Can you live in a static caravan?

Static caravans are hugely popular here in the UK. It’s estimated that over 365,000 caravan holiday homes are based in this country, alongside 100,000 for residential use. 

But can you live in a static caravan all year round?

We don’t blame you for asking this question, as the idea of living permanently on a scenic holiday site is something most Brits have dreamed of at some point—the current cost-of-living crisis makes the idea even more appealing.

The answer stretches beyond a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’, but we’ve covered everything you need to know about buying a static caravan to live in.

Can you live in a static caravan in the UK?

The Mobile Homes Act states that you require a permanent residential licence to live in a static caravan all year round.

However, park homes are often mistaken for static caravans and are situated on sites where it is legal for their owners to occupy them throughout the year.

So, if you were hoping to live in a static caravan, it’s not entirely impossible—you’ve likely just been looking in the wrong place.

If you want to live permanently in an environment similar to a holiday park, finding a residential park home site is the way to go.

But if you can stay somewhere else during the periods you’re supposed to be away from your chosen holiday park, you may decide to live in a static caravan for most of the year.

Related: Inspiring static caravan bedroom ideas

What’s the difference between a holiday park and a residential park?

One main difference between holiday homes and residential properties is that the latter needs to be housed on a site with a residential licence allowing property owners to live there.

Some sites are hybrids and welcome holiday homeowners and full-time residents in separate areas.

However, since many holiday sites haven’t yet gained this licence from their local government, they cannot allow holiday home owners the option to live in their property permanently.

The rules on different sites vary, but many still allow you to live in your static caravan for a few months at a time.

Take Haven, for example—they allow holiday home owners to live in their static caravan for up to 60 consecutive days at a time, and the site is open for 10 months of the year.

This presents issues for those who want to make their holiday home their permanent residence, but this is where residential park home sites come in.

If you live in a park home on a site with a residential licence, you can reside there permanently. These sites are often quieter than holiday parks and are situated nearby towns to allow easy access to doctors’ surgeries, dentists, shops, etc.

Since they’re designed for full-time use, park homes are usually larger and sturdier than static caravans and have more storage space. They come with higher site fees, and you’ll pay council tax if you live there too.

Related: The 5 most Googled caravan questions

How do you find a residential park to live on?

Online search tools are the best place to start when you’re looking into buying a park home. Here are a few options:

• Park Home search
• Sell My Group
• Parkhome.org.uk

During your search, you should thoroughly read each site’s rules and ensure they align with your criteria. For example, if you have a dog or cat, you can’t move to a site that doesn’t allow pets.

You should also look at each site’s fees, check that you can comfortably afford them, and check out their reviews—this is the easiest way to find out whether current residents are happy there.

Related: How to find the right park home site for you

Can you live in a static caravan on your own land?

The short answer is only temporarily if you intend to station it on land you currently own, such as during repairs or renovations to your house.

However, if you’re considering purchasing private land to house a static caravan, you could live there permanently if you get planning permission from your local council. However, each authority has different rules, so keep this in mind before acting.

What are the benefits of living in a static caravan?

Whether you purchase a static caravan on a holiday home site or a residential park home, both have many benefits.

If you opt to live in a static caravan for most of the year, you can expect the following benefits over living full-time in a brick-and-mortar house:

• improved security
• a real sense of community
• everything you need in close proximity
• closer to natural amenities such as lakes, mountains, and beaches
• added luxuries you may not be able to afford in a house

Want to find out more about living in a park home? Check out our guide to the pros and cons of living in a park home.

Specialist static caravan insurance through Ripe Caravans

If you’re purchasing a static caravan, you may want to consider specialist insurance to protect it against the worst-case scenarios.

At Ripe Caravans, we arrange cover for your caravan up to the value of £175,000. You can also opt for additional cover to protect your contents and awnings.

Your caravan will be protected against damage caused by fire, lightning, storm, flooding, frost, and theft. Both accidental and malicious damage are covered too.

Learn more about how we can help here, or get an instant online quote today.

Moving to a residential site? We also arrange bespoke park home insurance that allows you to build your own policy online.