A static caravan buys you weekends by the coast and a bolthole that is yours whenever you want it. The sticker price is only part of the story. Before you sign, it pays to know what the ownership actually costs across a full year, because the running costs decide whether the whole thing feels like a bargain or a burden.

Here is a plain breakdown of what you pay beyond the purchase price, and where the surprises usually hide.

Your annual pitch fee is the highest ongoing cost, and it is the one people underestimate. Fees vary by park and location, and premium coastal sites charge more than inland ones. Most owners pay somewhere between £3,000 and £8,000 a year including VAT, though the top parks run higher.

Two things to check before you buy. First, how much the fee has risen over the last three years, so you can see the direction of travel. Many parks review the fee annually and link the rise to RPI. Second, what the fee includes, since some cover rates and ground maintenance while others bill those separately.

You will need holiday home insurance covering the caravan, its contents, and public liability. Most owners pay a few hundred pounds a year, often in the £150 to £500 range including insurance premium tax, depending on the value of the van and where it sits. Some parks ask you to insure through an approved provider, so check whether you are free to shop around.

Utilities are metered and usually billed by the park rather than a national supplier. That matters, because the park sets the standing charge and can add a margin on the unit rate. Ask to see a recent bill for a similar van on the same park so you are not guessing.

Rates and council charges

If the caravan is a genuine holiday home and not your main residence, you generally do not pay council tax on the van itself. You still pay council tax on your main home. Some parks pass on a share of business rates through the pitch fee, so read the agreement to see whether that is baked in or added on top.

A static caravan needs looking after like any building. Budget for an annual gas and electrical check, damp and condensation care over winter, and the odd repair to the roof, windows or exterior. A few hundred pounds a year covers most of it, more if the van is older.

Decking, skirting and the extras

The van is rarely the finished picture. Decking, steps, skirting around the base and a bit of outdoor furniture turn it into somewhere you want to sit. These are one-off costs, and they add up, often landing between £1,000 and £5,000 including VAT depending on the size of the plot and the materials you choose.

When you buy a sited caravan, transport and siting are normally included in the deal. Moving one afterwards is a different matter. Transporting a static, craning it into place and reconnecting the services is a specialist job that runs into the thousands, so treat the pitch you choose as a long-term decision.

A new static caravan loses value quickly in its early years, closer to a car than a house. That is not a reason to avoid buying, it is a reason to be realistic about what the van will be worth when you come to sell, and to weigh the enjoyment you get against the drop.

Commission when you sell

This is the cost most buyers never see coming. Many parks take a commission if you sell your caravan on the park, often up to 15% of the sale price. Check the figure before you buy, because it changes the maths on your exit. Selling privately to a buyer who brings their own pitch, or advertising the van yourself, can keep more of the money in your pocket.

Your pitch agreement runs for a fixed term, commonly ten to fifteen years and sometimes longer. When it ends, the park decides whether to renew or to offer you a newer model. Ask how long is left on the licence for your plot, and what has happened to owners at the end of theirs.

For plenty of owners, yes. If you use the caravan often, go in with clear eyes on the annual fees, and pick a park you trust, the lifestyle earns its keep. The owners who regret it are usually the ones who bought on the purchase price alone and got caught out by the running costs.

Do the sums for a full year before you commit. Add the pitch fee, insurance, utilities, upkeep and a little for repairs, then ask yourself how many trips you will realistically take. That number tells you whether the caravan is a treat or a millstone.