YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
FAQs about holiday home builds and ownership
USEFUL INFORMATION
About the Silverlake Estate & Habitat First Group
What is Habitat First Group’s history?
Habitat First Group has been operating for over 25 years, first starting with Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds, before purchasing Silverlake, Dorset in 2012. Deanesly Point is Habitat First Group’s sixth village at Silverlake and is the thirteenth village for the Group.
How long will you be building for?
To date, a village has been completed every two years, and the rate of sale depends on market conditions.
What’s the ratio of protected/wildlife area to building area?
Villages and facilities account for around 1/3 of the Estate, leaving 2/3 being retained for wildlife, woodlands and heaths.
Are there any restrictions in the length of time that you can stay in the property?
You are welcome to use your holiday home for 365 days a year to enjoy the Silverlake lifestyle and facilities, but you must have a principal primary residence.
Where is the Silverlake Estate?
The Silverlake Estate is set in stunning Dorset, just 20 minutes from the Jurassic Coast, a recognised World Heritage Site. Set just outside of the village of Crossways near Dorchester, the estate is easily reached by road and by train, with Moreton train station just 1.5 miles away.
Full address: Silverlake, Warmwell Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8GH – visit Google Maps for directions.
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Investment
How much is the service charge at Silverlake and what is the breakdown?
Service Charges and Estate premiums vary by area and are subject to RPI year-on-year. For current rates, please contact the sales team.
The service charge covers and includes the day-to-day management, health and safety, and security as well as ongoing maintenance and repairs for the communal areas and facilities on the estate. For Shepperd’s View plots, this includes the Hurricane Spa.
The Estate Premium is an annual fee as stipulated in the land purchase contract that helps to maintain Habitat First Group's investment interest in the property, for the provision of facilities and services moving forward. The service charge is a non-profit making pot; what goes in goes out, and if there is a surplus at the end of the year, a credit is returned to the owners. A sinking fund also helps pay for big-ticket items.
In conjunction with the Estate premium, there is also a Conservation Charge (circa £65). This is a fund to contribute towards local conservation and community projects in accordance with the agreement.
Can we purchase our Silverlake holiday home through a limited company?
Yes, the property can be purchased through a limited company. Please seek advice from a trusted source.
How much are boat and canoe stores?
Canoe stores are available from £23,000 + VAT and boat stores from £38,000 + VAT. Rental of each is available from £3,000 and £5,000 PA respectively.
What kind of ROI can you make from holiday home rentals at Silverlake?
This depends on several factors, such as how often you want to use the property, particularly during peak season. For example, a mixed-use (personal and rental) 4-bed property might achieve in the region of £50,000 per annum. We would be happy to prepare a projection for your preferred plot and design.
Can we let out our holiday home straight away?
This depends on the location of the property and how much construction surrounds it. Typically, we allow bookings at weekends for heavy construction areas to begin with. If a property is in the last phase of a village, this means it can be rented out sooner.
Will Silverlake’s holiday homes be exempt from the second council tax?
Holiday homes at Silverlake benefit from substantial tax savings are also exempt from the additional council tax premium for second homes.
Is there a homeowners’ community that takes an active role in how the service charge is used?
There is a homeowner representative group at Silverlake who meets with the Estate team on a quarterly basis to run through service charge management and future ambitions for Silverlake.
Are Silverlake holiday homes fully mortgageable?
There are a range of finance options for a holiday home at Silverlake. We would be happy to recommend a broker with many years of experience working with holiday homeowners at Silverlake so that you can explore the options.
Are Silverlake holiday homes exempt from stamp duty?
A huge benefit of buying a holiday home at Silverlake is that with our new build designs, you only pay Stamp duty on the land / plot purchase at the reduced tariff of commercial non residential rates. The build value is also VAT free. Find out more here: Stamp Duty on Holiday Homes: Rules, How Much to Pay & Exemptions.
For a resale purchase you will need to check the HMRC website under the higher rates from 1 April 2025.
How can I get bookings for my Silverlake holiday home?
Should you wish to generate some additional income and let out your holiday home to guests, we can also cover that for you with marketing and holiday let management through Habitat Escapes, the official holiday company for Silverlake, Dorset and Lower Mill Estate.
The services on offer at Habitat Escapes can cover all aspects of holiday let management for a hassle-free experience, including managing changeovers, taking bookings, organising housekeeping and marketing your property to ensure it receives bookings year-round.
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Lifestyle
Which spas at Silverlake will we have access to?
If you have purchased a plot or resale within the first five villages - Beaumont Village, Wakeling Island, Overton Island, Baxter’s Rise or Shepperd’s View - you will have membership to the Hurricane Spa.
Homeowners in Deanesly Point and future villages will have the option to purchase an annual membership to the new Firefly Spa & Restaurant, which is due to complete in 2026.
How do we make the most of the activities at Silverlake?
You are able to purchase an annual membership to the Activity Hub, which will mean you can use bikes, canoes and paddleboards at your leisure, with no need to change equipment as your family grows.
