What’s the difference between a static caravan, holiday caravan, holiday home, lodge or residential park home?

These are all terms used to describe caravans. While there is a legal definition for a ‘caravan’, the different terms used to describe them can cause confusion about how the caravan may be used.

When thinking of buying a caravan the most important thing to consider is what you want to use it for.

Do you want to live in your caravan, or do you want to use it for holidays?

Why do I need to decide whether I want to live or holiday in my caravan before I buy it?

Because the laws that exist to protect buyers are different, depending on whether you are buying a caravan to live in or to use for holidays and both your agreement with a park and the park’s planning permission and site licence may only allow a caravan to be used for one and the other, not both.

You could lose a lot of money if you don’t follow the rules and get the right contract in place when buying your caravan.

How do I know what contract I need?

If you want to live in your caravan click here, to see a typical Written Statement.

If you are buying a caravan to holiday in, click here to see a typical Licence Agreement.

I’ve been told I can live in my caravan even though it’s on holiday park because the park has a 12-month licence, is that ok?

No. A 12-month holiday licence simply means you can take a holiday on the park at any time during the year. You are not allowed to live on a holiday park as your only or main residence and must have a main residence elsewhere.  A “paper” address is not enough.

Living on a holiday park is likely to breach the park’s planning permission and site licence and therefore be illegal - the Holiday Licence Agreement will not allow this. You will have no legal rights to live in your holiday caravan.

If you do live on a holiday park, the park could terminate your contract and ask you to remove your holiday caravan from the site. The planning authority might also take action against you or the park owner.

I know some people live on a holiday park because they have children at the local school and leave dressed for work every day, so surely that proves it’s ok?

It isn’t. Customers cannot live on a holiday park so they are not allowed to travel to work or commute from a holiday caravan, nor register with a local GP or enrol their children into local schools. You must have a genuine permanent address elsewhere – your main place of residence where you live when you are not on holiday and are registered to vote.

If you are living on a holiday park, the park could terminate your contract and to ask you to remove your holiday caravan from the site. The planning authority might also take action against you.

Living illegally on a holiday park means you risk losing your money as well as your home.

Where can I find out more information?

For more information about buying a caravan or park home to live in, click here.

For more information about buying a caravan to holiday in, click here.

For further general information and guidance:

Citizens Advice Bureau

Lease Advice

National Caravan Council