Tag Archive for: Holiday Lodge

Insurance News - WInter

Preparing your Leisure Home for the Winter

Your leisure home insurance policy is designed to protect you against risks of things happening suddenly which you could not have expected such as fire, theft, accidental damage, flood and storm.  In the winter months your leisure home can be very vulnerable, especially if it is not being used and can be damaged by the cold.  There are certain things you need to remember when closing down your leisure home for the winter to prevent things such as escape of water.

The cover you are provided for escape of water is designed to provide cover for damage to your property caused by water leaks. One of the largest risks of water occurs when you are away during the winter months when pipes can freeze and burst, causing significant damage to your leisure home.

Important things to remember

Between 1st November and 31st March both days inclusive, if your leisure home is left without an occupant for more than 48 hours you must drain down the entire water system as a precaution to prevent freezing and any potential damage this may occur. If your leisure home has a sealed heating system containing antifreeze then this does not need to be drained down but antifreeze levels checked annually and particularly prior to the period of unoccupancy. In addition, all water tanks must be emptied by leaving both hot and cold taps fully open with plugs removed throughout the leisure home.

Or

If you wish to leave the water supply turned on between 1st November and 31st March both days inclusive, you must ensure:

  • The entire home benefits from a heating system being gas or a geothermal or full electric system (not night storage heaters), fitted with automatic controls and a separate thermostat. The system must be set to operate continuously for 24 hours of each day (not controlled by a timing device) and the thermostat set to not less than 13 degrees Celsius and all internal doors must remain open throughout the leisure home and where fitted the loft hatch left open.

Or

  • If the heating system as described above is installed and additionally fitted with a ‘frost stat’ that is designed and installed to override all the heating controls, irrespective of their functional status, then this may be set to operate at no less than 4 degrees Celsius.

These things are very important and failing to comply with the requirements will result in loss or damage resulting from escape of water or burst pipes being excluded from your insurance.

It’s important that you read your insurance policy in full, along with the policy schedule to ensure that you are fully aware of the extent of the insurance cover, as well as the terms and conditions which are applied to your cover.

For similar topics like this or for general leisure home insurance information, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook & LinkedIn. You can also have a look through our website for more information.

Park Home Search

A New Way to Search for your Leisure Home

Park Home Search – A New Way to Search for your Leisure Home

Park Home Search is a free online service that connects both buyers and sellers of leisure homes throughout the UK and it’s completely free of charge to use. There are no costs to either a buyer or a seller and it’s the perfect place to find your new dream leisure home.

Whether you are looking for a leisure home in the North, West. East or the South of England searching for your new leisure home just got easier.  Park Home Search is the place to look if you are looking to find your new dream leisure home as there are hundreds of leisure homes for sale and you can browse 24 hours a day at your own convenience. If you are not able to find the leisure home you are looking for, you can register to receive information about new leisure homes for sale in some beautiful locations in the country, as and when they become available.

How Park Home Search Works.

Manufacturers and park operators add their new leisure homes available on Park Home Search. This is free for both manufacturers and park operators which encourages them to list as many homes as they have, as soon as they are available.  Buyers can search the website for their preferred leisure home according to their preferences and this can be filtered down to the location, type of home and whether they want to rent or buy the home.

Relax and let Park Home Search do all the work.

If you prefer, you can register your details with Park Home Search and your information will be passed on to the relevant park operators.  The park operators will contact you when new homes become available in your chosen location and all information is GDPR compliant, so your data is secure.

What’s the benefits for the seller?

Manufacturers can list as many leisure homes as they want, it’s completely free and park operators can advertise any plots they have available at no cost too. Open days and weekends are also advertised on park home search by manufacturers and operators, with the option to upload photos, brochures and videos about the leisure homes.  The manufacturers and park operators have complete control of their own information as they are able to list, amend, remove and update homes all using one easy form online. There is the great added feature where sellers of the homes receive email leads from potential buyers interested in their homes providing sellers with complete control.

With the above features and much more available to both buyers and seller of leisure homes, there are so many reasons to use Park Home Search.  So many are already taking advantage of this free service, so why don’t you!

For further information visit www.parkhomesearch.co.uk.

For similar topics like this or for general leisure home insurance information, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook & LinkedIn.

New 2019 policy

New for 2019 – Leisure Home Insurance Policy

Exclusively to My Holiday Home Insurance and new for 2019, we have enhanced our insurance policy to bring you better cover and even better value for money.

We always listen to our customers and review our insurance policy on a regular basis to ensure we are meeting the needs of leisure home owners.  With this in mind, we now bring you one of the most competitive and enhanced cover on the market with our new 2019 Leisure Home policy.

