Frequently asked questions
Everything guests and landowners ask us most: how booking and deposits work, what happens if plans change, and what you need before you list a field.
Booking a stay
- How do I book a campsite or glamping pitch on live 1 life?
- Search by place and dates on the homepage or /browse, open a pitch, pick your arrival and departure dates, then either book instantly with a 25% deposit or send a free request to the host. Instant Book pitches are confirmed straight away; request-to-book pitches are confirmed once the host approves, usually within a day.
- How much do I pay up front?
- Instant and approved bookings take a 25% deposit through Stripe Checkout. The remaining balance is settled directly with the host, normally on arrival. A 5% booking fee is included in the total shown before you pay.
- Do I need an account to request a booking?
- No. You can send a booking request as a guest with just your name and email. When you later create an account with the same email, your existing bookings are linked to it automatically so you can see them under Trips.
- How do I know a pitch is actually free on my dates?
- Each listing shows a live availability calendar. Dates already held by a confirmed booking, or blocked by the host, cannot be selected. Availability refreshes while the page is open, so two guests cannot claim the same night.
- Can I cancel or change a booking?
- Yes — contact the host through your booking, or use our contact page. Cancellation terms for the deposit are set per listing and shown on the pitch page before you pay. Refunds are processed back to the original card via Stripe.
- Where can I check the status of a payment?
- After checkout you land on the payment status page, which shows a live Stripe timeline: checkout created, card authorised, deposit paid, and any refund or failure, each with its real timestamp.
Wild camping and the law
- Is wild camping legal in the UK?
- Only in limited places. In Scotland the Land Reform Act gives a right to responsible wild camping on most unenclosed land. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you need the landowner's permission, with narrow exceptions such as parts of Dartmoor. Our wild camping rules checker breaks this down region by region with official sources.
- Why book a private pitch instead of wild camping?
- A booked pitch on live 1 life is permission in writing from the person who owns the land, so you are not trespassing, you know where the water and toilet are, and the host knows to expect you.
Hosting and listing land
- Who can list land on live 1 life?
- Landowners, farmers, estate managers, campsite and glamping operators, and outdoor activity providers in the UK. You need the legal right to let people stay on the land and the relevant permissions or licences for your setup.
- What is the 28-day rule?
- In England, permitted development rights let many landowners use land for temporary campsites for a limited number of days per calendar year (commonly 28, and 60 in some cases and periods) without full planning permission, subject to conditions and local restrictions. Always confirm with your local planning authority. Our campsite income calculator estimates earnings within those limits.
- What does it cost to list?
- Listing is free and there is no monthly subscription. Hosts do not pay the 5% booking fee — it is added to the guest's total on top of your advertised price, so you keep the pitch price you set. Any payment-processing costs are separate from the booking fee.
- Do I have to accept every booking?
- No. Unless you switch a pitch to Instant Book, every request comes to your dashboard for approval and you decide who stays.
- How and when do I get paid?
- Deposits are collected by Stripe at booking, and the balance is normally taken by you directly from the guest on arrival. Your dashboard shows the booking history, deposit status and guest contact details for each confirmed stay.
Why book with live 1 life?
Booking a field from a stranger should still feel safe. Here is exactly how we handle money, hosts and disputes.
Card details never touch our servers. Deposits are taken through Stripe Checkout with 3D Secure.
We review proof of ownership or written permission to let the land provided by the host, and check map coordinates against the described access and pitch location. Hosts remain responsible for keeping their information accurate.
Only guests with a completed booking on the pitch can leave a review, so ratings reflect actual stays.
Message the landowner yourself about access, dogs, fires or late arrivals — no call centre in between.
We are a UK marketplace. Message us from the contact page and a person replies — no bot-only support.
You see the pitch price, the 25% deposit and the 5% booking fee before you pay. Nothing extra at the gate.
Questions about cancellations, deposits or hosting rules? Read the full FAQ or contact us.