Holiday Home Buyers Guide
If you’ve been thinking about buying a holiday home but aren’t quite sure where to start — or even whether it’s the right thing for you — this guide is written for you. No jargon, no pressure. Just a clear picture of what holiday home ownership actually involves.
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What Is a Static Holiday Home?
A static holiday home is a purpose-built unit designed for holiday use, sited on a licensed pitch at a holiday park. Unlike a touring caravan, it stays in one place. It’s fully furnished, fully connected to services, and ready to use whenever you are. Modern holiday homes are well-insulated, attractively designed, and built to a high standard by manufacturers such as Willerby, Pemberton, Atlas, and Prestige. Many feature full-size kitchens, separate bedrooms, contemporary bathrooms, and comfortable living spaces.
Who Buys a Holiday Home?
The short answer: a wide range of people. Owners at Rivermead range from couples in their forties who want a regular weekend escape, to retirees looking for a relaxed base for exploring the Cotswolds, to families who want somewhere the grandchildren look forward to visiting every school holiday. What they share is a desire for somewhere reliably theirs — available when they want it, kept ready without significant effort, in a location they’re genuinely happy to return to again and again.
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Is It the Same as Owning a Property?
No — and it’s important to understand the difference. When you buy a holiday home at Rivermead, you own the physical structure of the holiday home itself. You do not own the land it sits on. Instead, you hold a licence agreement with the park, giving you the right to keep your holiday home on a specific pitch for the duration of the season. This is the standard arrangement across UK holiday home parks. The licence is renewed annually, and the site fee you pay each year covers your pitch licence along with the park’s management and maintenance costs. Holiday homes at Rivermead are for holiday use only — they cannot be used as a permanent or primary residence.
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Not at Rivermead. The park is strictly owner-only. Your holiday home may be enjoyed by you and your personal guests, but commercial letting — including through platforms such as Airbnb or holiday cottage agencies — is not permitted. This is a defining feature of Rivermead, and a significant part of why the park maintains the quiet, private character that our owners value so highly.
How Much Does It Cost?
Ownership costs explained
The cost of holiday home ownership at Rivermead falls into two main categories
The Purchase Price
Holiday homes at Rivermead range from £26,995 to £62,995. Every purchase includes Cotswold stone steps, a patio, full service connections, and your first season’s site fees. Finance and part exchange are both available.
Annual Running Costs
The main ongoing cost is your annual site fee, covering your pitch licence and contributing to park maintenance. Gas, electricity, and water are metered separately and billed twice a year. Holiday home insurance is a compulsory requirement.
What Happens at the End of the Season?
Rivermead closes for January and February each year. During this period your holiday home remains on your pitch — secure, with the park on hand. The closure gives our team time to carry out maintenance on the grounds and facilities, so everything is ready for the new season.
Your belongings can remain in the holiday home over winter. We’ll advise you on closing it down properly at the end of your first season — it’s straightforward, and we’ll walk you through it.
Is Holiday Home Ownership Right for Me?
It suits people who want a reliable, personal retreat they can use flexibly — without booking ahead, without variable quality, and without the full responsibilities of a second property. It works well for those who love a specific area and want a proper base there, and for families and couples who want somewhere that feels genuinely theirs to return to.
The best way to know whether it’s right for you is to visit a park you’re drawn to. Come and see Rivermead. Walk the grounds. Have an honest conversation with us. We’ll answer every question straightforwardly — including the ones that might lead you to decide it’s not for you right now.
