Habitation checks and damp in motorhomes

What a habitation service covers

A habitation check is an annual inspection of the living area, typically including:

• Damp testing with a moisture meter at set points around the van.
• Gas system integrity, appliance operation and a gas soundness test.
• The 12V and 230V electrical systems, and the leisure battery.
• Water system, pump, heating and water heater.
• Ventilation, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
• Body seals, seams, windows, roof lights and locker seals.

It isn't a legal requirement, but a record of them being done is a strong signal that the van has been looked after — and it's often a manufacturer warranty condition on newer vans.

What damp readings mean

The engineer records a percentage at each test point. Low readings are generally treated as normal, mid-range as something to monitor, and higher readings as active damp needing investigation. Thresholds vary between engineers and converters, so the pattern across the van — and whether readings are rising year on year — tells you more than any single figure.

We deliberately don't publish fixed percentage thresholds, because engineers and converters apply different ones and a number out of context tells you very little. Send us the readings from your habitation report and we'll talk you through what they mean for your motorhome specifically.

Where damp starts on a motorhome

• The overcab area and the joint between the cab and the coachbuilt body.
• Around roof lights, solar panel mounts and any roof fixing.
• Window and door seals, and the awning rail.
• Rear panel and side seams, especially after a knock or scrape.
• The floor edges, garage area and beneath the washroom.
• Skirt and locker seals, and anywhere an accessory has been drilled.

Signs you can check yourself

• A musty smell after the van has been shut up.
• Staining, tide marks or bubbling on wall panels, particularly overcab.
• Wallboard that feels soft, spongy or noticeably cool.
• Panels that look wavy or bulge — a sign of delamination.
• Soft or springy floor near the door, washroom or garage.
• Furniture edges lifting, or screws that no longer bite.

Should you repair damp before selling?

Usually not, if the repair is significant. Proper damp work means removing panels and furniture to find the ingress, and the cost often exceeds the difference it makes to what the van is worth. Cosmetic patching is worse than doing nothing — it gets found at inspection and it damages trust.

What to tell us

• When the last habitation service was done, and by whom.
• The damp readings if you have the report — a photo of it is ideal.
• Repairs already carried out, when, and by whom.
• Where you've noticed smell, staining or soft areas.
• How the van is stored and how recently it's been used.

You can upload photographs of the report and the affected areas as part of the valuation request. Damp sits alongside age, mileage, layout and history rather than overriding them — the valuation guide explains how the factors interact.