caravan running costs

Are you looking to buy a caravan and wondering what are the caravan running costs? Like all types of property ownership, a caravan comes with additional costs you will need to allow for. Before you make your purchase you’ll need to understand these running costs, both for your initial purchase and ongoing maintenance. This short guide covers all the things you need to know about caravan running costs to help you further.

Caravan park site fees

Caravan park site fees cover the rental of the ground your caravan is kept on as well as use of leisure facilities on park. Site fees can vary from park to park where you can expect to pay from £2,000 to £7,000 per year. Unsurprisingly, the higher the site fee cost the more you can expect for your money! So if you’re looking at parks in the upper end you should expect high quality & well maintained grounds.

Holiday Parks with lower site fees are usually smaller, with fewer staff and limited facilities. This can be ideal for those who simply want a caravan holiday home without the high costs.

More established holiday parks will often give you the option to pay your annual site fees by direct debit which can help you spread the costs or they may even offer a discount if you are able to pay in one lump.

Local Authority Rates

Local authority rates are costs that local councils charge holiday parks for services like refuse collections, water and sewerage. This is usually sent to the park in one large sum which is broken down and distributed among the caravan owners on park.

This cost can vary, however it’s somewhere between £200 and £400.

Gas and Electricity bills

In most cases you should expect to pay for your gas and electricity usage just as you would at home. Most park would install an elecric meter on your own caravan and read if periodically and bill you accordingly. For gas, most parks use 19 or 47 kg gas bottles and include delivery and set up! You may be lucky and have the benefit of piped gas where this is supplied and metered periodically also.

Caravan Insurance

As with any asset or property, you’ll need to have your caravan insured and be able to provide the park with evidence of this. As a rough guide, you can expect to pay around £150 to £500 for your insurance depending on size, value and requirements needed.

Extras costs associated with running your caravan

It’s always prudent to have a kitty to cover unexpected expenses that have a tendency to arise. Consider things like blocked drains, frosts and water shortages – in theory they should be covered by your park, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Ensure you receive a full breakdown of caravan running costs before you proceed with you’re purchase.

Thanks for reading!