Static caravan on private land

When you rent a caravan out on private land rather than on a holiday park, you have the potential to make more of a profit as you won’t have to pay annual site fees. You can decide what works for you rather than being restricted to set changeover days and rental terms. Renting out your caravan on private land will also allow you to put your own stamp on the experience, whether that’s through providing a niche holiday rental aimed at a particular demographic or your own sense of style with interiors.

Consider the logistics of renting your caravan out, considering everything needed to make your rental a success, from cosmetic changes to essential safety measures, such as gas and electricity safety checks, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and more. Write down what will need to be done between rentals, such as cleaning and check-in/check-out, and work out how much your running costs will be compared to how much you’ll be able to charge.

If the money-making potential, these lists, and the regular work that will come with renting out a caravan sound realistic, and you’d like to create joyful holidays for guests plus benefit from an extra income stream, then renting out your caravan could be a good option for you.

Offering a caravan to hire on private land will typically attract a different type of holidaymaker to those who stay on holiday parks. If your caravan is in a remote location, you may attract older holidaymakers who would like to stay in a quieter spot with plenty of local walking opportunities. Or, if you own a farm, you may attract younger families looking for a break from their busy lives at home.

To help you market your caravan, consider who it will appeal to, when they tend to travel (will they be restricted to school holidays, for example?), and how much similar holiday lets cost. When you have identified the typical demographic of who your caravan will attract, consider the unique selling points that will appeal to them. Are you near a fantastic beauty spot? Do you have an excellent walking path or pub nearby? Do you have a rare or popular breed of animal on your farm?

Happy guests are more likely to leave good reviews and keep returning, which will help you generate more bookings. So, it’s important to meet – and exceed – your guests’ expectations. A high level of cleanliness is an essential requirement, so plan a cleaning routine before each stay with a checklist so you don’t miss anything. Good-quality linen and a kitchen area with a range of useful utensils and appliances are also important.

Think about the type of interiors your target customer will feel comfortable with and make them feel at home with thoughtful extras such as board games, beach equipment if you have a coastal location and a welcome gift such as a homemade cake or bottle of wine. A comprehensive welcome pack with information about the local area is likely to be appreciated too.

Maintaining the standards and safety of your caravan is essential. Check everything is working before each visit and book safety checks, such as ventilation and gas safety checks, when recommended.

When preparing to rent your caravan on private land, consider who it is likely to appeal to. If you’re aiming at a family group, including extras to make parents’ lives easier – such as a few toys, books, or beach equipment – will be appreciated. Think too about making your caravan a relaxing space with minimal clutter. If you use the caravan yourself, pack any personal items away before guests arrive.

If you’d like to charge a higher rate, you could also add some luxury facilities such as a hot tub or barbecue and an outside seating area.

Before renting out a static caravan, there are a number of steps you’ll need to take to make your caravan a safe and enjoyable space. If you get this right, you’ll have happy guests and, hopefully, repeat visitors. Safety is key and you’ll need to install items such as smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and book in regular gas and electricity safety checks.

To make a good first impression, think about the interiors of your caravan and whether they’ll need updating or freshening up before you rent your caravan out. Your caravan should be a clean and tidy space with basics such as good quality towels and linen and useful kitchen equipment and appliances. An outside area or a luxury such as a hot tub may help you to charge more for your caravan, too, so think about what your target holidaymakers may appreciate.

Good marketing will help you to attract customers. So, take some time to research the best places to list your caravan and look at appealing listings for inspiration. You can advertise your static caravan for hire in several areas, including online marketplaces, specialist holiday rental sites and dedicated caravan rental sites. UKcaravans4hire is a site dedicated to helping caravan owners market their holiday homes. The advantage of using a specialist site like this is that we have three million visitors yearly looking for a caravan holiday. We also market to a customer database of more than 200,000 subscribers. Plus, we don’t charge a subscription – we only get paid through a small commission when you do.

Once you decide where to advertise your caravan, a good listing is essential. Think about what makes your static caravan unique. Is it in a particularly beautiful location? Is there a famous attraction nearby? Will kids have a great time in the area as there’s so much to do? Make sure you highlight what makes your caravan unique in any marketing material.

Photographs are also a vital part of a listing, so make sure you grab potential guests’ attention through attractive exterior shots showing any outside areas or lovely views. Potential guests will be interested in seeing pictures of living and bedroom areas, too, but make sure these show a clean, tidy and minimal space that looks inviting.

Competitive prices will make your caravan stand out, so research what other similar holiday homes charge in your local area and keep your prices in line with these. Keep in mind, however, any differences that could push prices up, such as a particularly good attraction nearby, extra facilities, or a particularly high standard of caravan.

Prices will need to be altered to account for peak booking periods, while discounts may attract interest at quieter times of the year.