UK holiday lodge sector set to bounce back in 2021

The combination of the roll-out of the Covid vaccine, pent-up demand and uncertainty over international travel restrictions are set to provide a vital boost to the UK tourism and leisure industry. A national survey* conducted in August 2020 reports that 71% of respondents are planning a UK holiday in 2021. Recent reports from UK holiday parks and tour operators suggest this may have increased further.

74% of respondents to the survey said that relaxation is the priority for their holiday, and when choosing staycation accommodation, 57% cited good views as an important feature. In addition, 53%  wanted outdoor space or a garden and 50% wanted to be close to a beach. After our experiences of lockdown measures, it’s no surprise that people are craving time outdoors, and holiday parks are well-placed to meet that need.

Robust holiday lodge sector

The manufacture of holiday lodges and park homes remains in good shape despite the Covid-19 challenges. Steve Leech, Managing Director of award-winning Park Home Assist Insurance Services, as well as the administrator of the UK’s only insured manufacturers’ structural warranty for park homes and holiday lodges, Platinum Seal, says: “We’ve seen the total number of homes registered with the scheme slightly higher in 2020 than 2019. The manufacturing of holiday lodges edged ahead of residential park homes in the second half of 2020 demonstrating optimism and resilience in the UK holiday lodge sector.”

Steve Leech continues: “If the UK can sustain an increase in staycation demand then this bodes well for the holiday lodge sector in the future. Holiday lodges are ideal holiday accommodation for people of all ages, from families with younger children to older holiday makers. Holiday lodge and static caravan owners may well consider renting their holiday home to others, or engage park operators to rent their holiday homes on their behalf. In addition, speculative investors may also look to purchase leisure lodges as a means to create rental income from this uplift in demand.”

Flexible holiday lodge insurance cover

The insurance policies provided by award-winning Park Home Assist Insurance Services and its sister company My Holiday Home Insurance, cater for this demand providing optional cover for the lodge or caravan owner whilst let, and even provide optional cover for malicious damage whilst let, giving the lodge or caravan owner total peace of mind.

Holiday lodge structural warranty

Anyone interested in purchasing a holiday lodge is advised to consider buying one from a respected manufacturer who provides a 10-year insured structural warranty such as Platinum Seal, in order to protect their investment. A structural warranty is different to a normal buildings and contents insurance policy as it provides the holiday lodge owner with cover for a wide range of structural defects that could, although rarely, occur during the first 10 years after the lodge is manufactured.

For more information about holiday lodge insurance cover, contact My Holiday Home Insurance 0800 988 0890 or visit: www.myholidayhomeinsurance.co.uk

For more information about the Platinum Seal structural warranty for holiday and leisure lodges and park homes call 01604 946 791 or visit https://www.platinumseal.co.uk/

*The survey was commissioned by The Cumberland Building Society in August 2020 to establish consumer attitudes towards holidaying in the UK and abroad. It was carried out by Research Without Barriers (RWB) and received responses from 1,015 British adults. https://www.cumberland.co.uk/news/staycation-survey