Buying a Chalet
Types of Chalet
Norton Park has both 1 and 2 bedroom chalets. Most chalets are terraces - in rows of 4 to 8 chalets. There are a number of detached chalets which are found on the main drive and facing the bottom car park. With the exception of the former shower block, the chalets all have flat felt roofs and have wood or plastic cladding on the front and back.
Size
A standard 2 bedroom terrace chalet is 42sqm and offers a good size property. The 2 bedrooms are almost an identical size and can accommodate a double bed, twin beds or a bunk. The kitchen area is separate from the lounge / dining area. Some chalets have the original configuration of separate toilet and shower room. Others have been knocked into one big shower room.
One bedroom chalets are smaller and have a lounge/dining/kitchen area with a double bedroom and shower room.
The Leases
All chalets are leasehold and were built from 1967 to 1971 on a 99 year lease. The chalet owner pays ground rent. This is paid quarterly and as a guide, the average is approx £320 per quarter for a 2 bedroom. Some chalets may be more, others less. This is because the ground rent is reviewed every 5 years and increases by the rate of the Retail Price Index (RPI). As the chalets were built at different times, the ground rent increases are also at different times. There is no service charge at Norton Park.
Utilities and Insurance
Electricity is purchased from the site and is billed annually. All chalets have an individual meter and most are coin operated so if you let the chalet, your guests pay for the electricity used. Water is paid directly by the owner to the water company based on the units used - just like a residential property. Insurance is through a group policy from a company called Gold Park and is approx £150 a year for the buildings insurance. You can add contents if you wish.
Council Tax or Business Rates
Each chalet must register with South Hams District Council for council tax or business rates. Council tax is currently about £1200 per year. For people wishing to let their chalet for holiday rentals, business rates are approx £760. However, owners that let their chalets commercially can apply for small business rate relief if the chalet is their only rateable property. In such cases, business rates are zero.