Will more facilities be added to the Silverlake Estate in the future?
We are always developing new facilities for our holiday homeowners and their guests.
This year, there will be a new attraction in Knighton Heath Woods, in recognition of our heritage. We are also launching the stunning Firefly Spa & Restaurant in August 2026, complete with outdoor heated pool, hydrothermal experiences and spa treatment pods.
There are also new facilities planned for Osprey Island at Deanesly Point, including a beach, playground, picnic area, Activity Hub and shop.
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Your Build
Can we use our own builders on a Silverlake holiday home plot?
We advise using one of our recommended build partners.
Our recommended build partners offer a full 10-year NHBC warranty and a 2-year builder's warranty starting from the issue date of the certificate.
What is included with a Silverlake holiday home as standard outside of bespoke options?
New regulation larger property designs include fibre to the property, air source heat pumps, underfloor heating throughout, V+B sanity wear, Siemens appliances, fully fitted kitchen with Silestone worksurfaces and aluminium glazing units.
The Retreat includes photovoltaic panels, EV charger and Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR), but does not include an air source heat pump.
Can the holiday home design be amended/adjusted within the plot boundary to be made larger?
The designs are set by their planning; there are sometimes options to look at orientations and design substitutions on plots. These have to be drawn by an architect and would require returning to planning. The property designs are subject to planning permission, building and sustainability regulations.
Occasionally there is capacity to make revisions, but the costs of any redesign would be payable by the client.
Can the internal rooms be bespoke/amended from the original design?
Architects, building regulators, and planners might need to be involved, so this could be an option. However, these requests are not always approved.
Is it possible to enclose our Silverlake garden?
CBL, our recommended builders, can offer an array of sensitive approaches to enclosing your garden at the bespoke stage.
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Co-ownership
What is co-ownership?
You buy a 25% share of a fully built, fully furnished holiday home at Silverlake for £333,000.
You become a legal co-owner (not a timeshare holder) and receive approx. 13 weeks of exclusive use per year.
You benefit from:
- Lower entry cost
- Shared running costs
- Real property ownership and potential capital appreciation
- Exceptional, managed facilities on your plot – pool, hot tub, sauna, outdoor kitchen and within the main estate.
- Offers one of the last available opportunities to get membership to the homeowner-only Hurricane Spa.
How do I buy a share?
- Choose your property
- Reserve your 25% share with a £10,000 non‑refundable deposit (goes toward your purchase).
- Legal setup takes around 6 weeks. You sign:
- A co‑ownership agreement
- A share purchase contract
- At exchange, you pay up to 10% of your share price (minus the £10k reservation).
- You complete your payments at each construction stage as outlined in your contracts.
How is co-ownership structured?
The home is owned by a special purpose company (SPV). Each owner holds 25% of that company.
This structure:
- Protects each owner
- Simplifies resale
- Avoids repeated full-property conveyancing
All rights, responsibilities, and processes (including selling your share) are detailed in the co‑ownership agreement.
How does usage work?
As a 25% owner, you get 13 weeks per year through a fair, rotating booking system. You enjoy exclusive use during your allocated dates, plus full access to all estate amenities. Bookings are handled through an online portal.
Can I own more than one share?
You can own up to two shares of one individual property.
What are the costs?
- Your 25% purchase price (turnkey, including furniture)
- Your share of setup costs (legal structure, SDLT or share stamp duty — usually included in the sale price)
- Annual service charge including facilities and property maintenance
- A per-stay turnaround fee
Please contact the sales team for a full schedule of costs.
How long can I stay for and when can I arrive?
- Stays are permitted from 3 nights to 7 nights. Back-to-back bookings are not permitted. You may arrive on any day to suit you.
- You will be given an even allocation of Super Peak (August and New Year), Peak (Feb HT, Easter, May HT and October HT stays.)
How do I book my stay?
- Once signed up as a homeowner, you will get access to a platform where you will be able to view the calendar for the upcoming 12 months in order to book your stays.
- The calendar will be released on a rotation basis each January. The first person to reserve a share will be given first refusal on booking in Y1 and so on until the fourth person. This will then be randomised in Y2 onwards.
- You will able to book 6 stays in one block before the next person has their allocation opened up.
How do I sell my share?
- You may sell after 12 months of ownership. Options include:
- Selling privately
- Selling via Silverlake Resales
- Co-owners usually have first refusal.
- The process is quick and simple since you’re selling your company shares, not the whole property.
- Any profit is yours, and CGT may apply.
Is the property pet-friendly?
Up to two small/medium size dogs are generally permitted in this property.
Can I rent the property out?
This property cannot be commercially let out. However, you may share your allocation with family and friends. Naturally, anyone sharing allocation will need to share estate rules and regulations in advance of the stay and you will be responsible for anyone staying within your allocation.
Anything else to know?
• Homes are delivered turnkey, fully furnished
• Professional management handles cleaning, maintenance, bookings, and guest services
• Easy communication via an online portal
• Owners may swap weeks if mutually agreed
• All-four-owner agreement allows the home to be sold outright if desired