What’s the true cost of owning a static caravan?
One of the reasons so many of us love our home away from home at a favourite holiday park is that it can represent value for money. We may feel that a static caravan break is one of the most affordable types of vacation, but what costs are involved?
At Intasure, we’re one of the UK’s leading providers of static caravan insurance. We talk to owners of this popular type of holiday home all the time and understand the costs and risks. We’re always happy to share our specialist knowledge, so here’s an Intasure guide to the costs of owning, running and enjoying a static caravan.
How much does a new static caravan cost?
The answer, as with most questions of cost, is “it depends”. A static caravan can be basic, luxurious or anywhere in between. Naturally, prices vary accordingly.
In 2020, Camplify calculated that a new static caravan can cost anything from £15,000 to over £100,000. In fact, you can pay more than that for a luxury experience. My Holiday Caravan states that a high-end lodge can set you back anything up to £250,000.
Is a new static caravan worth the money?
Today’s static caravans are very different from what you might have experienced in the past. Current models are beautifully built, superbly equipped and wonderfully comfortable. You can confidently expect features like central heating, fitted kitchens and bedrooms with en suite bathrooms.
It’s also important to remember that a static caravan is often a rewarding long-term investment. You can soon earn the purchase price back by saving the money you’d spend on package holidays—and by renting out your holiday home.
How much are second-hand static caravans?
There’s a thriving market for second-hand caravans. Looking on Autotrader in 2022, one in decent condition can cost as little as £5,000 or more than £50,000. Lots of caveats apply, however. Before buying one, get someone who knows static caravans to check it for hidden warning signs such as rust, damp, damage or leaks.
Remember, too, that some holiday parks have an age limit for the caravans they allow on-site. It’s vital to check that your purchase isn’t too old if you’re considering moving it to a new location.
How much does it cost to have a static caravan? Running and maintenance costs
Once you’ve found the static caravan you want to buy, you need to factor in the running costs to get an accurate picture of what you’ll pay. They include site fees (pitch fees), maintenance and everyday bills from utilities to insurance.
How much are static caravan site fees?
You’ll typically pay rent to the holiday park for the land your caravan stands on and the use of its facilities. This is the pitch fee. It’s likely your biggest single running cost, but you get more for your money than the right to use that piece of land. It also covers items like the water supply and upkeep of the park. Pitch fees vary significantly from park to park, and from location to location within the park.
How much does it cost to heat a static caravan?
Modern static caravans have central heating and hot water as standard, so naturally, there’s a fuel bill attached. Your holiday park will provide metered electricity and maybe gas, although other parks sell bottled gas. The size of your bills will naturally depend on the location and energy you use, but it should be much less than you pay at home. Today’s static caravans are thoroughly insulated and fitted with the latest energy-efficiency measures, including double glazing.
How much does it cost to move a static caravan?
Most static caravans are purchased from a holiday park rather than the manufacturer, so they are often already in situ. However, you might find the holiday home you want on one site, and then wish to move it to another. In such cases, the park can usually fix you with a specialist removal company. This is essential because transplanting a static caravan is a complex process. It needs to be protected during the journey, expertly positioned, set up and levelled. The price will depend on the size of the structure, the accessibility of each location and the distance involved.
Insuring your static caravan
It isn’t compulsory to insure a static caravan, but it can make sense, and the park may insist that you do. The risk of fire, flood or extreme weather is genuine. Imagine the damage a falling tree could do, for example.
Intasure caravan insurance policies cover loss, theft or damage to the building and contents, plus public liability to protect your holiday home against compensation claims if someone gets injured.
Premiums naturally vary depending on the caravan, its location and whether you rent it out or not. Why rely on guesstimates when you can get a static caravan insurance quote from Intasure?
Any additional costs?
Some parks will make an extra charge for draining down your caravan before winter: which can be a wise precaution to prevent burst pipes in freezing weather. This is unlikely to be more than £70 however you can check this with the park operator.
The sole purpose of this article is to provide guidance on the issues covered. This article is not intended to give legal advice, and, accordingly, it should not be relied upon. It should not be regarded as a comprehensive statement of the law and/or market practice in this area. We make no claims as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein or in the links which were live at the date of publication. You should not act upon (or should refrain from acting upon) information in this publication without first seeking specific legal and/or specialist advice. Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited trading as Intasure accepts no liability for any inaccuracy, omission or mistake in this publication, nor will we be responsible for any loss which may be suffered as a result of any person relying on the information contained herein. FP989-2022. NR- Reviewed 01/09/2023.
