, to live close to the Norfolk Broads, Exmoor National Park, or the Cornish coast.

The team at Sell my Group has been monitoring this gradual boom in the park home industry, and here we share our eight reasons why it’s only likely to continue expanding.

1. Residential or Holiday, what is the difference?

This first point is crucial if you are interested in park home living of any type, so let expand on the differences between a residential park and a holiday park. It may seem simple, but when you are looking for a little piece of heaven, it needs to be perfect. 

Residential Park Home

Consider a park home on one of these parks as your ‘forever’ home, usually for residents looking to retire and enjoy reduced costs but still have all the mod cons and benefits that come with a detached property and garden. There is a strong community feel which residents can immerse themselves in as much or as little as they choose. Most parks will accept new residents all year round, and there will generally be a requirement within the sale that the home is their bonified residence on-site for twelve months or more. Buying a home in a residential park is the beginning of a new and exciting lifestyle.

Holiday Park

A holiday park is as the name suggests, a place to use for short breaks when you so choose. Holidays, weekends, or mid-week, there is no limit on how many times you can visit your home. Holiday parks differ because of a few key points:

• There will typically be lots of activities do get involved with on-site such as a pool, restaurant, playgrounds, bars
• There are opportunities for rental properties, so different people will come and go.
• You have to have a permanent residence as well as owning a property on a holiday park
• Holiday parks are popular with families

Need a little more information? Please read through our other post, which goes into further details about the different types of parks and their homes here.

2. The downfall of community spirit

Long gone are the days of borrowing a cup of sugar from our neighbours, or are they? According to this recent article, ‘56 percent of those surveyed have absolutely no interest in getting to know their closest neighbours’. These days, with access to the internet and online shopping, people are happy to live privately, which is perfectly normal. But are we missing out by not being part of a close-knit community and benefitting from the support and help if needed?

These attributes are essential in the continued success of park communities and one of the main reasons why they are so popular. Park home living is centred around like-minded people wanting to enjoy the privacy of a detached property but with a strong community feel, usually residing in tranquil and quiet parks away from the bustle of cities and towns. Some parks will have leisure facilities or community-led groups on-site, which will arrange social events throughout the year. Other types of parks will be more private and have a warden on site (usually a resident), who is a point of contact for any questions or queries. We recommend researching the areas and types of parks that would be most suitable for your needs.

Most residential parks tend to bring people together and offer a sense of security gained from a close-knit group of individuals living in a park, be it residential or for holidays. 

3. People are becoming environmentally responsible

Maintaining the longevity of the environment is now the responsibility of everyone, and we live in a day and age where we cannot avoid environmental issues. From driving our cars to recycling used packaging, most individuals are looking for ways in which they can help the environment and reduce their carbon footprint on the planet.

When you choose to live in a park home, you can be safe in the knowledge that you will be living a much eco-friendlier lifestyle. Modern park properties drive lower emission levels than standard bricks and mortar homes. The homes can be made of recycled or sustainably sourced materials, installed with energy-efficient boilers, and are very well insulated, which helps to keep energy costs down during the colder winter months. 

Choosing to live in a park home offers you many benefits but being eco-friendly and having reduced living costs are undoubtedly two of the main ones. 

4. Property markets are uncertain and unclear

Taking into account the ongoing pandemic caused by Coronavirus, Brexit, and slow economic recovery, the housing market is certainly not in its most positive state. According to Savills, ‘Across all parts of the country, Savills expects UK house prices to dip by -7.5% throughout 2020’ which will cause concern for many.

Many people choose park home living because it is more affordable than everyday property ownership. Regardless of how the property market fares over the next few years, buying a park home is immediately less expensive upfront and many people also find park home sales processes to be much simpler than in the broader market. For example, part-exchanging for a park home can cut a lot of the home buying stress making it affordable and straightforward to buy a park home.

Another benefit of park homes is that they are detached properties with a manageable sized garden for residents. Having all the mod cons that we have come to expect can be replicated inside the homes, and many site owners are happy to discuss options with buyers. 

5. Homeowners receive more legal protection 

The most recent change in legislation surrounding park homes ensures that park homeowners have more rights and more unambiguous terms and conditions. The Mobile Homes Act 2013 was passed to offer park homeowners a stronger feeling of safety and legal backing should they need to raise issues with site owners. The majority of site owners are fair and support their residents with their problems, but having this legislation will undoubtedly aid in quashing any uncertainty.

