How much to keep the lights on? A breakdown of static caravan running costs

“How much was that gas bottle?” you say aloud as you pour over an expenses spreadsheet on your computer. 

You’re always on the lookout for a good deal. Keeping your static caravan’s running costs in one place is a great way to see where you can claw back some extra pounds and pocket the difference. 

Your caravan decking does need some TLC after all and keeping on top of your caravan running costs is a good way to make your money go that extra mile. 

But how much does it cost to run a static caravan? Are you paying too much? Are you getting your money’s worth from your site fees and insurance? In this article we’ll answer all these questions by breaking down how much we think it should cost to run a static caravan.

Site fees - are you getting what you paid for?

Caravan holiday parks come in all different shapes and sizes. There’s a holiday park for every person, price range and preference. Whether you’d like a budget friendly week away with the family or a lavish couples retreat there really is something that’ll suit all needs. 

This wealth of choice means you can’t just slap a one size fits all price tag on the site fees for a static caravan pitch. Pitching fees are an annual cost paid by the owner of a static caravan and they cover everything from water and maintenance (but not heat) to winter storage fees and the upkeep of park amenities and onsite facilities. 

Since all sites are different we’ve broken the yearly prices down into 3 tiers so you know what you should be getting for your money.

Tier 3: £1,000 - £2,000

Parks in tier 3 are often the smallest ones available to holiday makers. They might lack the size and facilities of larger parks but they offer caravaners an intimate, personal caravan experience where you can meet and make friends with everyone on the site. 

These parks don’t have much in the way of facilities but many that use them prefer the stripped back, do it yourself approach to caravaning. These parks, as well as being cheap, offer visitors a peaceful, relaxing time. 

Tier 2: £2,000- £3,500

This tier is what you’d consider the average rate for most static caravan holiday parks. With a price bracket between £2000 and £3500 you’re definitely getting more luxury than a tier 3 site. These added amenities and facilities give you even more to think about when choosing your static caravan holiday park. 

Holiday parks in this tier can vary wildly depending on which end of the monetary scale you land on. On the lower end of this tier sites may boast an onsite pub and washroom whereas sites nearing the £3500 mark could have an indoor pool and entertainment program. If you’re heading to an adult only park these often have onsite restaurants and gyms. 

Tier 1: £3,500 - £10,000

Tier one is reserved for the best parks in the world. Pricing often starts around £3500 and stretches up to £10,000 but really the skies the limit when it comes to parks in this tier. 

Parks in this tier will have access to swimming pools, bars, restaurants and gyms alongside many other luxury facilities (golf course anyone?). 

These sites also have onsite entertainment as standard and you can expect a full schedule of acts and activities when you stay in a tier 1 park. 

Make sure you get your money’s worth?

On the lookout for a holiday park for your static caravan? Make sure you remember these tiers and don’t settle for less than what you’re paying for. If you’re already a caravan owner, ask yourself, are you getting enough bang for your buck?

If not you can always negotiate your site fees with the park management team. If that doesn’t work you can consider moving your static caravan. You want to get the best deal possible after all, right? 

Keep the fire going! How much does it cost to heat a static caravan?

How you heat your caravan depends on which holiday park you choose to pitch your home at. There are generally two ways you can heat your static caravan: with gas bottles or with a metre. 

It’s at your parks discretion which they provide. Some will let you decide how you heat your home and others will only support one option. Sometimes your caravan will be the decider. Older models might not be able to hook up to a park's mains electricity so gas is your only option.   

However you decide to heat your caravan, one thing will not change. You’ll need to pay for it. 

If you’re using a metre, estimating the cost can be really difficult as prices vary depending on the region of the UK you’re in but we can say with confidence that they’ll be cheaper than your electricity rates at home. 

Gas bottles can range in price and a 47kg bottle will cost you £75. This will supply a caravan with around 19 hours heat. Now this doesn’t sound like a lot but remember; you’re probably going to be holidaying in summer so the hot days should chase the cold away. 

Even when heat is required at night, a few hours before bed and in the morning mean you can stretch one 47kg bottle out the whole week. As a general rule of thumb, at Lifestyle Homes we’d suggest budgeting £500 for energy for the caravanning season and in the colder months one 47kg gas bottle a week would be wise. 

What about tax?

The good news is that you don’t need to pay any council tax on your static caravan provided you don’t live there full time. If your holiday home isn’t your primary address then you won’t be charged. 

Insurance? Is it worth it?

While insurance isn’t a legal requirement for a static caravan it is recommended. Some holiday parks will offer insurance packages to you and will help you insure your home at a reduced rate. The cost for this does vary based on size and caravan type.

For reference, insuring a basic 10ft wide starter caravan should cost between £150 - £200 whereas a large 20 footer can go up to £600 per year. Caravan insurance covers you against theft, internal and external damage e.g a burst pipe, and changes on site that could affect your caravan.

Typically, caravan insurance doesn’t cover everyday wear and tear, insect or vermin damage and dampness. 

Any other costs?  

Depending on the location and management of your holiday park there could be additional costs. Since every park is different we couldn’t list them all here. But we would advise you to thoroughly research any park you’d like to use before you sign a contract with them. That way you can be confident there’s no hidden costs.

Looking for a place to pitch your static caravan?

If you’re on the lookout for a new static caravan pitch get in touch with us here at Lifestyle Homes, we have holiday parks across all of Ards Peninsula in Northern Ireland and would love to tell you more about our holiday parks and all the fun your family can have here.