Caravans and Lodges for Contractors: Your Questions Answered

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Overview

Rural and coastal projects rarely sit next to a cluster of hotels. Substation upgrades, wind farm cable routes, road schemes and agricultural builds tend to land where the nearest beds are in static caravans and holiday lodges. From October to March those units are often empty, which makes them an obvious fit for a crew on a multi-week job. The catch is that holiday parks run under planning conditions and park rules that were written for holidaymakers, not site workers. This guide answers the questions crew bookers and park owners ask most, with the rule or source behind each answer.

The short answer

Yes, crews can usually stay in holiday park caravans and lodges, provided they have a permanent home elsewhere and the stay falls inside the park's permitted occupation season.
The closed season is the main constraint. Many parks may only be occupied for part of the year under their planning permission and site licence. Example: one park's rules allow occupation from 1 March to 30 November only (Abbeyford Leisure park rules, 2025).
Owner-let caravans carry extra rules. Many parks cap the length of a single let and require the owner to have the park's permission to let at all.
Budget benchmark: the Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC) subsistence allowance rose to £53.69 per night from 20 July 2026 (CISRS). A shared caravan or lodge often works out comfortably inside that per person.

Frequently asked questions

Topic	What applies	Source
Main residence	Holiday occupancy only; occupants must have a permanent home elsewhere	East Lindsey District Council
Occupation season	Set by planning permission and site licence; a licence cannot allow a longer season than planning approved	East Lindsey District Council
Register of occupants	Councils advise parks to keep an up-to-date register of who is staying	East Lindsey District Council
Gas safety	Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations apply to caravans hired out on holiday parks; the record must be displayed for lets under 28 days	HSE
CIJC subsistence allowance	£53.69 per night from 20 July 2026 (previously £51.97 from 30 June 2025)	CISRS, Build UK

Can contractors legally stay in a static caravan on a holiday park?+

Yes, in most cases. Holiday park planning permissions and site licences restrict use to holiday occupation, meaning the caravan cannot be anyone's sole or main residence. A contractor working away from a permanent home is not using the caravan as a main residence, so a crew booking generally sits within those rules. What decides it in practice is the park's own rules and season dates, so confirm with the park or owner before committing.

Why do some parks turn down working crews?+

Usually for operational reasons rather than legal ones: worries about early starts and noise around families, vans taking up parking, or park rules written with leisure guests in mind. Some parks also prohibit occupying a holiday home for business purposes in their ownership terms (Abbeyford Leisure). Parks that do accept crews often prefer them in the quieter months, when they fill units that would otherwise sit empty.

What is a holiday park closed season, and does it affect winter jobs?+

It is the part of the year when nobody may occupy the units, set by the park's planning permission and carried into its site licence. A typical example is occupation allowed from mid-March to the end of October (East Lindsey District Council). If your job runs into December or January, check the season first. A park with a 1 March to 30 November season cannot house you in December regardless of price.

Are any holiday parks allowed to open all year?+

Yes, and the number is growing as parks apply to extend their seasons. In 2026, Church Stile Holiday Park in Wasdale had a change to year-round holiday use approved by the Lake District National Park Authority (OpenVan.camp, July 2026), and Castaways Holiday Park in North Norfolk secured a certificate allowing occupation from 4 January to the end of February (OpenVan.camp, August 2026). Year-round parks are the best fit for long winter contracts.

How long can a crew stay in one caravan?+

It depends on the park. Some ownership terms cap a single let at 30 consecutive days and ban long-term seasonal letting (Abbeyford Leisure). For a three-month job that may mean consecutive bookings, or a different unit part-way through. Lodges on estates with their own planning permission sometimes allow longer stays; ask for the maximum let length in writing.

What proof will the park ask for?+

Expect to give a permanent home address. Councils advise parks to request documents such as a driving licence or a utility or council tax bill to confirm guests live elsewhere, and to keep a register of occupants (East Lindsey District Council). Having each worker's home address ready speeds up check-in.

