Viewing + Habitation Check · the full checklist
Our most thorough check. You get all 40 Viewing & Verify checks on the seller, the paperwork and the van, plus 37 more on the living area, where the expensive problems in campervans and motorhomes usually hide.
We take damp readings all round the inside, light and run everything that works on gas, test the 12V and mains electrics, run the water system and look closely at how the conversion has been built and looked after.
Includes everything in Viewing & Verify. All 40 checks on the seller, the V5C, the history and the vehicle itself are part of this service. See the 40 Viewing & Verify checks.
How we mark each check
- OKNothing to worry about.
- AdvisoryWorth knowing or budgeting for, but not a reason to walk away on its own.
- ConcernNeeds explaining, fixing or a price conversation before you buy.
- StopA red flag. We call you on the day, before you go any further.
Reading the damp results
Damp meters give a reading for how wet the material behind the surface is. As a general guide for leisure vehicles:
Readings can be affected by the weather and by metal behind the panel, so we look at the pattern across the van, not one number on its own.
The habitation checklist
Damp and the body
Damp is the most expensive hidden problem in a motorhome or camper, and it rarely shows in photos.
7 checks
- Damp meter readingsReadings taken all round the living area: below every window and rooflight, along seams and corners, inside lockers and across the floor. Each one is recorded on a plan of the van.
- Soft spotsFloor, walls and ceiling pressed for softness or movement that points to rot behind the boards.
- Staining and smellsWater marks, mould, lifted wallpaper or a musty smell, especially in lockers and behind cushions.
- Seams and sealsOutside seams, window and rooflight seals and trims checked for cracks, gaps and old sealant, as far as we can safely see.
- Outside panelsBubbling, cracks or delamination on the body panels, a common sign of water getting in.
- Windows and rooflightsOpen, close and lock, with blinds and flyscreens working.
- Doors and lockersThe habitation door and every locker open, close and lock properly.
Gas
Everything that runs on gas is lit and run, with the safety basics checked around it.
7 checks
- Regulator and hoseThe type of regulator and the date on the hose. Hoses are usually replaced every five years, sooner if cracked.
- Gas lockerBottles secured and the low-level vent in the locker clear.
- Hob, grill and ovenEvery burner lights and burns with a steady flame.
- Space heaterLights and runs on gas.
- Water heaterHeats water on gas.
- Fridge on gasLights and starts to cool on gas.
- Smoke and CO alarmsFitted, in date and sound when tested.
Electrics
The 12V system, the mains hook-up and the leisure battery that powers it all.
7 checks
- Leisure batteryIts age, condition and resting voltage.
- ChargingThe battery shows it’s charging on hook-up and with the engine running.
- 12V systemLights, water pump, fans and the control panel all working.
- Mains hook-upWhere a hook-up supply is available: the inlet, the RCD trips on test and the 230V sockets work.
- Fridge on 12V and mainsRuns on each power source it’s designed for.
- Wiring and fusesSigns of scorching, loose connections or amateur add-on wiring.
- Solar, inverter and extrasNoted, and checked for signs of working where we can.
Water
Fresh water in, waste water out, and no leaks in between.
6 checks
- Pump and tapsThe pump runs and every tap and the shower deliver water.
- Hot waterTaps run hot once the water heater is on.
- LeaksUnder sinks, around the pump, tanks and the pipework we can see.
- Frost damageSplit pipes, cracked fittings or a water heater that wasn’t drained for winter.
- WasteSinks and shower drain away, and the waste tank and outlet valve work.
- ToiletThe flush works and the cassette seals and comes out cleanly.
Living area and conversion
How well the living space is built and how it has been looked after.
7 checks
- Conversion qualityFixings, joints, cut edges and visible insulation. A tidy, professional build tells you a lot.
- Furniture and catchesCupboards, drawers and catches hold shut, and nothing is loose.
- Seats and bedsSeats and beds make up and convert as they should.
- Travel seatsRear travel seats are properly fixed and their belts lock and retract.
- Elevating roofPop-top or high-top roof rises and lowers, with the canvas checked for tears and mould.
- AwningWinds out and back in, where it’s safe to do so on the day.
- Habitation service historyDated service records or stamps, and who did the work.
Your habitation report
The living area gets its own section in your report.
3 checks
- Damp mapEvery damp reading on a plan of the van, so you can see exactly where any problem is.
- Item-by-item notesEach habitation check marked OK, Advisory or Concern, with photos.
- What it might costWhere we find a problem, we explain what it usually involves, so you can talk about the price with the seller.
Red flags: we call you straight away if…
- We find high damp readings in several areas, or soft floor, walls or ceiling
- We smell gas, or a gas appliance won’t light or burns badly
- We find scorch marks, melted wiring or dangerous electrical work
- The van has been sold as dry but the readings say otherwise
- Any of the Viewing & Verify red flags: the seller, the V5C, the VIN or the history don’t add up
If we smell gas or see anything unsafe, we turn it off and don’t use it again.
What it doesn’t include
The Habitation Check is a thorough look at the living area on the day. It isn’t a gas safety certificate or an approved workshop habitation service: we don’t do gas pressure tests or take panels off. If you buy, it’s worth booking a full habitation service with an approved workshop to keep the van’s history going.
Viewing & Verify
£149 + travel
- The seller, the V5C and the history
- The vehicle itself, from a cold start
- Live video walk-round and photo report
- See all 40 checks
Add a Mechanical Inspection
+£149 or +£199 over 3,500 kg
- Done by a local qualified mechanic
- Engine, gearbox, clutch and drive
- Brakes, steering and suspension
- Written report to our checklist
- See all 49 checks
Drive It Home
By mileage
- If you buy, we drive it to your door
- Priced instantly in the booking form
- Van must be taxed, MOT’d and insured
Every report describes what we found on the day. It isn’t a warranty or a guarantee of the van’s condition.
Questions about the Habitation Check
Is it worth it for a small campervan?
If it has a gas hob, a leisure battery, a water tank or a pop-top roof, yes. Those are the parts that are expensive to put right and that a normal viewing can’t test properly.
What if there’s no hook-up supply at the viewing?
We test everything we can on gas and 12V, note anything we couldn’t run on mains, and tell you what’s still unchecked so you can ask the seller about it.
Do the gas bottles need to be full?
There needs to be some gas in the bottle so we can light the appliances. We ask the seller to make sure before we arrive.
How much is the travel fee?
Travel is 45p a mile, there and back, from our base in Newtown, Powys, using road miles. The booking form works out the exact figure from the van’s address before you pay.
Free email guide
Buying a campervan you can’t get to? Read this first.
Five short emails, one every two days, with the checks we make on every viewing:
- How the scams work
- The paperwork that proves a van is real
- Finding damp
- Mechanical warning signs
- Paying safely
Know what you’re living in before you buy it
Book a Viewing + Habitation Check online. The form works out the exact price, travel included, before you pay, and we contact the seller within one working day.