What is a motorhome habitation check? An interview with Motorhome Matt

As a motorhome owner, you’ll know that owning a motorhome is a big investment. Therefore, it’s important that you do everything in your power to keep your motorhome in good working condition. One way you can ensure this happens is with a motorhome habitation check.

A motorhome habitation check is not a legal requirement, but it may help you identify minor faults before they escalate to something serious. Not only could this save you money in the long run, but it also ensures the safety of yourself and your passengers while on the road.

It’s also worth checking with your insurer to see if regular motorhome habitation checks are a requirement within your policy. Showing a history of taking good care of your motorhome may even make your insurance cheaper.

We recently spoke to Motorhome Matt to help us get a better understanding of motorhome habitation checks. He gave us expert advice on what habitation checks are, what they include, and why they’re important.

Related: 35 motorhome essentials to enhance your adventures

 

 

What is a motorhome habitation check? An interview with Motorhome Matt

 

Matt Sims (or Motorhome Matt) runs the Motorhome Matt Podcast, which provides advice and guidance to motorhome, campervan, and caravan owners. Matt has been working in the motorhome industry for nearly 20 years and has been travelling in motorhomes his entire life.

With several motorhome businesses, Matt has an excellent knowledge of the industry and has done his fair share of habitation checks as a result. Read our conversation with Matt below to find out everything you need to know about motorhome habitation checks.

 

What is a motorhome habitation check?

Matt says:

“A motorhome habitation check is an inspection of the living area inside your motorhome. It includes a health check of your gas, water and electrical systems and the operation of your cupboards, fixtures, and fittings.

“Another important thing it will include is a damp check with a damp meter to check for water ingress, which can cause expensive damage if left unchecked.”

 

How do you prepare for a motorhome habitation check?

Matt says:

“The best way to prepare for a motorhome habitation check is to empty your cupboards and ensure that nothing is in the way of the engineers coming to carry out the check. This will save them from doing it themselves when they want to do a damp check inside your cupboards!

“My advice is to empty your motorhome of as much stuff as possible, as it’ll save you time in the long run.”

 

What can a motorhome habitation check identify?

Matt says:

“A motorhome habitation check can identify electrical faults, the age of your pigtail gas system, the effectiveness and efficiency of your fridge and freezer, and anything else that could be a potential problem either now or later on.

“When it comes to your motorhome, damp is your number one enemy, as it can become very expensive to fix. If left unchecked, damp can very quickly cause thousands of pounds of damage, so it’s definitely worth having checks done annually.”

 

 

Why should motorhome owners ensure they get a motorhome habitation check?

Matt says:

“Most importantly, habitation checks are  for your safety and peace of mind. If you want to sell your motorhome in the future, it can also add value to the sale. It shows evidence that you’ve cared for and looked after your motorhome, and is a strong selling signal to the buyer. It also shows a history of any issues being rectified.

“Overall though, the main reason is still for your safety, as electrical systems and carbon monoxide levels should all be checked regularly.”

 

When is it important to have a motorhome habitation check carried out?

Matt says:

“You should have a motorhome habitation check completed yearly to maintain your warranty, but I advise doing one every year even outside of your warranty. This is because it’s really important for your own safety to have them done.

“A habitation check should also include a carbon monoxide level test. We can’t smell carbon monoxide ourselves, but it can be deadly if you have a leak or if your ventilation is blocked, so it’s vital that these checks are carried out.”

 

How has having a motorhome habitation check helped you in the past?

Matt says:

“We’ve done hundreds or even thousands of habitation checks. A big reason they help is by finding early signs of damp. The person carrying out the check will take a reading, and if it comes back as over 15%, it requires further  inspection. A reading over 20% suggests there’s a damp problem.

“They’ll also do an earth bond test to check that your electrics are properly earthed. This is worthwhile as it can be dangerous if you’re travelling unaware of these issues. You’re basically taking a home and driving it down the road, so things are bound to come loose.

“I also think it’s worthwhile to learn as much as you can about your motorhome and how everything works. You can carry out more frequent checks yourself and save yourself some money if you catch things early that need fixing. Keep an eye on things, and if you think something isn’t right, get it checked.”

 

 

Motorhome habitation checks: our 5 top tips

1.  If you don’t use your motorhome often, habitation checks are especially important

If you don’t use your motorhome regularly or have left it in storage for a prolonged period, it’s especially important to get a habitation check completed once a year. Not using your motorhome frequently may make you less likely to spot an issue in the early stages.

 

2.  For a motorhome check to be official, it needs to be carried out by a qualified provider

Habitation checks are only officially recognised if carried out by a qualified specialist from the Approved Workshop Scheme (AWS). There are currently more than 500 Approved Workshops across the UK, so you should be able to find one that suits you.

 

3.  Book in advance to make sure you get your desired slot

Workshops can get booked up very quickly for habitation checks, sometimes months in advance, with the busiest time of year being the spring. Therefore, it’s a good idea to always book yourself in ahead of time to ensure you get your check completed at a date that suits you.

 

4.  Double check with your provider for what’s included in your motorhome habitation check

Not all providers offer the same checks for the same price as standard, so make sure you look around your local area to find what’s best for you. You may also find that some offer further checks at an additional price.

 

5.  A habitation check will not include the engine, so don’t forget to get your motorhome serviced!

A motorhome habitation check will not include things like your motorhome’s engine and oil, so you should always keep up to date with your MOTs to get these things looked at.

 

 

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