How much should a crew budget per person per night?+

A useful yardstick is the CIJC subsistence allowance: £53.69 per night from 20 July 2026 (CISRS). Because a three-bedroom caravan or lodge is priced per unit rather than per head, a shared unit off-peak often lands well inside that figure per person. Peak summer and school holidays are a different matter, as parks prioritise leisure bookings then. For wider benchmarks see the 2026 contractor accommodation price guide.

Is a caravan or lodge better value than a hotel for a crew?+

For crews of three or more on stays of a week or longer, often yes: one unit, one kitchen, one booking, and evening meals cooked rather than bought. Hotels win on single overnight stays, daily servicing and late arrivals. The comparison is set out in more detail in contractor accommodation vs hotels.

Can we park work vans and trailers on a holiday park?+

Sometimes. Many parks allow one or two vehicles per unit, and some restrict commercial vehicles, trailers or vehicle repairs on site; one set of park rules bans repairs and maintenance of any vehicle on the park (Abbeyford Leisure). Tell the park the number and size of vehicles, whether any carry tools overnight, and ask about secure parking.

Are holiday caravans warm enough to live in during winter?+

Newer caravans and lodges with double glazing and central heating are comfortable in winter; older units with gas fires and single-skin walls can be cold and damp. Ask whether the unit has central heating, whether the water stays on (many parks drain down supplies in the closed season), and how gas or electricity is charged on longer stays.

What safety checks should a caravan or lodge have?+

Caravans hired out on holiday parks fall under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, and for lets under 28 days the gas safety record should be displayed in the caravan (HSE). Also check for working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. A competent owner will show you the current record without being asked twice.

Do crews pay council tax or sign a tenancy?+

No. A holiday let on a park is a licence to occupy for a holiday-use stay, not a tenancy, and the workers keep their permanent homes elsewhere. The owner or park handles any business rates. Booking terms, cancellation and damage deposits are set by the park or owner, so read them before paying.

Can employers pay for the accommodation tax-free?+

Where workers travel to a temporary workplace, accommodation costs can generally qualify for relief, and building and civil engineering lodging allowances have their own HMRC treatment (HMRC EIM50620). The detail depends on employment status and project length; see our guide to CIJC lodging allowance and tax relief and check with an accountant.

Is a crew booking a Monday-to-Friday stay or a full week?+

Parks and owners differ. Some price by the night and are happy with four-night midweek stays; others let by the week or in fixed short breaks. If your crew goes home at weekends, say so at the start, because some owners will price Monday to Friday attractively to fill a unit that would otherwise sit empty midweek. More on this in Monday to Friday contractor accommodation.

How do we find parks and owners willing to take crews?+

Search beyond leisure listings, which rarely state whether working groups are welcome. Ring parks directly in the quieter months, ask owners' groups, or post the job and let hosts come to you with offers. Offer2Stay lets a crew booker post dates, headcount and a budget once and receive offers from verified hosts of caravans, lodges and houses near the site; start an enquiry here.

What should a crew booking request include?+

Site postcode, start and likely end dates, number of workers and whether they can share rooms, vehicles and trailers, shift patterns, weekend plans, and your budget per night. Clear requests get faster, more accurate replies. Sleeps 8 is not eight beds walks through the details hosts need.

Can we name a price for an off-season caravan?+

In the quieter months owners have empty units and fixed costs, so a reasonable, specific offer for a multi-week stay is often welcome. On Offer2Stay a guest can name a price or counter, and hosts set a private floor and send their best offer. For approach and timing, see how to negotiate accommodation rates for work crews.

I own a holiday caravan. Can I let it to contractors?+

Check three things first: your park's letting rules (many require permission and set a maximum let length), the occupation season, and your insurance, which should cover commercial letting. Keep the gas safety record current and displayed. The static caravan letting guide covers the rest.

Holiday Parks, Lodges and Static Caravans for Contractors: Every Question Answered (2026)

Overview

The short answer

Tell hosts what you are looking for

Key rules at a glance

Sources

Frequently asked questions

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