FAQs about co-ownership at Silverlake, Dorset
About the Silverlake Estate & Habitat First Group
What is 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
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
Investment
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. Shepperd’s View presents an ideal opportunity for those looking to recoup quickly on their investment.
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. Holiday Home Property Investments in Dorset
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.
Houseboats are currently not subject to the Stamp Duty tax.
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. Find out more about holiday letting with Habitat Escapes.
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 Silverlake Lido, 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, we will open a series of new activities including boules, a football/golf net with a speed gun, volleyball, bike track and an area for children's games.
Next year, there will be a new attraction in Knighton Heath Woods, in recognition of our heritage, whilst 2026 will see the stunning Silverlake Lido open, complete with restaurant, 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.