TOP TIPS FOR CARAVAN STORAGE SITE OWNERS - PART 2

In part one of our Top Tips for Site Owners, we looked at security aspects to consider when setting up a caravan storage site. In part 2 we will look at the administrative elements to think about.

An efficient administration system that complements security aspects will ensure that a site runs smoothly.

Caravan Storage Records
Accurate records should be kept of all plot holders and should be updated as and when necessary. All details provided should, wherever possible, be verified either by driving license or passport.
If possible, ask for evidence of address such as a utility bill.

Insurance Details
The caravan owner’s insurance documents should be requested prior to a storage contract being exchanged. Check that the insurance will be valid for the term of the storage contract, and that it applies to the caravan or motorhome being stored.
Where applicable, make sure that the CRiS reference number on the caravan matches that on the insurance documents.

Damage Description
When a caravan first arrives onto the site it should be examined and any damage noted on a damage description form, which should be signed by the caravan owner and the site owner.
Ideally a check should be made each time the caravan is returned.

Site Fees
Site fees will be influenced by the quality of the site, its geographical location, and the economics of the area. On average, a year’s storage for a single axle caravan will be around £350.00*.
Undercover storage will usually generate a higher fee, and twin axle caravans are usually larger and therefore can also attract a higher fee.

Business Rates
As a business you will be required to pay business rates and the amount will be determined by the rateable value of the property. For more data on business rates check the Valuation Office Agency.

VAT
If the gross income from the site exceeds the current threshold of £82,000 then it is likely that VAT will have to be paid at the standard rate of 20%.

Storage Contract
A written contract is strongly recommended, as in the event of a dispute it can be invaluable.
All contracts must be fair and reasonable in their terms, and meet the requirements of Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Regulations 1999.
Terms must also be in plain language and if not, the interpretation which favours the consumer will apply. Site owners need to be aware that plot holders may take advantage of a site where there is no written contract.

Public Liability Insurance
Public Liability Insurance is essential when the nature of the business allows people onto the site for a specific purpose.
There will always be the potential for an accident, and therefore insurance should be in place for such eventualities.

For more information, please download our Guide to SecureCaravan Storage. 

*Representative costs based on sample data taken from Bronze, Silver & Gold CaSSOA storage facilities across the UK. Price is based on
average yearly cost for the storage of a single axle caravan. Prices will vary from site to site depending on location and security level awarded.

Keeping your Caravan Safe

In recent years the level of reported thefts of touring caravans has reduced substantially, however that is of little consequence to those who become a victim of this type of crime. As a caravan owner it is important to make sure that you do all that you can to protect the security of your caravan, which after all for many is a substantial investment. Tim Booth, from the Caravan Safety & Security Group has some useful advice.

A number of touring caravans have recently been reported as having been stolen in the Derbyshire area. Many of these were from storage that was being provided at farm locations.

The most important consideration when seeking to protect your caravan is to make sure that you meet the standards required by your insurer – you do not have to insure a caravan but of course if you decide to then there will always be policy conditions. Most insurers require you to fit a hitch lock and wheel clamp – but you have to consider whether this is enough.

A caravan stored at an ‘informal’ farm location is often vulnerable as any offender can spend time defeating security devices that you have fitted. So, you need to consider the storage site security. 

• How easy is it for you to collect your caravan? 
• Is there security in place?
• Is the storage area a fenced and gated area? 
• How often have you been ‘challenged’ when collecting your own caravan – or do you have to arrange collection with the storage provider?

If it is very straightforward for you to drive in and collect your caravan, if it is then the same applies to someone seeking to steal your caravan.

How often do you check your caravan? Many operators provide storage, but there is no check of your property once it is parked there – does the storage agreement include checks by the operator? – If not then you need to make regular visits (some of the caravans stolen have not been seen by their owners for a number of months).

If your caravan has an alarm system then make sure that it works – alarms will serve to both deter offenders and attract attention – but if the caravan is in the middle of nowhere then it is unlikely that there would be any response to such an activation.

If your caravan has an after theft recovery device fitted then make sure that you have paid the subscription for the monitoring (many insurers provide a benefit for using these devices – but failure to pay the subscription may leave your insurance invalid).

Some systems can only be activated once the caravan has been stolen – so this may be some considerable time after the event – so the value of such a product may not be as good as you may want to see. There are pro-active devices available – again these offer a benefit with many insurers – the real benefit here is that, if the alarm is linked to a monitoring device, then the alarm activation will be reported to you, and then action can be taken to investigate what is wrong – these systems can also provide live updates of the caravan’s location, enabling an early recovery in the event of a theft (these recoveries on some occasions have been within the hour – so your caravan and the contents are still together).

If you leave ‘caravan’ equipment in your caravan when it is stored then it is a good idea to mark this with your postcode. Not only does this protect your property when you are using the caravan on a site, but it also provides permanent identification of this property should any offender seek to sell, or dispose of the contents of the caravan, after the theft.

A permanent marker pen is ideal for this – one that leaves a mark that you can see, not the ‘hidden’ UV marker. You may also mark the inside of your caravan with the last six numbers of its VIN – its unique identification mark found on the windows. Repeating this mark inside cupboards / lockers within the caravan can help to identify it if the offender works to remove the identification provided by the manufacturer.

Registering your caravan with the CRiS scheme (the UK Central Registration Identification Scheme) can also help the Police to identify your caravan. This is a register of keepers and in the event of a theft then previous keepers can provide information to officers about unique features of the caravan that you previously owned. Introduced back in 1992 the scheme can now provide you with covert identification tags that can be hidden around the caravan. These electronic tags can be read by a special reader that is available to Police officers – so even if the manufacturer’s identification marks have been removed the caravan can still be identified.

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