Costs & Site Fees
Is a static caravan an investment?
The honest answer is no. Holiday caravans usually depreciate and are lifestyle purchases.
5 minute read
The direct answer
No. A holiday caravan is not an investment. Holiday caravans usually depreciate, often steeply in the early years, and they are a lifestyle purchase rather than a financial product.
Buy one because you want easy access to holidays in a place you love. Do not buy one expecting to grow money.
Why values fall
- Vans are manufactured goods that age and date
- Park age limits shrink the pool of future buyers
- Resale is often tied to the park, which may take commission
- Running costs continue whether you use it or not
What about rental income?
Some parks permit subletting, and income can offset part of your annual costs. Treat any figure a seller quotes as a best case. Occupancy, cleaning, laundry, commission, wear and insurance all reduce it, and permission can change.
In our calculator, rental income is an optional field for exactly this reason. Run the numbers with it set to zero as well.
A fair way to think about it
Work out the net cost over the years you expect to own, divide by the number of holidays you will realistically take, and compare that to what those holidays would cost you otherwise. That is a lifestyle calculation, and it is a perfectly good reason to buy.
Put it into numbers
Our true ownership cost calculator adds up site fees with compounding increases, running costs, resale and optional rental income across the years you plan to own.
General information for British buyers, not financial advice. Costs, rules and licences vary by park and change over time. Always confirm the detail in writing before you commit.