Insuring your static caravan.

We know that buying and owning a mobile home is a major investment and commitment, and it’s important to get things right. Its not about just choosing the colour of the curtains or the number of bedrooms, but also the boring but essential concerns such as protecting your new home with static caravan insurance.

Some people save up & dream of owning a caravan for years before owning one, so it’s vital to be protected against any eventuality.  Here is the UK Caravan Centres guide to insuring your static caravan or lodge.

What is static caravan insurance?

Static caravan insurance can give you peace of mind and financial protection if something happens to your caravan or contents.  It is a type of insurance that covers your mobile home for loss or damage caused by events such as fire, storm, flood, theft or vandalism. It may also include cover for your caravan’s contents, public liability, home emergency and legal protection.

There are different levels of static caravan insurance available, such as new-for-old or market value cover. You may also need to consider optional extras such as damage caused by renters if you let out your caravan. The cost of static caravan insurance will depend on factors such as the value, age and location of your caravan, as well as the level of cover and excess you choose.

Do you have to insure a static caravan?

You definitely need static caravan or lodge insurance. Here, at the UK Caravan Centre we cannot emphasise enough how much a static caravan needs to be covered by insurance. You should always take advantage of static caravan insurance as it will only work in your favour if something goes wrong. Granted, it doesn’t always happen, but it is better to be prepared than have something go wrong and you can’t afford the cost.

Although static caravan insurance is not a legal requirement, some caravan parks may require you to have it as a condition of keeping your caravan on their site.  Even if your site doesn’t, or you have your mobile home on private land, you’d be taking a huge risk by not insuring it.

You can’t be there to watch your home at all times, and there may be a risk of damage caused by other people or inclement weather, for example. Accidents can happen, and static caravan insurance will protect your bank balance if they do.

Having insurance provides peace of mind so that you can relax. Whether you’re on holiday or at home, you know that your investment is protected.

Types of static caravan cover.

There are a few more unusual types of cover or usage for static caravans, but by comparing quotes you can find the right policy for you.

Do you live in your caravan?

Park home or mobile home insurance covers a caravan that’s your permanent residence. If your caravan’s your permanent dwelling, your needs will be quite similar to a home insurance policy. Read your policy documents carefully to make sure you’re getting the right cover, including things like home emergency cover and a higher limit for contents if you need it.

Insurance for a static caravan in the garden

Do you keep your static in your garden, maybe as an extra bedroom or a home office? Make sure your insurance policy covers this, as some insurers will only offer insurance for static caravans on licensed sites. If you’re using your caravan for any work or trade purpose you’ll need to declare that too when you get a quote.

Cover for older static caravans

Most insurers will cover older caravans, but their new-for-old cover will usually only cover caravans up to 20 to 35 years old. If your caravan is older than 35 years, your insurer might offer to cover your static based on its market value, rather than a new-for-old basis.

What will your insurance cover?

As a minimum, your static caravan insurance should cover:

– Weather damage – you should be protected against damage caused by storms, floods and winter weather.
– Burglary and vandalism – if other people damage your static caravan, your insurance should cover the repairs. It may be that your unoccupied caravan is damaged when you’re not around, or that you’ve rented it out to someone that leaves it in a less-than-ideal condition.
– Third-party claims – what if someone else claims that your caravan has caused damage to them or their property? You may want static caravan insurance that covers potential legal costs. The costs of third party claims could be far more than you could ever afford, so it’s crucial to check that this is covered by your policy.

What won’t be covered?

There are some common exclusions to look out for on static caravan insurance policies. You usually won’t be covered for:

– Wear and tear
– Vermin and insect damage
– Damage or loss due to poor security
– Damage or loss while using your static caravan as a permanent residence, or renting it out, if you haven’t declared that when you took out the policy
– Using your caravan for trading

Before you take out an insurance policy, check the details of what it covers. Make sure it is the right policy for you and your property. For example, it’s highly recommended to get cover for winter and frost damage. This is a common and expensive problem, but one that some policies don’t cover.

How much is static caravan insurance?