As specialists in the insurance sector and with over 13 years’ experience, we have tailored our insurance policy to meet the needs of our customers who own a static caravan, holiday lodge or leisure home in the UK.  With our new leisure insurance policy, you receive our highest ever level of cover, along with numerous choices of optional extra cover.  The optional extras we provide can be added to your standard cover to protect items such as decking, hot tubs, pedal cycles and sports equipment, just to name a few.  Our new leisure home insurance policy cannot be found anywhere else and offer you advisory cover to suit your individual needs, which means you only need to pay for the cover you require.

Outlined below is just some of the cover you can receive with our new 2019 insurance policy.

Insurance for static caravans and leisure homes (standard)

  • Maximum building sum insured increases to £120,000 (increased limits on sums insured).
  • New for old and market value cover policy now available on static caravans and leisure homes up to 20 years old.
  • Maximum contents sum insured increases to £25,000.
  • Accidental damage cover (when not let).
  • Up to £5million public liability cover.

Insurance for holiday lodges (standard)

  • Up to £500,000 buildings sum insured.
  • Up to £40,000 contents sum insured.
  • Up to £5million public liability cover.
  • Unlimited freezer contents cover.
  • Site clearance, transportation and re-siting cover.
  • Plus much much more…

Insurance for holiday lodges, static caravans and leisure homes (optional cover)

  • Accidental damage when let.
  • Malicious damage by tenants.
  • Sports equipment.
  • PLUS much much more…

Discounts Available:

  • No claims discount.
  • Over 50’s discount.
  • Voluntary excesses.
  • Age of home discount.

For more information about our cover, please click on the relevant link below:

Static Caravan Insurance

Leisure Home Insurance

Holiday Lodge Insurance

Alternatively, you can call 0800 988 0890 and speak to one of our specialist advisors.   To keep up to date with information about static caravans, holiday lodges and leisure homes, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook & LinkedIn.

Buying a Holiday Lodge

Are you thinking about buying a holiday lodge?  Owning your own holiday lodge and having a beautiful retreat away from the normal everyday life, sounds like a tempting idea.  However, buying a holiday lodge could be a confusing and daunting task, especially if this is your first time, so we’ve put together some helpful tips about what you need to consider before making your final purchase.

What will your holiday lodge be used for?

Do you just want somewhere to relax for the weekend?  Are you looking for a second home, which you can enjoy in the summer months?  Are you looking to buy a lodge as an investment to generate rental income?

These are important questions to ask yourself, as this will ensure you find the right location for your lodge.

How far would you like to travel?

Having a holiday lodge in Devon or Cornwall, sounds nice, but you need to think about how long the drive will take and whether you could face it.  You could be travelling a distance with perhaps pets, elderly relatives or children. It would be good to set a travel limit, making sure that your holiday lodge is situated in an area where you will be able to do the things that you love to do in your leisure time.  If you are thinking about the rental potential of your property, a location close to beaches, tennis or golf clubs, sailing or even walking trails would be an advantage. There are beautiful parks in coastal locations throughout the country, so you will have plenty to choose from. If you already know where you would like to be located, speak to the parks in the area so they can give you guidance throughout the buying process.

What costs are involved?

The cost of a holiday lodge will depend on the size, number of bedrooms and the specification, just like if you were buying a house.  If you are buying a lodge on a park, you may be given a turnkey price, which can include the lodge, fixtures and fittings, parking space, a garden and sometimes even decking.  This all really depends on the park, so be sure to check what you will get with your purchase.  Where your park is located will also affect the price.  If your lodge offers fantastic views, is on a popular park or located near the coast, lakes or rivers, then it could cost you more than one that does not have these spectacular views. Also, remember that there is no stamp duty to pay when buying a lodge!

So, you have found the perfect park, what next?

You need to consider the times during which the park is open and closed and whether there are any restrictions in place about how long and when you can use the park.  Some parks are open all year round, while some close for up to three months in the year.

Another consideration should be the additional annual costs you will be expected to pay.  With every park being different you need to think about annual ground rent and maintenance charges. You may also need to set aside money for the utility charges and holiday lodge insurance. Consider how long the licence or lease is and what type of warranty the park is offering. Each park should be able to estimate the charges for the year.

Can I sub-let my lodge?

This really depends on the individual park.  If you want to maximise your rental income, then you should consider a park that encourages sub-letting and has good facilities. Some sites do not allow this as they are looking to maintain a neighbourly and secure family environment.  If you are looking for a quiet location then it would make more sense not to purchase on a sub-letting park.

There are many advantages to owning a holiday lodge: it offers a cost-effective way to enjoy holidays all year round without the need for check-in or check-out. Finding the right location is essential, if you intend to spend a lot of your leisure time getting to know the area.

Before you make your final decision, take some time to speak to other lodge owners on the park and find out how their experience has been.

This is a marketing article from My Holiday Home Insurance, a specialist provider of insurance for holiday homes, leisure homes, holiday lodges and static caravans. Our team of experienced advisers are always happy to help, so for more information call our Northampton office on freephone 0800 988 0890.

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