Like every type of vehicle that you own, it’s important to keep on top of the checks, maintenance and servicing that your motorhome requires.

Habitation Checks

Checks of the interior of your motorhome might not seem that important – but they are. Although a motorhome habitation check is not a legal requirement (unless you are renting out your motorhome), it’s a very sensible thing to get done once every couple of years. It’s also worth asking for a habitation check when you are buying a second-hand motorhome, so that you are well aware of the true condition. A specialist motorhome dealer or workshop can carry out the habitation checks for you, and they will look at things like the water, gas, electrical and heating systems, all of which need to be maintained. It’s actually worth getting a gas system checked by a registered gas engineer.

There are systems within your motorhome that need to be functioning at their best to cope with your lifestyle, and ensure your continued safety. These safety checks are carried out to appliances, but not full services. It’s worth having your motorhome’s appliances (the fridge, the cooker etc) serviced at the same time as the habitation check, especially if they normally run on gas. The habitation check will also involve checking for any damp or leaks in the basic structure of your motorhome. A habitation check usually takes around half a day, so it’s similar to an MOT in that you can drop your vehicle off and leave it to the experts until the check is complete.

Getting a Habitation Check

The professional who is undertaking the habitation check of your motorhome will require fill access to all parts of the interior – so you should make sure to provide them with keys for all lockables (such as storage cupboards and the garage, if the motorhome has one).

In advance of the habitation check it’s advisable to remove as much of your personal stuff as possible. The person doing the check will need to check everywhere for things like damp, and signs of water ingress, and you should help them not have to constantly move your items around to access hidden points within the motorhome.

The water system will be drained, so there’s little point in filling it in advance of a habitation check and, of course, they will also be testing the gas system so you need to make sure there is some gas available (although some check sites can provide gas, you should ask in advance). If the habitation check is going to be done at your property rather than in a garage or service centre that you have taken your motorhome to, then you should provide mains electricity so that sockets and other systems can be thoroughly checked.

MOT and Motorhome Servicing

Again just like with a car, you need to have your motorhome regularly checked for roadworthiness and to ensure it complies fully with the law. Motorhome servicing is a crucial part of the on the road lifestyle.

A base vehicle service is usually done by a workshop which specialises in the manufacturer of your motorhome’s base vehicle (so Fiat, VW etc). The base vehicle service needs to be carried out in compliance with the mileages recommended by the manufacturer. For the motorhome MOT test, your vehicle should be covered by the normal car (class 4) MOT test (though there are exceptions to this where your motorhome is classified as a ‘van with windows’ or multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in the V5C log book description. You should check with an expert to determine the exact classification of your vehicle).

The MOT will flag up issues with your motorhome (if there are any) – and you should opt for repairs. A regular full service of your motorhome will keep on top of any potential issues and flag them up to be taken care of.