Karen Stacey, Managing Director of Compass Insurance, looks at the type of insurance claims that peak at this time of year as caravan owners return to holiday parks across the UK.
Static caravans are great family retreats, perfect for weekend getaways or staycation holidays. Purchasing one can be a significant investment, so it is important it is well maintained and looked after. However, unlike holiday homes made from traditional bricks and mortar, static caravans are particularly susceptible to unpredictable weather events; anything from flash floods caused by heavy rain on parched ground during the summer, to strong winds and storms, can cause a significant amount of damage to static caravans.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of claims occur when people aren’t actually on site; when their caravans are left vacant, which for most parks is between October and March. According to our claims data, the most commonly reported incidents once people return to their properties in March are escape of water, accidental damage, and storm damage. There were also high instances of damage caused by vermin and flooding.
Common insurance claims
Claims for the escape of water during the 2022 and 2023 seasons were high, with the figure totalling over £1.4m for the whole two years combined. This is usually caused by pipes freezing up and bursting during a cold snap, leaving a wet and unwelcome surprise for static caravan owners when they return to their properties in the spring.
Wet and windy weather had a significant role to play over the last couple of years as well, with a significant number of claims being made for storm damage. In January and February 2022 in particular, storms Malik, Corrie, Dudley, Eunice, and Franklin all caused significant damage to static caravans.
Similarly, in January 2023, the UK experienced significant flooding, with the Met Office issuing 98 flood warnings and 169 alerts across England on 14 January alone. Heavy rain and flooding also occurred throughout England and Scotland in October, while another 50 flood warnings were issued in December. The resulting claims for flood damage made up 55% of all the claims we processed during that year. In fact, flooding has been so bad recently that some assessors have had to wait for weeks to get onto parks because they were completely inaccessible.
There were also claims for fire damage, as well as an increase in cases involving damage caused by vermin during long periods when caravans were left unattended.
The impact on insurance terms
As the weather grows ever more unpredictable, the severity and frequency of flooding and storm events are on the rise. Such occurrences have led to insurers paying out a lot more in claims over recent years, which has in turn seen static caravan premiums increase as a result. Alternatively, flood terms such as large excesses or even exclusions are applied.
So, what can be done to reduce the number of claims during these off-season periods?
Park owners’ obligations
You will find that owners of holiday parks, caravan and camping sites will have already made plans in the event of a flood if the site is potentially prone to flooding. For park owners, customer safety is paramount, so they will be made fully aware of any risks of flooding, as well as any evacuation procedures and assembly points.
What can consumers do?
Consumers should check their static caravan insurance documents carefully, as terms may refer to when the site is closed and the property is left unoccupied. Most policies stipulate that the water needs to be turned off and the pipes drained in order for the insurance policy to remain valid during winter and the closed season (making the owner and not the park liable for any damage that occurs).
When it comes to preventing the escape of water, parks often offer a “drain down” service, removing all the water from a caravan’s pipes to prevent damage should the outside temperatures fall below zero.
It’s equally important that people prepare for the ‘hibernation’ period by securing and tying down any items such as outdoor furniture, so there is no danger of them causing any damage to the caravan in the event of a storm. Plus, when vacating the property for close season, make sure it is clean, all food has been removed and whilst it’s important to keep air vents unobstructed to allow air to circulate, any larger holes should be boarded up, to deter vermin from making themselves at home while the caravan is unoccupied.
Whatever the size or location of their property, static caravan owners should do everything required of them as per their insurance policy, to ensure they are not liable in the event of any damage occurring during the closed season.
With the trusty British weather having again been cold, wet and windy during the most recent closed season, we are expecting a similar deluge of static caravan claims this year. The best thing parks and consumers can do to protect their properties is to ensure they undertake all the preventative measures they possibly can – as well as check they have adequate insurance cover in place.
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