Getting your static caravan ready for guests

Getting a static caravan ready for paying guests is mostly common sense, plus a few legal duties you can't skip. Work through this list before your first booking. It's general guidance, so check the rules that apply to your van and your park.

Gas safety

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says landlord gas safety duties apply to rented holiday accommodation, including caravans (HSE: gas safety for landlords). In short:

• Every gas appliance and flue you provide needs a gas safety check every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
• Keep the record of each check for 2 years.
• Give guests a copy before they move in. For a holiday let, many owners keep a copy in the welcome folder.
• Keep appliances, pipework and flues maintained in a safe condition between checks.

Ask your park whether it has its own requirements, such as using the park's engineers.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

• Fit working smoke alarms and a carbon monoxide alarm, and test them at every changeover.
• Replace batteries or alarms when they reach the end of their life.
• Your fire risk assessment (below) may show you need more than one smoke alarm, or interlinked alarms.

Fire risk assessment and equipment

In England and Wales, fire safety law (the Fire Safety Order) applies to paying guest accommodation, and government guidance says this includes holiday caravans. You need a fire risk assessment, and you should act on it and review it regularly. For holiday caravans, the government guide recommends the Home Office 5-step fire safety risk assessment checklist (gov.uk: making your small paying guest accommodation safe from fire). If your van is in Scotland, check the Scottish guidance.

Things to think about:

• Fire safety equipment your assessment identifies, such as a fire blanket in the kitchen and a suitable extinguisher.
• Clear escape routes and easy-to-open exits, with keys for any locked doors where guests can find them.
• Fire instructions for guests: how to get out, where to gather and how to call 999.
• Safe storage of gas bottles and anything flammable.

Electrics and appliances

• Check appliances are in safe working order, with no damaged plugs or cables.
• Don't leave guests with extension leads daisy-chained together.
• Have the electrics checked if your park or insurer asks for it, and keep the paperwork.

Inventory

An inventory helps you spot what's missing or broken, and helps guests know what's there. List, room by room:

• Bedding and towels (if included), pillows and duvets
• Crockery, cutlery, glasses, pans, utensils and kitchen appliances
• TV, heaters, hairdryer, iron, vacuum and mop
• Outdoor furniture, barbecue and decking items
• Keys, fobs and car passes

Take dated photos alongside it. They're useful if you ever need to report damage.

Cleaning to a clear standard

Guests don't expect spotless, but they do expect clean. On VanHols, a caravan fails our cleanliness standard if guests arrive to previous guests' rubbish or food, unwashed bedding or towels, a dirty toilet, shower or kitchen, or visible mould. Normal wear and tear is fine. A changeover checklist helps:

• Strip and change beds; fresh towels if included.
• Clean the kitchen, fridge, oven, hob and microwave; empty the bins.
• Clean the bathroom, toilet and shower; check for mould.
• Vacuum and mop; wipe surfaces, windows and door handles.
• Check the decking, steps and outside area.
• Restock consumables and test the alarms.

House rules and welcome guide

Write short, friendly house rules and put them on your listing and in the van. Include the maximum number of guests, pets, smoking, quiet times, check-out instructions and any park rules, such as passes, vehicle limits or wristbands. A welcome guide is worth the effort too: Wi-Fi details, how the heating and hot water work, where the gas and water shut-offs are, park facilities and opening times, local shops, and emergency numbers (999 for emergencies, and 0800 111 999 for a gas emergency in Great Britain).

Paperwork to keep together

• Your licence agreement and the park's written permission to let
• Your insurance policy with letting cover
• Gas safety records (and electrical checks if you have them)
• Your fire risk assessment
• Inventory and photos
• Records of what you receive and spend, for tax

Quick questions

More owner guides

• How to rent out your static caravan in the UK
• Park rules on letting your static caravan
• How to price your static caravan for holiday lets
• Insurance and tax basics for letting a static caravan
• Static caravan letting FAQ