Habitation checks

[Karl Hammond]

Are habitation checks value for money? I have recently purchased a 2017 Auto Trail with full service history including habitation checks. All the habitation checks have been carried out by the supplying dealer. Vehicle is 2017 Auto Trail with 16,000 miles and one owner from new, before me. The last check was in February 2022.
As a retired motor engineer, with substantial experience of working on caravans and motor homes, it was only logical that I gave my new toy a very thorough inspection.
What a sorry state to find the vehicle was in!
The original owner had spent £1000 for 5 inspections, yet there were problems which should have been addressed when the vehicle had it's pre-delivery inspection. Areas of sealant missing ( never sealed from manufacture), from underfloor pipe and cable entries (vermin ingress). What should also have been reported was that where pipe and cable entries had been sealed, the sealant had failed and was either dropping of, or had already dropped of, allowing the same potential problem. The vent cap for the Truma heating system was missing, and looking at the thread that it screws into I would give an educated guess that it has been missing for some time, maybe even from new.
At this 2022 check all they seemed interested in was charging him "like a wounded bull", for a new leisure battery, new fire extinguisher, and replacing a failed window seal.

 

[Conal]

It will still have some of its 10 year warranty left if it has had the required annual habitation checks.

 

[irnbru]

Wouldn't trust a habitation check from any company, foolishly I did in the past. Get a damp meter and do your own.

 

[Phill D]

Sadly that is not uncommon to find poor levels of inspection.

Do my own inspection, then rectification and properly record it.
Damp checks, and all sealant checks.
Son is a gas engineer.

 

[Bernie P]

It's funny though. When you trade a van in the dealers always find damp somewhere and knock a bit off the price. This is despite having had it done by an independant inspector less than 3 months before and given the all clear.

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[Karl Hammond]

It will still have some of its 10 year warranty left if it has had the required annual habitation checks.

Warranty is almost worthless. The point I was trying to make is that habitation check is total waste of money. If you are not sure of doing it yourself, simply get a good d.i.y. person to do it for you. If you have problems with gas or electric inbuilt systems and common sense will make you aware of a problem.

 

[Conal]

As I have said before. Whilst much of the habitation service may be a waste of time, the boiler (hot water/air) heater check is not. I have it done at home and will continue to have it done in the motorhome when the “worthless” warranty has expired.