Holiday Parks vs Residential Parks: Understanding the Difference

When buying a luxury lodge, one of the most important things to understand from the outset is how the type of park you choose affects your lifestyle and your legal responsibilities.

The terms holiday park and residential park are often used interchangeably, but they mean very different things.

At Leisure Resorts, all of our award winning locations operate as holiday parks. This means our lodges are designed for recreational use only, ideal for weekend escapes, family breaks and year round getaways. But they are not intended to be used as your permanent home.

A UK holiday lodge operates under a holiday licence. Owners must have a primary UK residential address and cannot use the lodge as their sole residence. Holiday parks with 12 month licences allow year round access, but require annual proof of primary address.

In this article, we’ll break down the key differences between residential and holiday parks, why they matter, and how they apply to lodge ownership with us.

What Does ‘Holiday Use Only’ Really Mean?

It’s crucial to understand that Leisure Resorts operates holiday parks, and this distinction is key to the nature of lodge ownership with us. A holiday park is specifically designed for leisure and recreational use, providing a temporary retreat for holidays and short breaks. Our lodges are intended solely for these purposes. They are not a sole or primary permanent residence.

This differs significantly from residential parks, which are set up for permanent living. This distinction impacts several aspects of ownership, including council tax, utility connections and the specific legal framework governing ownership.

The great news is that all three of our award winning parks hold 12 month holiday use licences, which are strictly granted by the local authorities where they are located. This means you can enjoy your holiday home throughout the entire year, whatever the season, but always for holiday use only.

To clarify the difference between licence types, a holiday use licence, like those at Leisure Resorts, means your lodge is for recreational purposes and you must have a permanent residential address elsewhere. You cannot live in it permanently.

As a responsible operator, Leisure Resorts strictly adheres to our holiday use only licences. We conduct annual checks requesting proof of permanent residential address to ensure compliance and transparency.

For more information about the different licence tenures available at Leisure Resorts, you can read our guide to Our Licence Tenures Explained: Enjoy Your Lodge for Longer.

Our Commitment to Responsible Lodge Ownership

Understanding the difference between holiday parks and residential parks is essential when buying a lodge. At Leisure Resorts, our parks offer the freedom to enjoy your holiday home across all seasons, with the peace of mind that comes from clear, transparent ownership guidelines.

By strictly adhering to our holiday use licences and maintaining high standards of compliance, we ensure our communities remain welcoming, well managed and true to their purpose, as exceptional places to relax, recharge and make lasting memories.

If you have any questions about lodge ownership at Leisure Resorts, our team is always happy to help.

You can also explore the rest of our Ownership Hub for more information about the costs, process and practical considerations involved in owning a holiday lodge.

Start your ownership journey today or book a park visit to see the lifestyle for yourself.