If you’re thinking about buying a static caravan or holiday lodge, you may come across parks described as having a 10-month season, 11-month season or even being open for 12 months of the year.
At first glance, a longer opening season can sound like the obvious choice. More months open means more opportunities to use your holiday home, after all.
But there’s an important distinction to understand:
A holiday park being open for 12 months does not automatically mean you can live there permanently.
The park’s opening season and the permitted use of your holiday home are two separate things. Before buying, it’s essential to understand exactly when you can use the property, what happens during any closed period and whether the park’s terms fit the way you plan to enjoy your holiday home.
Here’s what buyers need to know.
What Is a 10-Month Holiday Park?
A 10-month holiday park is typically open for holiday-home owners for around ten months of the year, with the park closing for a set period.
The exact closure dates vary between parks. One park may close during part of January and February, while another may have different seasonal arrangements.
During the closed period, owners may not be permitted to stay overnight in their static caravan or lodge.
Access arrangements can also vary, so it’s important to ask the park exactly what happens during the closure.
Questions worth asking include:
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What dates does the park close?
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Can owners visit during the closed period?
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Can belongings remain in the holiday home?
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Are utilities turned off?
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Is a winter drain-down required?
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What security arrangements are in place?
Never assume that all 10-month parks operate in the same way.
What Is a 12-Month Holiday Park?
A 12-month holiday park is generally a park where holiday-home owners can use their caravan or lodge throughout the year, subject to the park’s licence and individual occupancy terms.
For some buyers, that additional flexibility can be very appealing.
It may allow you to enjoy:
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Winter weekends away
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Christmas or New Year breaks, where permitted
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Autumn getaways
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Early spring holidays
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Quieter breaks outside the main summer season
However, this is where one of the biggest misunderstandings around holiday-home ownership can arise.
Can You Live Permanently on a 12-Month Holiday Park?
Not necessarily.
A park being open for 12 months of the year does not automatically make it a residential park.
If a static caravan or lodge is situated on a holiday park, it will normally be intended for holiday and leisure use rather than as your permanent main residence.
The park may require owners to maintain a permanent residential address elsewhere, and there may be conditions governing how the holiday home can be occupied.
If you’re looking for somewhere to live permanently, you should instead look for a residential park home on a park that is appropriately licensed for residential use.
Before purchasing any holiday home, always ask the advertiser for clear information about the park’s licence and occupancy conditions.
Why Do Some Holiday Parks Close During Winter?
There isn’t one single reason why a holiday park may have a seasonal closure.
The park’s location, operating model, licence conditions and facilities can all influence its opening period.
For example, some coastal or rural holiday parks may operate mainly around the traditional holiday season, while others are designed to welcome owners for breaks throughout much or all of the year.
A seasonal closure shouldn’t necessarily be seen as a disadvantage.
If you only expect to use your static caravan between spring and autumn, a park with a shorter season could still suit you perfectly.
What Are the Benefits of a 12-Month Holiday Park?
For buyers who want to enjoy frequent breaks throughout the year, a longer season can offer greater flexibility.
More Opportunities for Short Breaks
If the park is within easy travelling distance of home, being able to visit during winter as well as summer could make spontaneous weekends away much easier.
Autumn and Winter Getaways
Coastal and countryside destinations can feel very different outside the peak summer months.
A longer opening season could allow you to experience quieter beaches, autumn walks, winter scenery and seasonal events.
More Use from Your Holiday Home
Some owners want their static caravan or lodge to be somewhere they visit regularly rather than simply for one or two summer holidays.
If that sounds like you, a longer park season may be worth prioritising.
Why Might a 10-Month Park Still Be the Better Choice?
A 12-month season isn’t automatically better.
Think about how you realistically expect to use the holiday home.
If most of your visits are likely to take place between March and October, you may get very little benefit from having access during the middle of winter.
