What is a habitation check and what does it cover?

A habitation check is an inspection of the living area of a caravan or motorhome: the gas system and appliances, the electrics, the water system, heating and ventilation, damp and seals, and the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. That is how the Approved Workshop Scheme describes it. The scheme says a habitation check is not a legal requirement in the UK, but that many manufacturers and insurers require one every year to keep a warranty or cover valid.

What the check covers

The Approved Workshop Scheme lists six areas:

• Gas system and appliances. The whole gas system and everything that runs off it is tested for safety, leaks and correct operation.
• Electrical system. Wiring, sockets, fuses and battery performance.
• Water system. Taps, pumps, tanks and waste outlets, inspected for leaks, blockages and correct operation.
• Heating and ventilation. Heating units and ventilation points.
• Damp and seals. Seals, joints and internal areas are examined for water ingress, condensation or dampness. The readings are explained in the damp readings guide.
• Fire and carbon monoxide detectors. Tested for operation, placement and battery life.

The Camping and Caravanning Club says the scheme's annual service carries out over 40 separate checks, and that a separate damp report with moisture readings comes with it.

What it does not cover

• The base vehicle of a motorhome. The scheme says a habitation check is not the same as a vehicle service, which deals with the engine, brakes, tyres and suspension, and that its motorhome service covers the habitation unit only. The MOT is separate again: see the MOT guide.
• Servicing the gas appliances. In the basic service they are safety checked but not serviced. The scheme says you can ask for that at extra cost.
• Damp testing underneath. The scheme says the underside and the outside are not tested, though a visual inspection is made and anything of concern reported.
• An electrical installation report. The scheme says the Institution of Engineering and Technology recommends no more than 3 years between electrical inspections of a caravan, and that the test is not compulsory.

A touring caravan is treated differently from a motorhome. The scheme's workshops service the complete touring caravan, where on a motorhome they do the living area alone.

How long it takes and what it costs

The scheme says a standard motorhome habitation check usually takes 2 to 4 hours, and elsewhere gives around three hours for a motorhome habitation service and around four for a single axle tourer. It publishes no price: the cost depends on the size and age of the vehicle, where you are and the workshop, so the figure has to come from the workshop.

How often

The scheme says most manufacturers recommend a habitation check once a year, and that on a newer vehicle it may be a condition of the warranty. The Caravan and Motorhome Club says it is not a legal requirement to have a caravan or motorhome serviced, but it is a legal requirement that it is roadworthy.

Who runs the Approved Workshop Scheme

It is run jointly by the National Caravan Council, the Caravan and Motorhome Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club. If you use a workshop outside the scheme, ask what its check includes and whether you get a written damp report.

If you are selling

Keep the habitation check and damp reports with the service history, because they are the record of the living area a buyer will ask for. The paperwork guide lists the rest, and the caravan and motorhome pages set out the ways to sell.