In today’s blog post, we will answer the following question: How long can you keep a static caravan on a Haven site? We will discuss the pros and cons of keeping a static caravan on a Haven site. We will also explore the possibility of living in your static caravan full-time.

How long can you keep a static caravan on a Haven site?

You can keep a static caravan on a Haven site for as long as you want, but no more than 10 months per year. This is because most Haven parks are only open between March and December.

There are many advantages of keeping a static caravan on a Haven site, such as:

There is no age limit on your static caravan, it can be 7 years old, or 20 years old;

On-site you have access to a launderette, waste disposal, WC & showers, freshwater points and washing up sinks;

There is 24/7 security at each Haven site;

You can choose from the following four types of pitches:

A basic/tent pitch (perfect for tents and tourers)
An electric pitch (a complete hook up)
Euro electric pitch (electricity, TV, drink water and wastewater disposal)
Super electric pitch (all the above + loads of awning space).

Can you live full-time in a static caravan on a Haven site?

Unfortunately, no, you cannot live full-time in a static caravan on a Haven site. There are a variety of different reasons why people would be interested in doing this, from greater financial freedom to the beautiful natural surroundings of the Haven sites. However, one thing remains the same: it is not very clear whether living in a static caravan all year round is really viable or not.

Before investigating in more detail the possibility of living in a static caravan, there is one thing to check: where the caravan is located. The key point here is that you cannot live in all RV sites; only residential trailer parks can house a permanent residence.

Residential parks are usually located on private property with the permission of the city council and have a type of static caravan known as a park home. The caravans are single-family bungalow-type houses, usually made of steel and wood, built according to British regulations and designed to be inhabited full time. The use of park homes, unlike normal static caravans, is one of the main differences between residential parks and other static home locations.

Can you live full-time in a static caravan on the road?

Buying a house on wheels and imprinting your own taste and personality on it is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. It’s a great way to take advantage of ‘stays’ in England, Scotland and Wales. Or, you can hitch your vacation home to your car and travel further when you feel like travelling.

Much of the answer revolves around your expectations and ambitions when it comes to setting up your caravan. Leisure parks that offer facilities and services to caravan owners are not open all year.

The amount of time they close varies from the holiday park to holiday park, but many close during the winter months, when demand for caravan pitches is dropping at the same rate as the thermometer – in fact, the law bans leisure parks allowing people to live on the site all year round so this is definitely not an option, however, there are a growing number of residential parks in the UK.

Many of them have park homes – fixed “static caravans” – that the owners use as a second home or, in many cases, as their sole residence. Some of these residential parks are willing to let people put up tourist caravans on part of the land, to occupy them throughout the year. Beyond that, to live in a caravan as your only home, you will have to find private land on the site. that you have the necessary services. You can also keep moving and take the caravan abroad during the winter.

Advantages and disadvantages of living in a trailer park

Static caravans vary in size and quality. Modern caravans come with double glazing and can easily accommodate central heating via a condensing boiler or piped or bottled gas. If you maintain your home properly, it will literally last you a lifetime.

If a park is residential, you have a “right of permanent residence” that allows you to live there permanently. It can be your home full time. You can live there all year round and you don’t need to have another property elsewhere. Residential parks feature a selection of park houses that are self-contained and fully maintained by residents.

Instead, vacation parks require residents to have a primary address in addition to their vacation home. Accommodation on site will be a selection of static cabins and caravans. Holiday parks are designed for holidays, and the license agreement indicates this.

When you buy a static caravan or a lodge in a holiday park, they are designed to be used as holiday homes. They cannot be a principal domicile or a permanent place of residence. Holiday parks often offer excellent facilities and a relaxed atmosphere for residents. This encourages residents to spend several months in a row enjoying their caravans.

Moving into a static: The costs to be expected

If the static caravan is legally installed on building land, the local taxes are the same as for a real house.

A static caravan installed on private land and which is not intended to be moved regularly and easily is liable to be subject to property tax on built properties. What assimilates this type of dwelling to a construction fixed to the ground in a perpetual abode.

The owner of the land on which the static caravan is installed will have to pay either the property tax on built properties or the property tax on non-built properties if the static caravan is not subject to the property tax on built properties.

At a campsite, you have to pay an annual fee (the rent for the rental of the plot) which amounts to more than 1,500 dollars per year as a minimum. Depending on the case, water and electricity are included in the package or are added to the rent according to consumption, measured by meters.

Some campsites sometimes charge entrance fees ($ 1,000 to $ 10,000) upon arrival. In principle, the owners of static caravans installed in a campsite do not pay the housing tax but are liable for the tourist tax. Housing tax is sometimes claimed from those who have illegally settled in the year and are domiciled there.

The case law of the Council of State also indicates that dwellings of this type located on a camping site are liable to property tax on built properties, even if some of them are periodically moved within this site.

In the event of the purchase of a plot, you must also pay the costs related to the maintenance of green spaces, playgrounds and access roads, a significant cost that should not be overlooked. Not to mention the property tax if you own a plot.

Conclusions

As discussed, you can only live in a static caravan on a Haven site for 10 months/year. Many Haven pitches close during the winter months when demand for caravan pitches is dropping at the same rate as the thermometer – in fact, the law bans leisure parks allowing people to live on the site all year round so this is definitely not an option, however, there are a growing number of residential parks in the UK.

Please feel free to get in contact if there are still some questions to answer.

FAQ on How long can you keep a static caravan on a Haven site?

Can I live in a caravan on my land?

You can live in a caravan on your land, but there are a few rules to follow. Caravans and motorhomes can remain on the grounds of a primary residence, but only between uses. They must in no case lose their mobile nature, otherwise, they will be considered as a fixed installation by the municipality.

Can I put a caravan in my garden?

You can install your caravan in your garden without authorization if you are not using it as a home or as an annexe to your home. The caravan must permanently retain its means of mobility (wheels, drawbar, etc.) in order to be able to leave its location at any time.

Can I put a trailer on my land?

To put a trailer on one’s land, the owner of a trailer must have the mayor’s parking authorization to install his trailer on his land. If the trailer is fixed, a building permit is required.

How to live on non-building land?

It is not allowed to live year-round on any non-building land. You can set up a tent or request authorization from the town hall for your caravan or mobile home.

Can I install a static caravan on my land in front of the house?

Only if it is intended to satisfy temporary and not definitive needs. Think of a structure that acts only as a cover for a reception or an event. In other cases, planning permission is required. Caravans intended to meet purely temporary needs cannot be considered those intended for use over time.

References

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

RVs

Others

Homes

How long can you keep a static caravan on a Haven site?