Other factors could ultimately be more important, including:
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Location
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Journey time from home
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The caravan or lodge itself
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Pitch position
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Park atmosphere
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Facilities
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Annual pitch fees
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Local attractions
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Pet policies
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Overall running costs
You might prefer a 10-month park in your ideal location over a 12-month park that doesn’t suit your lifestyle as well.
What Happens When a Holiday Park Closes?
If you’re considering a park with a seasonal closure, find out exactly what happens during that period before buying.
Some owners may need to prepare their static caravan for winter.
This could include measures such as:
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Draining down the water system
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Turning off certain utilities
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Removing food
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Securing outdoor furniture
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Checking insurance requirements
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Taking valuables home
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Making sure the caravan is properly ventilated
The park may provide its own instructions or services, so always follow the guidance given by the park or manufacturer.
Is a 12-Month Park More Expensive?
Not necessarily.
Annual pitch fees and other ownership costs vary significantly between parks.
A longer opening season may be one factor that influences costs, but so can:
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Location
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Park facilities
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Pitch size
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Pitch position
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Landscaping
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Security
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Maintenance
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Utilities
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Additional services
Instead of comparing parks based only on whether they are open for 10 or 12 months, compare the total annual cost of ownership.
Ask for a clear breakdown of current fees before purchasing.
Is Your Static Caravan Suitable for Winter Use?
Even if a park is open throughout the colder months, you should still consider whether the caravan or lodge itself is suitable for how you intend to use it.
If you want to visit regularly during autumn and winter, features worth looking for may include:
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Double glazing
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Central heating
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Good insulation
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Efficient heating controls
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Comfortable flooring
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Adequate ventilation
Some holiday homes are better equipped for colder-weather use than others.
Ask the advertiser for the exact specification rather than assuming a newer or more expensive model will automatically include everything you need.
10-Month vs 12-Month Holiday Parks: Which Is Right for You?
The right choice depends on your lifestyle.
A 10-month holiday park could suit you if:
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You mainly want spring and summer holidays
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You don’t expect to visit during winter
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The park offers your ideal location
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The season covers the months you’re most likely to use the holiday home
A 12-month holiday park could be worth considering if:
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You enjoy breaks throughout the year
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You want greater flexibility
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Autumn and winter holidays appeal to you
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The park is close enough for frequent short stays
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The holiday home is well equipped for colder weather
Neither option is automatically better.
The best park is the one that matches how you genuinely plan to use your holiday home.
Questions to Ask Before Buying
Before committing to a static caravan or holiday lodge, ask the relevant park or advertiser:
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What is the exact opening season?
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Are there any dates when owners cannot stay overnight?
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Can I visit during the closed period?
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Is the park open over Christmas and New Year?
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Are there any winter restrictions?
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Is the holiday home suitable for colder-weather use?
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What are the annual pitch fees?
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Are utility charges included or separate?
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Is a winter drain-down required?
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What occupancy conditions apply?
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Do I need to maintain a permanent address elsewhere?
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Are there any restrictions on how long I can stay at one time?
Getting these answers in advance can help you avoid misunderstandings later.
Holiday Park or Residential Park?
If your goal is to own somewhere for holidays and leisure, a static caravan or lodge on a holiday park could be the right choice.
If your goal is to move permanently and make the property your main home, you should instead explore residential park homes.
That distinction is important regardless of whether a holiday park is open for 10, 11 or 12 months of the year.
Find Static Caravans and Holiday Lodges with Parkmove
Whether you’re looking for a seaside static caravan, a countryside lodge or a holiday home you can enjoy across more of the year, Parkmove brings together properties advertised for sale at parks across the UK.
You can compare different homes, locations and parks before contacting the relevant advertiser directly for the latest information on availability, pitch fees, opening seasons and occupancy conditions.
Parkmove is a property portal and does not own or operate the parks advertised on the website. Park rules, licence conditions, fees, facilities and permitted occupancy are determined by the individual park or seller, so always confirm the current terms before purchasing.
Ready to start searching? Browse static caravans and holiday lodges for sale on Parkmove and find a holiday home that suits you.
