How much does it cost to own a caravan? You might be pleasantly surprised…

Buying a caravan is a big decision and needs to be thoroughly researched. Haven experts detail some of the key expenses to factor into your budget

From site fees to annual drain downs, it’s not just the price of the caravan itself that you need to think about when you’re daydreaming about endless family weekends on the coast.

With 38 parks in great locations, Haven is one of the market leaders when it comes to UK caravan parks, and its experts pride themselves on full financial transparency with their customers. So who better to ask about the bottom line than its sales team?

Here are the four areas they say you need to consider to make sure you’re budgeting for all aspects of caravan ownership:

1. Caravan purchase

Prices for a Haven caravan start from £19,999† for a pre-owned model and £23,999† for a new one.

Owners put down a 10 per cent deposit of the price, and monthly repayments for a new model could be as low as £323* before adding site fees and running costs. So it’s often much more affordable than people think.

Haven also gives a two-year warranty on pre-owned caravans and five years on new ones. Plus, should you decide your caravan is not right for you, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. Site fees

As well as the right to occupy the pitch, site fees cover various things like on-site security, park maintenance, landscaping and help from park teams.

The average site fee is £6,500, and the amount will depend on the park and pitch. There are ways to offset the site fees, including splitting them over six-monthly interest-free instalments; all fees must be paid by October.

“Plus Haven can help make it more affordable by helping owners let their caravan out when they’re not using it,” says Kristie from Haven Littlesea in Weymouth.

“Haven will look after your caravan between lets, take care of the cleaning and even give you a guaranteed income across the year.”

“But you don’t have to let your caravan,” adds Jamie, from Greenacres in Porthmadog, North Wales. “There’s a myth that at Haven you have to let your caravan, but it’s [just] an option. Our letting packages are tailored and flexible. If you want to enjoy your caravan every weekend and let it from Monday to Friday, you can – or you can keep it all to yourself.”

3. Running costs

All homes have running costs – holiday homes are no different. Estimated gas and electricity costs could be around £400 a year, while non-domestic business rates and water could be almost £600 annually.

Insurance adds between £200 and £500 a year. Owners also need to factor in maintenance costs such as boiler servicing and draining down their caravan at the end of the season, which Haven can arrange and oversee for you for a fee.

The experts add that buying a Haven caravan is an investment into a new lifestyle, one where you can get away at a moment’s notice,** with no planning and no stress.

It allows you to spend time and make memories with loved ones, and enjoy the best that Haven has to offer: stunning coastal locations, and activities and facilities galore.

4. Selling on

If you’d like to sell your caravan, Haven is there to help.

“We’ve sold caravans to people here, and then due to circumstances changing they’ve needed to sell them,” says Gareth, part of the team at Golden Sands, Lincolnshire. “Then sometimes, a year or two down the line, things have changed again and people return to rejoin us as owners.”

Jamie adds, “An owner’s Haven experience means they’re not on their own, and we’ll do all we can to assist for their entire ownership journey.”

*Terms and conditions apply. Representative finance example: holiday home cash price £23,999, less deposit of £2,399.90, gives a loan amount of £21,599.10, which equates to 84 monthly payments of £322.69. Total charge for credit £5,503.45. Total amount payable £29,502.45, which includes the deposit amount. The interest rate is 3.64 per cent fixed/6.9 per cent APR (representative). †Holiday home cash price includes siting, connections and standard accessories. Price excludes 2022 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to availability. Prices correct at time of going to print, January 2022. **Subject to park opening dates. Parks cannot be used as a permanent residence. Bourne Leisure Limited, Company registration no 04011660, whose registered office address is 1 Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire HP2 4YL.