Permanent Caravan Living: Real Costs, Legal Rules, and How to Make It Work

When you think about permanent caravan living, residing year-round in a caravan or mobile home on a licensed site. Also known as caravan residency, it’s not just a budget hack—it’s a lifestyle choice for thousands across the UK, from retirees to remote workers. But it’s not as simple as buying a caravan and parking it anywhere. You need to understand the rules, the costs, and the real daily challenges before you commit.

Most people don’t realize that caravan park rules, the legal and operational guidelines set by site owners and local councils for long-term residents vary wildly. Some parks allow full-time living with utilities, waste disposal, and even mail delivery. Others ban it outright, even if you pay monthly fees. In England and Wales, you can’t just live on your own land in a caravan without planning permission—unless it’s temporary. Scotland is more flexible, but even there, you need to prove your caravan is your main home. And if you’re thinking of off-grid caravan living, living without grid electricity, water, or sewage connections, you’ll need solar panels, a composting toilet, and a water tank system that actually works in winter.

The cost of caravan ownership cost, the total annual expense of buying, insuring, maintaining, and site-fee paying for a caravan used as a permanent home often surprises people. A used caravan might cost £15,000, but then you’ve got site fees (£300–£800/month), insurance, gas, water, and repairs. Compare that to renting a flat, and you’ll see why many people switch back. But for others, the freedom—waking up to the same view, no landlord, no long-term lease—is worth every penny.

People who do it right plan for power, water, and waste. They know how to connect electricity safely at a site, use portable toilets without odor, and stay legal under the Countryside Code. They don’t just park and forget—they treat their caravan like a home, not a vacation toy. And they know where to find parks that welcome long-term stays, not just weekend campers.

Below, you’ll find real guides from people who’ve been there: how to handle toilets while living on a site, what power setups actually work off-grid, the hidden fees no one tells you about, and where you can legally live in a caravan year-round without getting fined. No fluff. Just what you need to know before you sign a contract or buy your first unit.