Stormy weather is becoming a more frequent challenge for static caravan and holiday lodge owners across the UK. Strong winds, heavy rain, flooding, and freezing conditions can all cause significant damage, leading to costly repairs and holiday disruption.
At Leisuredays, we see many insurance claims each year for storm and flood damage to static caravans and lodges. While our specialist static caravan insurance provides cover for these risks, there are still some simple steps you can take to minimise the chances of damage and protect both your holiday home and your belongings.
Here’s our video guide to help owners prepare for bad weather:
Tips for protecting your static caravan in stormy weather
Secure outdoor furniture and belongings
Outdoor furniture, parasols, barbecues, and plant pots can quickly become dangerous in high winds. Heavy and large items should be strapped to decking or secured against a wall, while lighter items are best brought indoors. If you’re storing them inside, place a dust sheet or tarp down to protect your flooring.
Lock and secure sheds or storage boxes
Sheds and external storage boxes should be well packed, locked with a weatherproof padlock, and secured with bungee cords or straps if they’re not fastened down. If flooding is a risk, move valuables to higher ground inside your caravan – the bathroom is often the safest place.
Check around the outside of your caravan
Before a storm hits, take a walk around your caravan or lodge. Make sure TV aerials are secure, gas bottles are upright and fastened, and there are no items left underneath the unit that could blow away.
Remember any loose items can quickly become missiles in strong winds and cause damage to your caravan or others on the park.
Inspect your anchor points and report any damage or concerns to your park reception.
Maintain your roof and gutters
Heavy rain and flooding can cause major problems if water can’t drain away.
Check the condition of roof seals, seams, and vents, and clear leaves or debris from gutters and downpipes. Keeping everything clear and watertight can help prevent water ingress.
Protect against freezing temperatures
If freezing conditions are forecast, switch off your water supply at the stopcock.
For Leisuredays’ customers, it’s a condition of your static caravan insurance policy to carry out a drain down of your caravan when it’s not occupied between November 1st and March 15th. Even in other months of the year, turning off the water in between visits is a good precaution.
Read our full guide to winter weather preparation here.
Plan ahead if you’re not on site
If storms are forecast while you’re away from your caravan, it helps to have a plan. Swap contact details with caravan neighbours, check if your park has a WhatsApp or Facebook group, and see if other caravan owners or park staff are able to secure items on your behalf.
Staying safe during a storm
If you’re at your static caravan during bad weather, keep safe indoors. Close curtains and blinds, keep an eye on local weather updates, and make sure you’ve got bottled water, food, torches, and batteries in case of a power cut.
If your park asks you to leave for safety reasons, always follow their instructions and take essential items with you.
Static caravan insurance cover for storm and flood damage
Taking these preventative steps will help reduce the risk of damage to your holiday caravan, but it’s important to have the right protection in place too.
At Leisuredays, our static caravan insurance includes cover for flooding and damage caused by stormy weather.
We’ve supported thousands of owners in the aftermath of severe weather, helping them to repair their holiday caravans and get back to enjoying them as quickly as possible.
Stormy weather can strike suddenly, but by preparing in advance, you can help to protect your static caravan or lodge, keep yourself safe, and reduce the risk of costly repairs to your caravan and others on your park.
