Motorhome Habitation Checks: What Are They and Why Are They Important?

Motorhome habitation checks are an important part of motorhome maintenance. They’re designed to make sure your vehicle is in good condition before you hit the road, keeping you and your passengers safe and ensuring your trip won’t be disrupted by faults that could have easily been avoided.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about motorhome habitation checks, including:

• What motorhome habitation checks are
• Why habitation checks are important
• What a motorhome habitation service includes
• How much a motorhome habitation check costs
• How to prepare for a motorhome habitation check

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What is a motorhome habitation check?

A motorhome habitation check is a thorough inspection of the interior components of your motorhome. It identifies any problems with your motorhome so that you can get these fixed before setting off on your next journey.

Motorhome habitation checks are usually carried out by a professional service engineer, who will conduct a visual inspection and give you a detailed report of the vehicle’s condition at the end.

Why are motorhome habitation checks important?

Habitation checks are important for a number of reasons:

• Preserve the value of your motorhome: Carrying out annual habitation checks will help prevent your motorhome from depreciating in value and increase its lifespan. This also means you’ll have no problem finding a buyer if you choose to sell your motorhome in the future.
• Save money in the long run: Habitation checks identify any issues with your motorhome early on, before they develop into major problems. This makes them much easier and less costly to fix.
• Protect your warranty: Many manufacturers insist on annual motorhome habitation checks for the first 3-5 years after purchase as part of the terms of your vehicle’s warranty.
• Keep your loved ones safe: Most importantly, regular habitation checks ensure your motorhome is safe to travel in, protecting you and your loved ones.

Is a motorhome habitation check a legal requirement?

Unlike motorhome MOTs, habitation checks are not a legal requirement. However, it’s important that you do get your motorhome inspected on an annual basis to keep it in the best possible condition and keep you and your family safe.

You may also find that your insurance provider won’t pay out unless you have certificates to show that regular inspections have been carried out.

What does a motorhome habitation service include?

Habitation checks can vary depending on who carries them out, but there are some basic aspects of your motorhome that every service centre will inspect:

• Electrical systems
• Gas systems
• Water & plumbing systems
• Fire safety
• Ventilation
• Body equipment (including doors, roof, blinds, and windows)
• Bodywork (including checking there is no damp)

One of the main reasons people choose to get their motorhome serviced is to ensure that any water ingress problems are caught early, as repairs can be costly.

What’s not included in a motorhome habitation check?

Bear in mind that habitation checks only inspect the living condition of your motorhome, not any of the motoring aspects of the vehicle – this is what your annual MOT test is for.

Although the habitation check will identify any issues with your motorhome, repairs are not included – you will have to arrange to get these done separately.

How much does a motorhome habitation check cost?

Prices for motorhome habitation checks can vary depending on which service centre you choose and how thorough the inspection is. However, prices typically start from around £200 for a full check of all the key components of your vehicle.

Be sure to ask for a list of exactly what the service includes before you pay to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth!

How to prepare for a motorhome habitation check

Your service engineer will need full access to your motorhome to carry out the habitation check, so make sure any objects that may cause obstructions have been moved out of the way.

You should also:

• Empty your lockers so the engineer can check for water ingress
• Drain your water system
• Make sure there’s gas in your bottles for a gas check

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