Have you ever wondered what a Residential Park Home is?  Have a read below to find out more ...



What is a residential Park Home?

The dictionary definition of a Park Home is a single storey home, similar to a bungalow, that is permanently sited on a private park, but that can be moved using a vehicle in one or two parts. From a legal point of view, a Park Home is classed as a mobile home and is covered in law by legislation, under the Mobile Homes Act 1983 (amended by the Housing Act 2004 ) and the Mobile Homes Act 2013 .

Unlike traditional properties for sale, a Park Home is manufactured off site by specialists. Consisting of a timber frame mounted on a steel chassis, they are built to the highest health and safety standards, and are required by law to conform to the residential British Standard (BS3632). Park Homes are no more than 20 metres in length, 6.8 metres in width, and 3.05 metres from floor to ceiling inside and once complete, are positioned on a plot (pitch) on a residential park, at which point they are connected to all mains services. The park will be privately owned or owned by a local authority, so while a Park Home owner will own the property, they do not own the plot it sits on, and will pay rent to the site owner for it.

Is a residential Park Home the same as a traditional home?

A residential Park Home is designed for permanent occupation and benefits from the same features as a traditional home, including central heating, double glazing, energy efficient boilers and gardens. Some are also available with garages.  Like traditional properties, Park Homes vary in size and layout but are typically offered with one, two or three bedrooms (some with en-suite facilities), a lounge with dining area, kitchen and bathroom.

The difference between a residential Park Home and a traditional property

A residential Park Home cannot be purchased with a mortgage and potential buyers will need the funds to buy a home outright, or obtain an unsecured source of finance. Park Home owners may also pay for utilities in a different way to traditional homeowners. Depending on the individual site’s arrangements, Park Homes may be billed directly by utilities companies, or the utilities will be bought by the park owners, who then sell them back to homeowners. In these cases, Park Home owners will pay a price no higher than the site owner has paid, in accordance with the Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets Standards, plus an added, reasonable, administration charge.

Who are residential Park Homes suitable for?

Residential Park Homes are particularly popular with the retired and semi-retired and those preferring a tranquil and peaceful environment, and most private estates are offered to the over 50s. A private, residential estate offers security and peace of mind, as well as affordable comfort, and homes are cost effective to both run and maintain.