If you’re contemplating buying a holiday home, you’ll probably want to know:
Can you live in a caravan all year?
It’s a common query as people want to make the most of their purchase which means spending as much time in their caravan (or lodge) as possible.
However unless your chosen site is residential, you need to check what their rules are. That’s because parks can be open all-year round for access, but they do not necessarily allow you to live there.
At Meridian Parks, we have a range of sites from Scotland to the North York Moors allowing you to enjoy the beauty of the coast and countryside. Many of our parks provide all-year round access so you can come and go when you please throughout the year. Our Heron Residential Park can also be your permanent home as it is fully residential, safe, and secure. It’s also maintenance-free, so you can spend more time enjoying your surroundings without worrying about the upkeep of your home.
In this guide, we’ll be answering all of your questions around living in a caravan, as well as the perks of all-year round access.
Can You Live In A Caravan All Year Round?
Whether you can live in your caravan all-year round depends on the specific type of park. The key distinction is between a holiday park and a residential park.
A residential park, such as our Heron Park, has the correct planning permission and authority for you to live here permanently and has been set up specifically for residential use. On the other hand a holiday park has different planning arrangements that allow it to be used for holidays and leisure.
Different parks have different rules so it’s best to check before turning your static caravan into your main address. That said, there’s no need to worry about not being able to spend much time at your holiday home as this is what they’re designed for! With year-round access (which we’re covering more below) you can still come and go as you please across 12 months of the year.
Do You Pay Council Tax On a Static Caravan?
Yes, if you’re living in a residential park you are generally subject to council tax. This is because your caravan is your permanent place of residence, just like a house or flat.
At our Heron Park in Darlington, the council tax band is A, which is the lowest band. This means you can benefit from lower council tax costs compared to properties in higher bands, helping to make your monthly living expenses more manageable.
However, if you own a static caravan in a holiday park you generally won’t need to pay council tax on it individually as it’s not your main residence.
Can You Stay In A Caravan All Year Round?
Yes, you can stay in a caravan all-year round. This is the important difference to ‘living’ in a caravan all year round as you’re free to use your holiday home as and when you choose.
As long as the park provides year-round access, which many of our parks at Meridian do, you can use your holiday home when it best suits you. This gives you the freedom and flexibility to enjoy your caravan all year instead of being limited to certain months.
Many holiday parks close over winter and only allow overnight stays for 8-10 months of the year, often closing from autumn to January. This limits owners on when they can stay as many people like the option of being away over Christmas and New Year.
This is what we offer at many of our Meridian Parks so people get the full benefits of ownership. Other benefits include:
- Enjoy spontaneous holidays – with year round access, you can escape to your home-away-from-home whenever you like without having to plan around park closures.
- Make the most of your holiday home – instead of leaving your caravan empty for several months of the year, you can use it whenever you please.
- More time with family and friends – whether you’re celebrating the festive season or having a last-minute family staycation, your holiday home is ready for you to make more memories.
- No restrictions – instead of having to make the most of your holiday home during peak time such as summer and school holidays, you can visit in quieter periods too when it might be more relaxing for you. This is ideal if you want to avoid the crowds.
- Feels like a real home away from home – by having somewhere to escape to throughout the year, you always have a peaceful retreat just waiting for you.
- Enjoy local, seasonal events – lots of villages and towns host seasonal events such as Christmas markets or fun-days for children. By being able to use your holiday home all year, you’ve got the perfect base to go back to after a day exploring.
Holidays Parks vs Residential Parks
Below is a quick summary of the differences between holiday parks and residential parks – both of which are offered at Meridian depending on the type of stay you’re looking for.
| Holiday Parks | Residential Parks | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Holidays, staycations, leisure | Permanent residence |
| Can you live there permanently? | No, this cannot be your main address | Yes, you can live on site and use this as your main address |
| All-year access | Sometimes depending on the park | Yes |
| Council tax | Usually doesn’t apply to holiday caravans | Yes, as this is your main residence |
| Best suited to | Holidays, regular getaways | People who want to live on site |
At Meridian, many of our locations offer 12-month access, while others have slightly shorter opening seasons. This gives you the flexibility to choose a park that suits how and when you want to enjoy your holiday home.