The average cost of static caravan insurance is around the £300 a year mark, although you might pay more if you’d like cover for a more feature-packed mobile home or for external areas like decking.

Top tip – If your caravan is kept on a site that’s registered with the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) or the National Caravan Council (NCC) you might get a discount on your policy – this is worth asking at your site office.

Is it easy to get caravan or lodge insurance?

It’s easy to set up an insurance policy for static caravans and lodges. You can buy static caravan insurance online, although you may prefer to phone to discuss your individual needs.

There are several companies offering insurance for static caravans and twin lodges. Some parks will require you to use a specific insurer, so it’s worth checking with your site office before you buy static caravan insurance.

What does an insurer need to know?

Be honest about how your static caravan is used. Are you the sole user, or are you renting it out to short-term holidaymakers? This can affect the price of your insurance, and what your insurer will pay out. If you provide the wrong information then you might invalidate your policy. If your usage changes during the policy, it’s essential to update your provider.

You might also need to tell your insurer if you’ve made significant changes to your caravan. Refitting and refurbishing may change your caravan’s value. You may also need a higher level of cover if you add high-value items, like games consoles or antiques, that might not be covered by a standard policy.

Recreational or permanent residence?

Find the policy that suits your residential situation. It is likely that you’ll need a policy specifically for recreational use. If you’re at a park where you can live permanently in your lodge or static, then you’ll need different insurance to cover this permanent residence.

Should you compare static caravan insurance?

There are several providers of static caravan insurance, and it’s imperative that you find the right one. Compare prices and quotes, but always check the small print to see what each policy covers. The cheapest policy may not cover everything that you’re going to face, but it’s also not always true that the most expensive policy is best. Rather than focusing entirely on price, check what each policy offers. If you’re not sure, call and speak to a person at the end of the phone line.

Getting a quote

Before starting your search for a policy, it is worth being prepared with the following information:

– personal details (contact details, date of birth, employment status)
– caravan details (make, model, size, year of manufacture, how it is being used such as holiday home, letting, permanent residence)
– site details
– caravan security (eg. alarm, corner anchor points, CCTV, site warden, security gates, perimeter fence)
– level of cover required (eg. value of caravan & contents, if any years of no-claims)

Remember, once your policy is in place, you’re protected financially against any risks. You can enjoy your static caravan without panicking if something goes wrong.

Our team here at The UK Caravan Centre are here to offer friendly and knowledgeable guidance on all aspects of your purchase, so please give us a call on 0800 246 1206 or fill in your details below:

Willerby cuts energy bills for mobile home owners and holiday parks with new sustainability standard.

Here at The UK Caravan Centre, we are delighted to strengthen our relationship with market leader Willerby Holiday Homes, as they introduce a new, ground-breaking standard specification for their models to cut carbon emissions, make them more energy efficient and cheaper to run.

Willerby is the first UK holiday homes manufacturer to introduce any kind of sustainability standard and the only one to offer a green build specification across the board.

Willerby’s new GreEN Standard will apply to all static caravans¹ manufactured from October 2022 and will be adopted in the design and production of all future new models.

The change is the most significant innovation in the holiday homes industry since the introduction of double glazing and central heating.

It’s a key part of Willerby’s drive to put sustainability firmly at the heart of all its design processes and manufacturing operations and reinforces the company’s status as the UK holiday homes brand leader.

The GreEN Standard will reduce the energy consumption of Willerby’s holiday homes by up to 28%³, compared to models built to the previous specification.

The new standard will mean Willerby’s holiday homes …

1. Are inherently more sustainable.

2. Consume less energy.

3. Are cheaper to run.

4. Will be warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

5. Will emit at least 250kg less carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere every year – the equivalent of driving 1,350 miles in an average petrol or diesel car.

Willerby has carried out comprehensive research into the carbon impact of its holiday homes in order to understand how this can be reduced. This included calculating the embodied carbon (emissions associated with materials and processes during manufacture) as well as the carbon footprint of holiday homes once in use.

