Do you get a habitation check done on your motorhome?

no never had one.........fridge doesnt work...well it might if i new how to turn it on...same with electrics...althought i think leisure btteries are probably kaput.....water pump for sink...never tried it.........gas rings x2 yes we use those.........serves us well........does the job........providig we have the dumping calor gas bottle with gas in it.
no mod cons....no shower, or proper toilet..........so i guess it could be said yes its almost down to basic camping but in something stronger than a tent........BUT WE LOVE THE LITTLE VAN..............
 
Never had a professional habitation check, carried out. I carry out all the checks, and maintenance, myself. There is no need to have a professional, if you are competent, yourself.
A piece of paper, is NO proof, of competence. It worries me, that people put their faith, in so called professionals, who have very little experience, but just a certificate. If only you had seen some of the bodges, that are carried out, by the staff, at motorhome dealers, it would frighten you.
As regards gas, I have been gas fitting, without qualifications, for over 50 yrs. We all have in built monitors, they are called eyes, nose, and ears, etc.
What a waste of time, many courses are, but I am convinced, that it's all about money, not safety. Don't be mislead. It's your money they are after.
I speak, as a retired professional quality and safety auditor.
 
Mine is a self build and on completion I had a gas safety and general check over done by a local man who is a truma engineer and also does caravan servicing. Since then I have had a safety check every two years. My reason for that is personal peace of mind and I also have a document to produce if a site were to question the conversion on safety grounds.
 
When I bought my last van it came with a habitation certificate. After that I drove it 12 years without one, although I constantly checked everything myself and looked after all potential seal problems. When we sold it the dealer checked everything again, and all was well.

I'll pay for habitation checks on my new van, but only to protect the warranty.

.
 
Tweedy said:
I have the Habitation check done annually by the dealer I bought our Motorhome from it includes the all important Gas Test and Most importantly damp check, the warranty runs until 2015, I shudder when I hear people say it’s not worth having it done, this is the reason, I live in a Coastal Town on the East Coast and in the past there has been at least TWO fires owing to gas leaks so you make your own mind up about your personal safety. These are only my thoughts so please don’t shout at me.
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Very important - especially if it is a condition of your Motorhome Warranty, as is mine. Booked for Aug 13th
 
I always get one done. The guy who does it fixes any small faults as he goes along, but my main reasons for having it are catching any problems before they become major and potentially very costly and the safety of having the gas system professionally examined.
 
Bought our van as seen and not had a check done since. If it was part of a warranty agreement I may get one but never really thought about it. I am working through everything myself trying to figure out what there is and not convinced a dealers service department would do anything better.

That’s not to say I will never have one done in the future but no interest in one currently
 
Every year since purchase. Part of warranty and subsequent extended warranty. Twice separate unseen/unknown faults with the gas system have been discovered and rectified. I don't have any professional qualifications in either gas or plumbing just experience and the ability to see, hear and touch. I do not believe that these abilities are sufficient to trust my, and THA's, lives for the sake a of couple of pounds put away each month. If there is a trend of "nothing ever happens" then just Google "caravan motorhome carbon monoxide electrical fire" as a series of search parameters - here's one I prepared earlier;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8169112.stm
this is just one of many.
Perhaps I am very lucky to have purchased my motorhome from Salop Leisure, (http://www.salopleisure.co.uk/) which is also where I store it and where it is maintained (very efficiently and at good value) and has been since 2011.
We don't full-time so there are extended periods when the motorhome is stood idle - dare I say this is usually when things start to occur.............
welcome to the twilight zone!
 
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Jimcasdog said:
Habitation checks are required not only to keep warranty but insurance will not pay out on a fire if habitation checks have not been done
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What makes you say this, there is no stipulation for any checks on my insurance apart from the vehicle being roadworthy? I am surprised there is not a compulsory inspection of certain things but really that would be limited to gas appliances. Is it just gas that has to be checked on canal boats or is there more? On a boat though you don’t have vents through the floor for any gas.

If a vehicle is checked and certified then checked again when any modification to gas is done why do you need anything else? I accept peace of mind as a valid reason but what qualifications does someone have to be able to carry put a habitation check and what standards for appliances in Motorhome’s are they checking against?

