Holiday parks that allow subletting

What is subletting?

Subletting means renting your holiday home to paying guests when you are not using it. Many buyers plan to do this to help cover the site fee. Whether you can depends entirely on the park.

The three kinds of policy

1. Not allowed. The home is for you, your family and friends only.
2. Allowed through the park. The park runs the bookings, cleaning and key handover, and takes a commission on each booking.
3. Allowed privately. You find your own guests and manage the changeovers, sometimes for a registration fee.

Some parks offer both of the last two. Ask which applies and what each costs.

What it costs to sublet

Rental income is not profit. Expect to pay for:

• The park's commission or registration fee.
• Cleaning and laundry between guests.
• Gas and electrical safety checks, which parks usually require for hired homes.
• Insurance that covers paying guests. Standard holiday home cover often does not.
• Extra wear, and passes for your guests if the park charges for facilities.

Income from letting is taxable. Speak to an accountant about your own position.

Does subletting make a holiday home pay for itself?

Be cautious with any income figure a park quotes. Bookings depend on the season, the park's location and how many other owners are letting. Ask for the actual average income achieved by owners on that park last year, not a best case.

Rules to check

• Is there a minimum standard or maximum age for homes that are let?
• Are there weeks you cannot let, or weeks the park reserves?
• Can guests bring dogs?
• Does the park also run its own hire fleet that competes for bookings?