6. Tranquil surroundings 

Park homes are unique in their locations as usually they are tucked away in a secluded area while having excellent access to local amenities. Most residential parks can offer their residents the best of both worlds with backdrops of woodlands and streams and then after a short journey, can be in a busy city centre enjoying a coffee and cake. You will rarely find a park community close to the hustle and bustle of everyday living. 

Park communities offer rural breakaways that people can enjoy – permanently. To many, it will feel like going on an extended holiday without ever having to head back. Conveniently, most parks will still be close enough to roads and transport links for residents to head out to towns and cities if they want to. However, they can always come back at the end of a long day to a home that’s peaceful and far from noise.

7. Sense of security

One of the main reasons people opt for park home living is the feeling of security and safety. Due to the majority of park locations being quiet and secluded, residents benefit from not being affected by the general public encroaching on their private land. In some parks, gates and cameras are installed, which is called a ‘gated community’, however not all parks have these, and not all buyers would like them. 

Residential parks are typically managed by employees of the site owner who look after the general maintenance of the park (not the homes), keeping on top of communal gardening, security lights for example. This is always a reassurance for residents, and most can call on these individuals with questions and any concerns. 

Residents can update their park home with additional security such as locks and bolts should they feel this is necessary, but the homes are on the whole, very secure and residents feel this way also. 

8. More retirees are choosing park home living

Many residential parks across the UK are exclusive to people approaching retirement age. In some cases, you will need to be of full retirement age to be able to buy a property on-site.

Park homes and communities offer affordable, flexible ways for people to retire and downsize from their existing bricks and mortar properties. The change in lifestyle is also a big pull for older people wishing to choose park home living; some other reasons could be:

• Many people may find their current properties no longer offer the convenience and flexibility they need. 
• Modern parks provide ease of access and a wide variety of amenities locally. 
• Easy access to all rooms in the house; no stairs or lifts are needed.
• No need to travel long distances for groceries or to see local attractions, more people are choosing single-story park homes with everything they need at arm’s length.
• Some residents are keen to downsize and enjoy the benefits such as less cleaning and maintenance.

Beyond this, the UK has an ageing population. With nearly 12 million over 65’s recorded back in 2018, older people are looking for a sustainable, safe, and relaxing retirement lifestyle and property. Residential parks can tick lots of boxes and offer peace of mind for relatives who may have more vulnerable older parents looking to maintain their independence. Families are always welcome to visit their relatives living in a park home, where they too can enjoy the many benefits of being so close to places of natural beauty and popular attractions.

Is park home living right for you?

Park home living is going to remain popular for many years to come. It is comfortable, affordable, and offers unlimited benefits to retirees. Many parks even open up to younger residents, meaning that semi-retirees looking for a peaceful foothold can now easily find an ideal park property. As we have mentioned, it is an opportunity to downsize to a smaller, more manageable property, yet still have the privacy that comes with a detached home. 

Above all, park homes are perfect for those who are looking for something a little different from the norm. For a slower pace of living, and closeness to some of the UK’s hidden natural gems and heritage trails, park communities offer incredible opportunities.

It can be difficult to get a feel for what good mobile homes can offer, so we have selected a couple of UK residential parks that we feel offer the full package for residents and their families.

McAlister Estates Limited

Oaks Park, near Dorking

Oaks Park is a fully residential park and is open to new residents all year round. It offers residents a full life both on the park but also out and about locally. Its location, with strong transport links to Horsham and Dorking, as well as further afield by train, ensures that residents are not going to feel isolated or short of activities to get involved with during their retirement.

Mount Park, Steyning

Located within walking distance of the historic and popular market town of Steyning, Mount Park is the perfect partner to enjoy countryside living with the convenience of local amenities. The accessible links to public transport are also a real help for those who do not drive. Peaceful, welcoming and a perfect location are just some of the words that describe this wonderful park which touches the boundary of the South Downs National Park.

Turners Parks Group

Lechlade Court Park

Lechlade Court is an exclusive development that is adjacent to St John’s Priory Park, based on the southern edge of the Cotswolds and is positioned in the busy market town of Lechlade-on-Thames, an area of natural beauty on the River Thames. It is part of the Turners Parks Group who owns and manages over 38 residential parks in attractive locations across the country. Founded in 2009, they have successfully grown to become one of the largest park home providers in the UK.

As we write this post, we are unsure of many things, and we do not know how long the recovery of the economy and housing market will take. What we can say for sure, is that there are still plenty of great reasons why park home living is desirable to millions of people. As experts in park properties and the park home lifestyle, Sell My Group is here to help you find your ideal home and to begin your park home journey.

If this post has ‘wet your appetite’ to find out more information about park home living, please take a look at our other posts on our blog or feel free to contact us directly.