As I said earlier I am not adverse to some kinds of checks but when it comes to anything with motorhome in the title a lot of people think you will throw money at it. Are all of you saying you have the checks done (apart from for warranty) finding a list of faults found and fixed included in the flat fee and if so would you share what these are please. I do seem to have some very unrealistic views that just because it is a motorhome it should still be fit for purpose although people keep telling me this is unrealistic ha ha
 
No, never had one. Nor had any problems. This is my fourth motor home in over 20 years and my own checks seem to do OK. Always changed through dealers who I find do a pretty comprehensive check anyway.
 
In 6 years of having habitation checks done four potentially expensive problems have been picked up. Higher than normal damp meter readings have been found three times, I had missed them with my damp meter. Twice window seals were to blame and the other time was due to ageing sealant. All were quickly rectified but could have become very expensive to repair. The other fault was a gas leak caused by changing bottles in a very confined space before gaslow was fitted. Again this could have had expensive or worse consequences and was easily rectified.
Unless you’re competent at self maintenance a habitation check seems a good investment.
In addition to the faults described the habitation check has picked up out of date gas pipes and fire extinguisher.
 
We try and have a habitation check every 12 to 18 months.
For about £120 at a local independant we get peace of mind with the gas and damp etc, we get a report of any issues and a continuity of records when we want to sell. He also sorts any minor issues out within the price.

Likewise with the Transit Service, an interim service costs about £120 (Main Ford Dealer) we get a stamp and peace of mind, and early warning of issues.

We bought it second hand from Lowdhams with a 3yr garauntee but to keep to warranty up we had their habitation checks. I seem to recollect they were about £400.

Paul
 
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paulhelenwilko said:
We try and have a habitation check every 12 to 18 months.
For about £120 at a local independant we get peace of mind with the gas and damp etc, we get a report of any issues and a continuity of records when we want to sell. He also sorts any minor issues out within the price.

Likewise with the Transit Service, an interim service costs about £120 (Main Ford Dealer) we get a stamp and peace of mind, and early warning of issues.

We bought it second hand from Lowdhams with a 3yr garauntee but to keep to warranty up we had their habitation checks. I seem to recollect they were about £400.

Paul
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45+years a motorcaravanner never had one done. Replace gas hoses before their expiry date. Check electrics myself. However only had panel van conversions (3 autosleepers with elevating roofs).
 
As previous poster said it’s only to check everything works which I do each time I use it. Gas leak test I switch off bottles, leave a day then check still a bit of pressure left to light the hob. Fridge, I check burner flame nice and blue. I do get a damp check done by local dealer £25 with a certificate which I think gives confidence should I sell.
 
We have a hab check and water ingress done by the dealer as it is part of the water ingress warranty. They pay on a sliding downward scale if they find water ingress. Next year, 5 years, we will probably get a more local independent to do it as it will probably be cheaper to get the water ingress repairs, if necessary, done elsewhere taking into account the time and cost of travelling to the dealer
 
Not any more check gas pipes and hoses for deteriation,run through the van with a damp meter and check all hose connections under the sink ,and then check fresh water tank couplings and connectors ,then to the boiler and check all pipes etc ,think this is ad good as in for a certified check ?My final job is I spray all gas fitments and watch for any foaming or bubbles,has worked all good for me so far
 
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Phil said:
Just wondering how many of you get a habitation check done on your van?
And how often?
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In15 years of motorhoming I have always had an annual habitation check carried out. I am not brilliant at diy although I can have a go at most things but this check gives me peace of mind and can prevent small issues turning into expensive problems. When you spend a lot of money on a van the cost of a habitation check is pretty small really.
I always used to go to a great guy, Joe McPhail, initially at Carstairs then Hamilton until he had to give up for health reasons. Since then I have used Dyce Caravans who always give a really good service (albeit a bit pricey) even though I have never bought from them.
This time round with my new van I am tempted to go back to the supplying dealer (Travelworld) just to see what sort of a job they do.
Tony
 
I take my van to Crossburn Caravans in Peebles. They are a caravan dealer, but are normally good at sorting out things I can't. Two other friends take their motorhomes there as well. The vehicle servicing is done by White's Garage, Thankerton, Biggar. They looked after my tow car and now the motorhome. I need the piece of mind that having regular servicing brings.
 
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