South Lakeland Parks (SLP) Forum

Sorry to invade your forum but I was wondering whether I could ask you collectively for your advice. I am seriously considering buying a 2 bedroom lodge at Limefitt overlooking the play area with a view up the valley - one of the new lodges. I was very excited about this but have been somewhat (to say the least!) put off by the messages in this forum.

It seems that any dealings with SLP are fraught with stress and that the site fees represent very poor value for money - is this the case? It also seems that the resale value of these lodges is poor.

However, I would be interested to know if many of you feel that it is all worth it overall? Given the opportunity to make your decisions again - would you do the same?

Thanks to those of you who take the time to reply and offer advice.

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Windermere

Thanks for taking the time to reply and for your balanced appraisal.

If we go ahead with this we'll certainly approach it in a suitably cautious manner.

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Hi Ash and welcome to the forum.

You need to look at this decision over the long term and decide what your criteria for buying a lodge are. If you are looking for a pure financial investment, then buying one lodge does not make any financial sense (Windermere bought two and permanently rents one out which is a totally different economic dynamic).

SLP may well tell you that you can cover your costs from rentals and that is probably true but you will get very little personal use if you go down that route.

To be brutally honest, as a pure financial investment, stick your money in the building society (this advice applies to most "investments" at the moment including shares, btl property etc.).

However, lodge life is something very precious. The prospect of spending most weekends up in the Lakes, often with friends does not have any real equivalent financial value. If it is something you can embrace, then do it, you will not in the long term regret it.

In terms of some of the posts on this forum, Windermere is spot on. This forum has made a difference and we know that SLP Management read it. I firmly believe that there is a more open and responsive attitude from SLP and this forum has had some influence on that. Yes we whinge, but that is the British way. You may notice that the number of posts (positive and negative) has dropped off recently and that says a lot in itself.

So in summary, go into your purchase fully informed with the help of this forum, but most importantly, be absolutely clear as to why you want to invest in the "lodge lifestyle".

FB

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Agree with all that Fallbarrow and Windermere have already advised - from our perspective (we are at Fallbarrow), wouldn't wish on our worst enemy what we went through during the purchasing time and our first year but since then we view it as history and now really really really really really enjoy it. Would we do it all again? - never in a month of Sundays - BUT - we are now glad we did, as our lifestyle has completely changed for the better!!!

Ride the storms like a rollercoaster, you will feel giddy and sick in what is supposed to be the fun and excitement of the ride, but getting over it is a whole lot better!!! However, if you are purchasing a lodge already in situ you may not get the hassles we did, we bought the plot and then dealt directly with the manufacturers, and then for siting dealt with the park.

Good Luck from Us!!

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I guess our experience is somewhat different. Our lodge was brand new but we did not have any choice as to which lodge as it was already in situ. To be fair to SLP, they did some serious changes to the layout and redecorated and re-carpeted. Would I buy again - yes, but be clear what you want and make it part of the deal. There is always a deal to be had but remember the best outcome from any negotiation is "win/win".

FB

Get it bought! it certainly isnt an investment but it is a great way to spend quality time with family come rain or shine, being the m.d. of a contracting business its nice to slope off into this cracking area and 'chill out'

Ive had no hassles with slp at all, in fact theyve done everything they said they would and a bit more.