How to rent out your static caravan in the UK

Letting your static caravan for the weeks you're not using it can help cover pitch fees and running costs. It isn't complicated, but there are a few things to get right before the first guest turns up. Here's the order we'd do them in.

1. Check your park allows letting

Start here, because everything else depends on it. Your licence agreement with the park sets out whether you can let your caravan privately, and on what terms. Some parks allow private letting freely, some allow it with conditions such as guest registration or passes, some only allow letting through the park's own scheme, and some don't allow it at all.

Read the agreement, then ask the park office to confirm in writing. Our guide to park rules on letting lists the questions worth asking.

2. Tell your insurer and get letting cover

A standard holiday-home caravan policy may not cover you once you start taking paying guests. Tell your insurer you plan to let the van and ask for cover that includes letting to paying guests, including public liability. Check what's covered for guest damage, theft and loss of bookings, and whether there are conditions such as key handover rules. More in our insurance and tax guide.

3. Sort the safety checks

When you let a caravan as holiday accommodation, you take on legal duties. The Health and Safety Executive says landlord gas safety duties apply to rented holiday accommodation, including caravans: every gas appliance and flue you provide needs a gas safety check every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer (HSE guidance). In England and Wales, fire safety law also applies to holiday caravans, so you need a fire risk assessment.

You'll also want working smoke alarms and a carbon monoxide alarm. Our getting your van ready checklist covers the lot.

4. Get the van guest-ready

Guests don't expect brand new, but they do expect clean, working and as described. Do a deep clean, check everything works, write an inventory and put together a short welcome guide with the Wi-Fi details, park information, check-out instructions and emergency numbers.

5. Decide your price, cleaning fee and minimum stay

Look at what similar vans on your park and nearby parks charge for the same dates, then work out your own costs per stay. On VanHols you set your nightly price, a separate cleaning fee and a minimum stay. Our pricing guide walks through it.

6. Write clear house rules

House rules save arguments later. Cover the basics: maximum guests, whether dogs are allowed (and how many), smoking, quiet times, check-in and check-out arrangements, and any park rules guests must follow, such as passes or vehicle limits. On VanHols, your house rules are shown on your listing and guests agree to them before they request.

7. Take good photos and write an honest description

Take photos in daylight with the blinds open, after a clean. Include every room, the kitchen, the bathroom, the outside space and the view. In the description, say how many it sleeps and in what beds, what's included (bedding, towels, heating), what the park has, and anything a guest should know, like steps up to the door or a pass charge. Accurate listings get fewer complaints.

8. List your caravan

You can let to friends and family, post in Facebook groups, or use a letting website. On VanHols, listing is free: there's no listing fee, no yearly fee and no owner fee on bookings. VanHols adds 12% on top of your nightly price for guests (for example, £100 a night shows to guests as £112), and you receive 100% of your nightly price and your cleaning fee.

Before your listing goes live, you upload proof that you own the van, such as a recent pitch-fee invoice or your park licence agreement. It's stored privately and never shown on your listing. If you already have an ad or photos, send them and we'll build the listing for you to check and approve.

9. Set up payouts

To get paid, you tap Set up payouts in your VanHols account. Stripe's secure page asks for your bank details and a quick photo ID check (passport or driving licence plus a selfie). It takes about 5 minutes on a phone, and Stripe checks your ID, not us.

10. Accept booking requests

Every booking on VanHols is a request. The guest pays when they request, but their card is only held, not charged. You get an email straight away and have 24 hours to accept or decline. If you don't reply in time, the hold is released and nothing is booked. If you also let the van elsewhere, keep your calendars up to date so you don't get double-booked, and close any dates you want to use yourself.

11. Handle the changeover and the stay

Plan who will clean between guests and how guests will get the keys. Make sure the van is properly clean for every arrival. Guests can report a problem within 24 hours of check-in with photos, and you'll get the chance to fix it quickly, for example by sending a cleaner.

12. Get paid and keep records

On VanHols, the money is released to your bank about 24 hours after check-in, unless the guest reports a problem in that window. Keep a simple record of what you receive and what you spend, because letting income may need declaring to HMRC. See our insurance and tax basics.

Quick questions

More owner guides

• Park rules on letting your static caravan
• How to price your static caravan for holiday lets
• Getting your static caravan ready for guests
• Insurance and tax basics for letting a static caravan
• Static caravan letting FAQ