HUMBERSTON FITTIES
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I live on Humberston Fitties park?
No, the properties on the park are holiday homes and cannot be your permanent or main residence.
The planning permission applicable to the park that was issued on the 25th June 1992 states:
“For at least one complete period of eight consecutive weeks each year between the months of November and March all units of accommodation shall be unused or unoccupied for any purpose between the hours of 4.00pm on any day and 9.00am the following morning inclusive. ”
The reason for the above condition is:
1. “In order to comply with the provisions of Section 91 of the Town and County Planning Act 1890. ”
2. “To ensure that the units remain for holiday purpose only and that a proper and universal closed season continues to be imposed on the whole chalet park at the same period of time. ”
The lease applicable to all properties on the park states:
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“Permitted Use ” means use for holiday purposes or such other use as may be approved by the Landlord.
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“Planning Law ” means every Enactment and to the extent they relate to the park and/or the Property every planning permission, statutory consent and agreement made pursuant to any Enactment relating to the use development and occupation of land and buildings;
When can I use my holiday home on Humberston Fitties park?
Humberston Fitties is open for holiday use between the 1st March – 31st December inclusive each year.
Most holiday homes can be occupied between these dates. However, further occupancy restrictions have been imposed by the local authority to eight months: 15th March – 31st October inclusive each year.
It remains your responsibility to ensure you know the occupational period applicable to your holiday home.
Is my holiday home protected by the Leasehold Reform Act?
No. As the lease of the land relates to a commercial agreement and not a residential lease, the lease agreement falls outside of the reform act.
Is my holiday home a mobile home and does the park operate under the Mobile Home Act 2013?
No, your individual holiday home is not a mobile home.
• It is not constructed as a mobile home and it does not meet the BS3632 criteria of a mobile home.
• Humberston Fitties is a seasonal holiday park and not a mobile home park. A mobile home park is a residential park that operates under a separate criterion that is operated under a licence from the local authority.
• Humberston Fitties is restricted in occupation by the Town and County Planning Act. Your lease is afforded the protection of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
How long is my lease and when did it commence?
All leases on the park commenced on 1st January 2019, for a term of 65 years. You have purchased the balance of the remaining term.
Can I rent my holiday home ?
Yes, you are able to commercially let your holiday home if you wish. you must obtain the correct permissions from the parks office in the first instance. Permissions are renewable annually.
Can I make building adjustments to my holiday home?
Yes, you are able to make building adjustments and renovations to your holiday home.
However, as Humberston Fitties is in a conservation area, such works will require written permissions from Tingdene Holiday Parks Ltd (the Landlord), along with planning permissions from the local authority. You may also be required to obtain conservation development permission.
There is a ‘chalet design guide’ that has been published by the local authority that you will need to consult with prior to submitting a planning application. Should permission not be sought, it will result in the named leaseholder being in breach of both planning and the lease.
All works must be completed by an approved contractor in line with the park’s Approved Contractors Policy. An up to date list of approved contractors can be obtained from the park reception.
What annual charges are payable for my holiday home?
We can confirm the 2025 annual running costs for your holiday home are as follows:
Annual Lease Fee £3,296.42 + VAT Service Charge (estimated) £852.02 + VAT*
*This figure will vary per annum. An invoice with the estimated service charge is issued at the start of the year, along with a breakdown of charges.
The service charge account is finalised and externally audited by March of the following year (ie, the 2023 estimate is finalised by March 2024.) If we have estimated too much, then a balancing credit will be refunded to you. Similarly, if we have not estimated enough then a balancing invoice will become payable.
Other charges payable (not to the Landlord) include:
Council Tax
This is calculated by and payable directly to the local council. A discount is applied for the 8 weeks the holiday park is closed.
Holiday
Home Insurance
Reinstatement of your holiday home and contents remains at your discretion. If you wish to commercially let your holiday home, consideration should be given to including “business interruption” to your policy.
Why do I have to pay council tax for my holiday home when I cannot live here?
As the holiday homes have a rateable value, you are required to pay Council Tax. This is determined by the local council.
However, should you wish to commercially let your holiday home for 140 days in any year, you may be eligible to pay business rates. For further information, please contact the local council.
Do I have to pay all my annual fees to Tingdene at once?
The lease requires all annual fees to be paid by the 31st January each year.