As a result, Willerby’s new GreEN Standard incorporates:

1. A 100% increase in the thickness of exterior walls².

2. Upgraded insulation in the walls, floors and roof.

3. Addition of “low emissivity” argon gas-filled double glazing, which emits low levels of radiant heat energy, to all windows and glazed exterior doors.

Willerby CEO Peter Munk said: “Our new GreEN standard is a hugely significant development in our ongoing commitment to tackling the climate crisis.

“Our industry has an important role to play in the pathway to a sustainable future and I’m proud we’re leading the way in our sector with the introduction of this new specification. It puts sustainability at the very heart of all our product development and manufacturing operations.

“Further improving the energy efficiency of our holiday homes has the additional benefit of enabling owners to make significant savings on their energy bills, which is particularly important at this time when living costs are rising sharply.

“Holiday park operators will also benefit from reduced running costs on their Willerby GreEN Standard rental units, as well as this initiative contributing to the increased sustainability of their operations.

“In short, this is great for the environment and good for the pocket.”

Willerby has worked with several of its customers in the UK holiday parks sector during the research and development project that has led to the introduction of the GreEN Standard.

Willerby’s technical director Simon Tempest, the company’s board champion for sustainability, said: “As a major employer, and a leading player in the holiday homes industry, we recognise our responsibility to reduce the carbon impact of our operations.

“We’ve done a great deal in this area already, with the introduction of a raft of green initiatives. These include installing biomass boilers at our Hull site which convert waste wood into energy to heat our manufacturing facilities, saving 1,000 tonnes of C02 annually and avoiding hundreds of truck trips to remove this waste.

“The introduction of the GreEN Standard is a major leap forward in our sustainability journey and a game-changing innovation for the holiday homes industry.”

 What it means for static caravan owners

The GreEN Standard responds to the ever-growing desire for holiday home owners, like everyone else, to live more sustainably, reduce their energy consumption and save money on fuel bills.

1. The GreEN standard will deliver a reduction in annual carbon emissions of 28%³.

2. It will also cut energy consumption by 28%³, making it cheaper to run a holiday home.

3. The reduction in energy use will result in an annual saving of as much as £249³ on energy bills for privately-owned holiday homes, at a time when energy prices are rising significantly.

4. The increased insulation measures will make Willerby’s holiday homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

5. As green initiatives and sustainability credentials become ever more popular and prevalent, it is likely that Willerby GreEN Standard holiday homes will have higher re-sale values.

6. The GreEN Standard makes holiday home ownership an even more attractive staycation choice.

What it means for holiday park operators

The GreEN standard delivers a series of benefits for Willerby’s customers in the holiday parks sector.

1. All the major holiday park groups have in place, or are developing, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) plans that include a strong focus on reducing carbon emissions. The GreEN Standard will help park operators meet this challenge, as it means a significant reduction in carbon emissions for every new Willerby model on their parks.

2. The GreEN Standard will reduce carbon emissions by 28%⁴ for “fleet” models used for holiday rentals.

3. It will also deliver a reduction in energy consumption of 28%⁴, resulting in an estimated annual average energy bills saving of £747⁴ for each fleet model.

4. The initiative helps to address the widespread concern across the industry about the future supply of gas.

5. It will mean Willerby models on holiday parks are more attractive to buyers and as holiday rentals.

6. Because of the ever-growing desire and demand for sustainable choices, GreEN Standard models are likely to command higher prices when re-sold at the end of the fleet lifecycle.

7. The GreEN Standard will also help make holiday parks a more attractive proposition for banks and investors, who are placing an ever greater importance on sustainability when considering investment decisions.

We have a wide variety of Willerby caravans available to view online and at our showground.  Please call to speak with one of our UK Caravan Centre team to discuss how we can help on 0800 246 1206, or fill in your details below:

¹Due to pitch constraints, our Ashurst models will not be built to the GreEN Standard specification.

²12ft holiday homes only.

³Figure based on a Brookwood 40ft x 12ft three-bedroom model and 90 days occupancy. Saving based on 18p per kwh.

⁴Figure based on a Brookwood 40ft x 12ft three-bedroom model and 270 days occupancy. Saving based on 18p per kwh.