Thinking of buying
Work out what you are really taking on before you fall for a view.
Static caravans, explained
Your plain-English guide to static caravans on UK holiday parks
Buying, owning, letting and selling a holiday home on a park — what to check, what it really costs, and where to turn if something goes wrong. Independent, sourced and checked.
Running-cost calculator Buying checklist
Checked 6 October 2026 · not linked to any park, dealer or manufacturer
Where are you up to?
Already an owner
Keep the costs, the paperwork and the caravan itself in good order.
Selling or stuck
Moving on, or something gone wrong with the park.
The guides
All guidesThe basics
Buying one
Owning one
Selling & sorting problems
Running-cost calculator
What will it cost you each year — and each night you stay?
Add the pitch fee, bills, insurance, safety checks, other park charges, finance and the value it loses. You get a yearly, monthly and per-night figure, and a link you can share. We don’t save your figures.
Key figures
All figures
VAT on holiday park pitch fees20%UK · Checked 6 October 2026
Minimum agreement period for a new caravan — NCC member parks12 yearsNCC member parks · Checked 6 October 2026
Minimum agreement period for a new caravan — HARPA member parks10 yearsHARPA member parks · Checked 6 October 2026
VAT on a new caravan over 7 m long or 2.55 m wide, not built to BS 36325%UK · Checked 6 October 2026
Parks & makers
The directoryWho runs the parks and who builds the caravans: a plain list of holiday park operators and static caravan manufacturers we have checked are trading, each with a link to its official website.
The owner’s kit
The whole shelfA short shelf of practical things owners need, with what to look for — via Amazon.
- Carbon monoxide alarmAlarms and fire safety
- DehumidifierDamp and winter
- Pipe laggingDamp and winter
- Drinking water hoseWater, storage and security
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Common questions
All questionsCan I live in my static caravan?
No — not on a holiday park. Holiday parks’ planning permission and site licences usually say caravans are for holidays only and can’t be anyone’s main home, and your agreement will say the same. You must have a main home elsewhere, and parks check your address when you buy and (on NCC member parks) at least once a year. If you live there anyway, the park can end your agreement and the council can take enforcement action — and you’d have none of the legal protections that residential park home owners have.
More: Holiday park rules: seasons, site licences and the holiday-use rule
Is a 12-month park the same as a residential park?
No. A 12-month holiday licence means owners can take holidays at any time of year. It doesn’t allow anyone to live there. Residential park homes are on separate "protected sites" licensed for people to live in.
More: Holiday park rules: seasons, site licences and the holiday-use rule
What’s the difference between a static caravan and a lodge?
A static caravan (caravan holiday home) is usually built to BS EN 1647, the holiday caravan standard. A holiday lodge is usually built to BS 3632, the residential park home standard, which generally means more insulation — but it is still sold for holiday use only. If a lodge fits within the twin-unit size limits it is still a caravan in law.
Do I need a TV licence for my static caravan?
Only if someone is watching live TV or using BBC iPlayer at your main home at the same time, or if the caravan is your main home. Otherwise your home licence covers it, and TV Licensing asks you to send a signed "non-simultaneous use declaration". Owners in some park letting schemes need a separate licence.
How long can I keep my caravan on its pitch?
For as long as your licence agreement says — the "agreement period". NCC member parks must offer at least 12 years from new, and HARPA member parks at least 10 years. A used caravan gets what’s left of the existing term. At the end, neither you nor the park has to agree a new one.