However, you can enter a pre-agreed payment plan should you wish to spread your payments across 12 months (maximum term).
The charge for this facility is £7 per month utilised.
How is the lease fee increased and calculated each year?
The lease fee increase is reviewed and formulated in line with “schedule 3 (rent review)” of the lease agreement.
The November RPI figure (which is required to be able to calculate the increase) is released by the Office for National Statistics around the middle of December of each year.
Only when that figure is released are we able to advise of the coming years lease fee charge.
Who pays for the balancing invoice or receives the credit for the service charge balance if I have not owned my holiday home for the full 12 month invoicing period?
If you are the registered holiday homeowner at the point of the service charge reconciliation, (usually the 1st of March the following year), you will be liable to pay the balancing invoice or eligible to claim the balancing credit should there be one.
It is recommended that you liaise with your solicitor in this regard and an arrangement be made between both the purchaser and seller directly.
How do I pay for my water consumption?
The water consumption is included within the service charge and is broken down on the estimate and year end service charge audit certificate provided each year.
The water supply to Humberston Fitties is metered; we are also the supplier to our neighbours, Thorpe Park (Bourne Leisure Ltd) and that supply is also metered.
The total supply, minus that supplied to Bourne Leisure, is equally split between each holiday home and applied via the service charge.
We confirm that we follow the guidelines provided by Ofwat (A Guide to Water Resale) which states:
‘IF NO
PURCHASERS ARE METERED’
1. Split equally between the purchasers
There are no individual water meters installed to holiday homes at Humberston Fitties. The charge for water is equally split between each holiday home, the same way it has been for many years (including prior to our ownership).
Who is the electricity supplier and can I change supplier?
The electricity is supplied to Humberston Fitties by Thorpe Park (Bourne Leisure Ltd).
Due to the way in which the electricity is supplied (commercial supply) it is not possible for you to change electricity supplier. Your holiday home is not a residential home and neither does it attract residential rates.
The electricity consumed by Humberston Fitties is invoiced to us, Tingdene Holiday Parks Ltd, each month by Bourne Leisure Ltd. You purchase your electricity on a pre-payment basis via your SMART meter.
It is important to remember that electricity purchased for a SMART meter will be consumed at the varying unit and daily charge rate. The invoice provided to Tingdene Holiday Parks Ltd by Bourne Leisure Ltd is based on units consumed. The charges that are applied to the SMART meter take into account any arrears that may have been identified via the invoice provided to us.
Given the commercial size of Bourne Leisure, their electric tariff changes on a monthly basis; it is not a fixed charge. This means that the unit rate charged to Humberston Fitties on a monthly basis varies.
Where a standing charge rate varies, the standing charge on the meter will be adjusted to account for any arrears identified.
We appreciate that this is not an ideal scenario, it is however the way the charges have been accounted for many years and prior to our ownership. We have investigated the possibility of a direct supply being installed for Humberston Fitties. However, this is not something UK Power Networks wish to pursue.
How do I pay for my electricity consumption and how do I know what the charges are?
All holiday homes on Humberston Fitties benefit from a SMART pre-payment meter. The SMART meter’s service provider, Meterpay, have an automated telephone system and online portal whereby you are able to topup.
You will receive SMART Meter Consumer Instructions in your welcome pack.
The electric tariff is reviewed quarterly by Tingdene Holiday Parks Ltd. Should there be any changes to the tariff, you will be notified of these changes in writing and the tariff on your meter will be updated.
Is there an office on Humberston Fitties park and what are the opening hours?
Our friendly team are available to meet at the Humberston Fitties Community Room:
Tuesday 10:00 - 15:00
Thursday 10:00 - 15:00
It may be necessary from time to time for these hours to change. Should the above days or times change, notification will be provided to holiday home owners.
Are there any owners associations on Humberston Fitties park?
There is a recognised Tenants Association, the Fitties Owners and Tenants Association (FOTA). Owners can choose to be a member of the Fitties Owners and Tenants Association, however we will be unable to liaise with the FOTA with regards to individual Holiday Home and Holiday Homeowners. Should you have any queries, then we do request you make contact with our dedicated team by one of the following methods:
Telephone 01472 802021
Email reception.humberston@tingdene.net
Visit our website www.ownerselect.co.uk
Or visit our office in the community room where we would welcome you to join us for a coffee and chat.