Maintenance and winterising

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At a glance

• Under the NCC model agreement you must keep the caravan in good structural repair and able to be moved, with appliances maintained and safety checks done.
• Not every holiday caravan is designed for winter use — ask about a winter pack and look for the NCC energy efficiency rating.
• Draining down protects pipes and fittings from frost; check whether your insurance needs it for frost cover to apply.
• Keep the space around and under the caravan clear — it’s a fire safety rule on parks.

What your agreement expects

The NCC model agreement requires you to keep the caravan:

• in good structural repair;
• able to be moved — the agreement calls it “mobility” — so the chassis, axles and wheels matter even though the caravan stays put;
• with its installations and appliances maintained and periodic safety checks carried out.

The maker’s own advice is in the owner’s handbook. NCC member parks must hand over the manufacturer’s handbook and warranty when they sell a caravan, and BS EN 1647 sets the minimum content of the handbook for holiday caravans. Some work is reserved to the park or its contractors — under the model agreements, siting, connecting, disconnecting and removing the caravan.

Damp and condensation

The NCC says older caravans used in the colder months suffer more condensation, both visible and hidden, and that this can affect their life and value. BS 3632 units usually have higher levels of insulation than holiday caravans, and not every holiday caravan is designed for winter use. If you want to use yours in the colder months:

• ask whether it has a winter pack — extra insulation, double glazing and heating options;
• look for the NCC energy efficiency rating label in the front window of approved holiday caravans: a score from 0 to 10 (10 is best) covering heat loss through the structure, ventilation and air leakage.

Whatever you do about damp, never block ventilation — the NCC’s carbon monoxide guidance is clear about that. See safety.

Winterising and draining down

Draining down (winterising) means emptying the water pipes, tanks and boiler, and protecting the fittings, before winter so frost can’t damage them. The NCC lists winterisation among the yearly costs of owning a holiday caravan, and parks offer it as a paid service — Parkdean, for example, sells annual winterisation to protect against frost and damp. On Parkdean parks that aren’t open all year, the pitch fee includes winter storage.

For VAT, storage and drain-down services are standard-rated at 20%.

Around the caravan

Site licence conditions and the NCC model agreement both affect what you can keep around your caravan:

• keep the space between caravans clear, with no combustible structures between units;
• keep the area under the caravan clear, and don’t store anything that burns underneath or between caravans;
• follow the park’s parking rules.

On holiday parks in England, the Model Standards only allow sheds or garages between caravans if they are non-combustible. Decking and verandahs are controlled by the park, and you may have to remove them when you leave.

Skirting — panels around the base that hide the chassis and wheels and cut draughts — is common. If it is supplied with the caravan, it takes the caravan’s VAT rate.

Regular checks

• Gas: Gas Safe Register says fixed LPG appliances should be serviced and safety-checked every year. Only a Gas Safe registered engineer may legally work on gas appliances — check their card covers LPG and caravans.
• Electrics: Electrical Safety First recommends a periodic inspection and test every 3 years for a caravan, by a competent person such as a registered electrician.
• Alarms: the NCC says to test CO alarms monthly and replace them about every 5 years.

The details are in safety, and our owner’s kit lists practical things owners buy for damp, winter and safety.

Sources

Checked 6 October 2026. We wrote this guide from these sources, in our own words:

1. NCC model Combined Purchase and Licence Agreement (June 2024) (thencc.org.uk)
2. NCC Best Practice Guidance for Holiday Parks (February 2025) (thencc.org.uk)
3. NCC: Making the best use of your holiday caravan (2025) (thencc.org.uk)
4. NCC: Q&As before buying a holiday caravan or lodge (2025) (thencc.org.uk)
5. NCC Energy Efficiency Rating Scheme (thencc.org.uk)
6. NCC: Stay safe — carbon monoxide (March 2026) (thencc.org.uk)
7. BSI: BS EN 1647 Caravan holiday homes (knowledge.bsigroup.com)
8. Parkdean Resorts: running costs (parkdeanresorts.co.uk)
9. Parkdean Resorts: pitch fee guide (parkdeanresorts.co.uk)
10. HMRC VAT Notice 701/20: caravans and houseboats (gov.uk)
11. Model Standards 1989: Holiday Caravan Sites (council-hosted copy) (wirral.gov.uk)
12. Gas Safe Register: LPG safety (gassaferegister.co.uk)
13. Electrical Safety First: periodic inspection (electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk)

Travel Trailers is an independent guide. It is not owned by, or connected to, any holiday park operator, caravan manufacturer, dealer or trade body. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.