4. running costs explained
With Own a Holiday Home, the price of having your own place in France needn’t be excessive. Your purchase price includes delivery to the site, installation on the pitch and connection to the water, electricity and sewage services, together with a gas testing certificate. And don’t forget that your holiday home comes fully furnished – so you’ll only need to shop for kitchen accessories and bedding! However, there are some ongoing costs that it’s important to consider and budget for accordingly.
To ensure you approach holiday home ownership fully informed, we’ve listed below annual running costs that you can expect to incur:
Annual Pitch Fee
All parks charge an annual pitch fee to cover the park's maintenance costs and ensure it remains clean, attractive and safe. Prices are generally between £2,000 and £4,000, and will be clearly stated in your contract with the park. Exactly what your pitch fee includes varies from park to park, but you should expect it to include sewage, rubbish collection, upkeep of public spaces, security measures and the site’s local taxes too. It also gives you free access to use most of the park’s facilities, such as the swimming pool complex, use of spa facilities or tennis courts.
Holiday home insurance
You will be required to have insurance for your holiday home, which you will find typically costs around £230 per annum for comprehensive cover. For more details click here.
Water & Electricity
Water and Electricity may or may not be included as part of your annual pitch fee.
If they are not included, usage will be metered on your pitch, so you are only charged for what you use.
Gas
You will need an annual gas certificate provided by a registered engineer. This is included as part of Own a Holiday Homes annual maintenance contract. You will also need to pay for your own gas bottle supplies, purchased on site. Prices vary according to your location
Local Tourist Taxes
Currently there are no property or council tax charges on a mobile home or chalet in France, however, there are local tourist taxes. This varies according to the region but averages 35 pence per day for each person resident in the home over the age of 12. This includes any guests or tenants which you may have. Some sites charge this as an annual forfeit.
