In this blog post, we will answer the following question: How long can you stay on a caravan site? We will discuss the matter of living on a caravan site (legally and morally speaking, and where you can live long-term in a caravan or motorhome.
How long can you stay on a caravan site?
Most caravan sites allow one to live there from 10 to 20 years, depending on the licence agreement and whether you are renting a mobile home or just the plot. Careful tho, you cannot live full-time all year round at a caravan site!
- Each caravan site has its regulation on the maximum time to stay in a campsite, and none is allowed to stay permanently. That is why you cannot register at a camp.
- With this, the caravan sites managers intend to avoid that on land for endowment use or equipment used for residential use. Thus, the maximum length of stay allowed in the campsites varies between 6 and 11 months/year.
The static caravan or mobile leisure residence is considered to be a mobile home. With the rise of the real estate crisis, we know that this type of housing is no longer only temporary but can last over time.
Do you have to pay property tax if you are living on a caravan site?
No property tax is payable if you are living on a caravan site. Only a tourist tax is payable, the amount of which is set by the municipality in which the campsite or the Residential Leisure Park (RLP) is located. This tax varies according to the comfort of the premises.
No housing tax is payable as well. Mobile homes are not considered “hard” residences and are therefore not subject to a building permit.
Can you rent a house on a caravan site?
Renting a mobile home is possible and is assimilated to a subletting. This rental contract requires the authorization of the campsite manager and the tenant must comply with the internal regulations of the place. The landlord can set the amount of the rent freely but he becomes subject to property taxes. He must obligatorily declare his activity to the tax services.
For various reasons, many people want to know if it is possible to live in a static caravan all year round. Static caravans vary in size and quality.
Many modern models are fitted with double glazing and can easily facilitate central heating via a condensing boiler or with piped or bottled gas. A number of high-end static caravans are also built to residential specifications. These will literally last a lifetime if properly maintained.
With house prices proving unaffordable for many, especially in and around city centres, is living in a static caravan a viable option?
Other questions you may be interested in
Can I use my caravan without a battery?
Can you paint the caravan ceiling?
Can I live in a static caravan at a holiday park all year?
No, you cannot legally live all year round in a holiday park. By definition, a holiday park cannot be used as a permanent residential address. The vast majority of holiday parks are closed and should not be occupied for at least 6 weeks during the winter.
Owning or renting residential property in addition to a vacation home is a legal obligation. Living fraudulently in a holiday park would not give the owner any right to vote or to register with a doctor.
Many people, however, live in their static caravan for several months at a time. They use the facilities that can be found at the park and soak up the relaxed atmosphere.
Can I live in a static caravan in a residential park all year?
In theory, it would be possible to live the whole year in a static caravan; if it was to be located in a residential park. However, it is relatively rare to find a static caravan for sale in a residential park. Despite the fact that an increasing number of static caravans are being built to residential specifications.
By definition, static caravans are not meant to be used all year round. The construction of a luxury chalet would still be preferable.
In addition, local councils and other governing bodies have regulations regarding the type of “house” that can be sold for year-round living. Static trailers may not be permitted for sale in some residential parks and in certain regions of the country.
The houses in the park are generally similar in size to small house but are not made of traditional bricks and mortar. Frames tend to be made of steel, floors of high-quality tongue-and-groove planks nailed to wood joists, and roofs of slats, plasterboard and tiles of steel.
The houses in the park are designed to be lived in for years and all year round.
Can I live in a static caravan on private land?
The exact rules and regulations regarding living in a static caravan on your own land vary by the council. But normally, this is not allowed permanently. A building permit is required before the caravan is set up on the land.
There are a few exceptions to this. Living in a trailer on your own land is normally allowed during renovations to your home. Although this obviously doesn’t have to be permanent.
The bottom line
Campsites are places associated with vacations or, at most, with a second home for foreigners who spend long periods travelling, but… can we turn a campsite into our primary residence?
This type of space, which allows accommodation in motorhomes or bungalows, can be more attractive than it seems at first. Many people contemplate the possibility of spending long periods in those close to the urban areas of large cities.
Although this ‘lifestyle’ may have some advantages… it must be taken into account that it is forbidden by law to live permanently in a campsite (although this does not prevent people from doing so). In this way, to the question, we asked initially: is it possible to convert a campsite into our first home? The ‘legal’ answer is: “no”.
Many people live the whole year in a campsite, changing the name of the rental contract of the plot every six months (between partners or couples) and registering with the parents’ home, for example. Would anyone dare to try?
If you have any questions or comments about the content, please let us know.
FAQ on How long can you stay on a caravan site?
Can you live in a caravan for 12 months?
Legally you cannot live in a caravan for 12 months, as most caravan parks only allow between six and 11 months, intended for holiday use only.
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 authorisation 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.) to leave its location at any time.
