Buying a Park Home: A Step-by-Step Guide for Berkshire Buyers

Buying a park home in Berkshire involves more than choosing a layout you like. You need to confirm permanent residential use, understand the paperwork and work out how the purchase fits with selling your current property. This nine-step guide puts those decisions in order, with practical examples from Hermitage Park in Warfield.

Keep a folder for quotations, documents and viewing notes. Before paying a non-refundable sum or signing an agreement, have your solicitor check the terms.

Choose your location and arrange viewings

1. Decide which area suits everyday life. Compare Warfield, Bracknell, Wokingham and Ascot with locations towards the Surrey and Hampshire borders. Include journeys to family in Windsor or Maidenhead, not just the drive to a viewing. Hermitage Park sits between Warfield and Winkfield Row, near woodland walks, a large Tesco superstore and Warfield Green Medical Centre. Bracknell station offers direct trains to London Waterloo, while the M4 provides another useful connection. Test the journeys you expect to make regularly.
2. Confirm permanent residential status. A setting that looks residential is not enough. Ask for confirmation that you can use the property as your main home throughout the year, then have the relevant licence and agreement checked. Hermitage Park provides permanent, 12-month residential use and is a private gated over-45s setting. Check the age requirements for everyone who will live there. Pets are welcome subject to approval, so discuss yours before committing.
3. Book viewings with specific questions ready. When buying a park home, inspect the layout against your furniture, storage needs and daily routines. Viewings at Hermitage Park are by appointment, giving you an opportunity to discuss the luxury park home bungalows in detail. They are fully furnished, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a private garden and driveway. Browse the luxury park home bungalows for sale, then ask what is included with the particular property you are considering.

Checks to make before buying a park home

1. Check the build standard and warranty documents. Ask for evidence of BS 3632, the British Standard for residential park homes, rather than relying on a description such as “year-round”. Hermitage Park’s luxury park home bungalows are built to BS 3632 and come with a 10-year structural warranty. Request the warranty terms, including its start date, exclusions and claims procedure. A structural warranty does not mean every fitting or appliance has the same cover.
2. Read the Written Statement and rules. The Written Statement records the terms on which you occupy the plot and your associated rights and obligations. Read it alongside the rules, checking matters such as occupation, pets, parking, maintenance responsibilities and future resale. At Hermitage Park, permanent residential occupation is under a Written Statement. Ask for the documents early and mark anything you do not understand. Verbal reassurance should not replace a clear written answer to a question that affects your decision.
3. Build a complete purchase and running-cost budget. Your budget for buying a park home should cover more than the purchase itself. Ask about pitch fees, how they are reviewed, council tax, utilities, insurance and maintenance responsibilities. Add legal fees, removals and any storage you may need during the move. Use Hermitage Park’s costs and fees information as a starting point, then request current written details for your proposed purchase. Keep one-off expenses separate from recurring bills so you can judge affordability after moving.

Arrange the money, legal work and move

1. Confirm your funds or explore part exchange. Work out whether you will use savings, sale proceeds or another suitable funding arrangement. Do not assume a conventional residential mortgage will be available for this type of purchase. Hermitage Park offers part exchange at full market value, with a cash buyer, no chain, no estate agency fees and no deadline to move out. Ask for the valuation process, written offer and moving arrangements before deciding whether it suits your circumstances.
2. Instruct a solicitor with relevant experience. Choose someone experienced in buying a park home, rather than assuming the process is identical to purchasing a freehold house. Ask them to check the Written Statement, residential status, rules, ownership arrangements and any part-exchange paperwork. Obtain a written quotation showing the work included and possible additional charges. For your Hermitage Park purchase, ensure your solicitor receives the documents before you make a binding commitment. Agree who will answer outstanding questions and by when.
3. Agree completion and prepare for moving day. Confirm the payment arrangements, handover date, keys, utility readings and warranty documents. Check the agreed inventory for your fully furnished luxury park home bungalow at Hermitage Park before deciding what to bring. Arrange removals, update your address and plan continuity of prescriptions and dental care. If you are returning from Australia, ask your existing clinic, such as My Smile Dental in Sydenham, Australia, about transferring dental records to your chosen UK dentist. Keep essential paperwork and medication with you during the move.

Frequently asked questions

Do I own the land beneath the bungalow? Buying a park home generally means purchasing the property without buying the land beneath it. Your right to occupy the plot is governed by the agreement and applicable law. Ask your solicitor to explain the specific ownership and occupation arrangements before you sign.

Should I sell my current property before arranging a viewing? You can view while exploring your options. At Hermitage Park, an appointment lets you assess the luxury park home bungalows and discuss part exchange before deciding how to proceed with your existing property.

Arrange your Hermitage Park viewing

Bring your questions about the layout, paperwork and moving arrangements to an appointment-only viewing. To see whether Hermitage Park suits your next move in Berkshire, book a viewing and explore the luxury park home bungalows in person.