How to rent out your static caravan as a holiday home

Posted on Oct 06, 2022
To earn some extra income and help with the cost of ownership, renting out your static caravan as a holiday home can make perfect sense. With fewer holidaymakers willing or able to travel abroad, a UK caravan break is likely to be viewed by many as an attractive (and safe!) getaway. So how can I make my static caravan look nice enough for paying guests? What legal requirements should I be aware of? Have I got the right static caravan insurance? Here are our tips for generating a profit from static caravan rentals, while staying on the right side of the rules.
Can you make money renting out a caravan?
In a word, yes. But just tread carefully, especially if you are new to static caravan ownership. Rather than being very heavily dependent on rental income as a way of financing the cost of ownership, it’s safer to view it as an added bonus to offset site fees, loan repayments and upkeep costs. Here are a few pointers for getting the pricing right and maximising rental profits:
Do your research
Rental listing sites such as Direct Holiday Homes and Caravan Owners Direct can give you a guide on rental rates. For a realistic idea of how much to ask, make sure you are comparing like-for-like in terms of site, caravan size, facilities, as well as the time of year you intend to rent it out. It’s also worth quizzing other owners on site. They may be able to give you useful information on seasonal levels of demand, pricing and the best places to advertise. You might even be able to pool resources with other owners to share tasks such as key handovers, cleaning and inventory checks.
Should I rent my caravan through the holiday park, or do it independently?
Many of the larger sites and holiday park chains offer lettings services. Convenience tends to be the main benefit of these packages. Typically, you give the dates you want to rent it out, and the park operator will advertise your caravan on their lettings platform, handling all bookings, handovers, cleaning, maintenance and guest communications. The flip side is that holiday parks tend to charge a substantial commission for these services. So it’s a matter of weighing up your priorities. If you live within easy reach of your caravan and are happy handling the bookings yourself, renting it independently should help to maximise your profits. But if you are looking for hands-off involvement (and don’t mind paying for it) renting through the caravan park could be the better option.
Marketing your caravan
When a potential guest is browsing lots of very similar caravan rental options, it’s the little things that can make all the difference. That’s why it’s worth taking time to produce some good quality photographs to accompany the listing. A neutral decor, clean surfaces, swept decking, well-trimmed surrounding grass, bin bags out-of-sight, (on a sunny day if possible!): these can all help your images to stand out. 5-star reviews are also a massive help in boosting your caravan’s rentability. A day or two after guests have left, drop them an email to leave a review.
What are the legal requirements?
Site-specific rental restrictions
Some caravan sites do not allow you to rent out your static caravan to others, or have specific requirements to allow you to do so. Check your static caravan park ownership agreement to see if there are any restrictions on renting it out. There may be specific rules regarding pets, age groups and the number of vehicles allowed per pitch.
Health and safety
- You need a landlord’s Gas Safety Certificate, which must be renewed annually and displayed in the caravan.
- The caravan must have a fixed electrical installation certificate.
- All electrical appliances more than 12 months old must be tested annually and a P.A.T. (Portable Appliance Test) certificate obtained.
- Your caravan must have a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector fitted. These must be tested regularly. You should also have an in-date fire extinguisher and fire blanket, ideally positioned prominently in the kitchen.
- You should also have a health & safety notice clearly displayed for your guests. This should contain details of nearest fire assembly points, and who to contact in the event of an emergency.
Do I need static caravan insurance?
When renting out your caravan, having the right insurance in place is vital for protecting your investment — and for peace of mind. Not least, it covers you for damage caused by accidental or malicious damage caused by guests. The public liability element of your insurance also protects both you and your guests in case of accidents or injury while staying in the caravan. Note: if you are thinking of hiring out your static caravan, always notify your insurer to ensure you are adequately covered. Featuring public liability cover up to £5 million, and cover for loss of rental income in the event your caravan is damaged, Shield Total Insurance Static Caravan insurance is designed to meet all your coverage needs. To make sure you are fully protected before renting out your caravan, take a closer look at our static caravan insurance. For more tips on making the most of your caravan investment, be sure to explore our blog.
Looking for a related product?

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