Insuring Older Park Homes
The design and construction of park homes have improved beyond measure in the last 20 years, and today’s modern ones bears little resemblance to the ‘caravan’ style homes built in the 1960s and 1970s.
Pitched tile effect roofs, double glazed UPVC doors and windows, central heating, underfloor and wall insulation, the latest appliances, walk-in wardrobes, en-suite bedrooms, open plan design, porches, conservatories, bay windows, the list goes on and on. There is no doubt that the modern home is built to exacting standards and boasts exciting and contemporary designs.
Tender loving care for Older Homes
However, it is true to say that in any park, there are still a large number of older homes that have stood the test of time due to their robust and high-quality construction, a degree of tender loving care and, in many cases, some significant investment. As a result, it is often impossible to guess the original age of the caravan.
Whilst manufacturers have, generally speaking, upped their game. However, after-sales can still be an issue; there are now many refurbishers, some of whom advertise in this publication, which can completely transform a home to a very high specification. In some cases, the home is stripped right back to the chassis!
Park home insurers take a mixed view of these caravans, adopting a contrasting underwriting approach. Some apply a strict age limit, typically 20 years or so, some apply higher premiums, in some cases considerably higher, whilst others apply what could be considered to be prohibitive excesses, as much as £500 for loss or damage arising from the escape of water, on the basis presumably that older homes are more likely to suffer from a burst pipe or escape of water. That seems to be an irrational approach, given that many older homes have been completely refurbished from top to bottom.
A pragmatic approach
Paul Baker Insurance Services (PBIS) adopt a more pragmatic approach; the main consideration for them is not the age of the home but its condition. So for homes over 20 years of age, exterior photographs of the caravan will be required, and further questions will be asked about it to establish how well it has been maintained.
