Motorhomes are becoming exceedingly popular as housing prices continue to shoot up in the UK and people are looking for different ways to live their lives. However, there are numerous questions surrounding this kind of life – can I still claim my benefits if I live in a motorhome? Can a motorhome be driven with a car licence? What about fridges?
While some questions, like the type of licence needed to drive a motorhome, can be answered easily, the topic of benefits can be more challenging to answer due to inconsistencies in UK law on this topic. If you want to find out the details, just keep reading.
Why Live in a Motorhome?
There are so many great reasons for wanting to live in a motorhome, but there are also cons to it. In today’s economy, some of the biggest benefits of living in a mobile home all come down to the cost, but don’t let this alone be the deciding factor if you are considering switching to motorhome life.
We will go through some of the most important pros and cons in the sections below so that you can make an informed decision about whether you want to pursue this life.
Pros of Motorhome Life
Let’s explore some of the most notable benefits of switching to life in a motorhome in the UK. Depending on the type of lifestyle you want to live and what you value, there might be even more benefits that aren’t listed.
Some key benefits of living in a motorhome include:
- There’s a particular sense of freedom in it
- More affordable than living in a house
- Parking up is relatively cheap
- Cheaper energy costs
- Home stays with you wherever you go
- You will have more free time
- You can make new friends as you travel
- Live closer to nature
- Remote working means you can easily work
Cons of Motorhome Life
There will always be disadvantages to consider, no matter how many positives there are, and motorhome life is no different. It’s up to you to determine if the benefits outweigh the disadvantages for you personally, because we all have different goals and values.
These are the primary disadvantages of living in a motorhome for you to consider:
- The laws regarding benefits are confusing and contradictory
- Parking is restricted
- Insurance costs are high
- Not having a permanent address is troublesome
- It can be difficult to budget properly
- Living space is very restricted
- ‘Alone time’ isn’t really viable
- Smaller spaces become messy much quicker
- Things like laundry facilities pose a challenge
- There won’t always be local conveniences
- Driving motorhomes can be challenging in itself
- Winters can get very cold
- Electrical appliances can be limited
Can I Still Claim My Benefits if I Live in a Motorhome?
This might seem like an easy question, but there is no easy answer. You can still claim benefits in theory if you live in a motorhome, but the laws around this are incredibly vague and frustratingly contradictory. Unfortunately, the best thing to do would be to check with your local council if you are planning on having a fixed address, and get their opinion on the matter.
As a general rule, you should be able to claim housing benefits if you live in a motorhome and are of pension age. However, you will need to be sure to tell the housing benefit office at the council.
As for universal credit, things can get more confusing. There are a number of forums, Reddit posts, and Facebook enquiries regarding how benefits work when living in a motorhome, and the answers are not as forthcoming as we hoped.
So, all we can recommend you do is get in touch with a local council, and get their opinion on the matter. Since the law is not clear on the topic and seems to contradict itself, many times over, this will be your best option.
Can You Live in a Motorhome Full-Time?
You are absolutely allowed to live in a motorhome full-time if that is what you want. There’s nothing in UK law that suggests otherwise, but there are several requirements that need to be met in order for this to happen.
You need to follow these requirements to live in a motorhome full-time:
- It’s completely road legal
- The motorhome has passed MOT
- The motorhome has been insured and taxed
- If in the UK, you need to have entitlement to live in the country (e.g. a British passport)
- In outside the UK, you need to follow residency and immigration laws
While living in a motorhome can get you away from numerous challenges that many of us face, there are challenges of its own that you need to remember. From higher insurance costs to the multitude of restrictions, it is a completely different life, and not one that you should dive into head first without doing your research.
Can You Live in a Motorhome That is on Your Own Property?
Once again, the law is vague and unhelpful in this area, which has led to many arguments about whether they are actually fair or not. Common sense likely dictates that you can live in a motorhome on your own property without any concerns, but this does not seem to be the case.
The few things that are clear in UK law is that you are allowed to park a motorhome on your own land for up to 28 days in a single 12-month period without planning permission. However, this can only be done if there are no gas, electricity, or water lines connected, and once you overstay the 28 days, local authorities are likely to visit.
However, UK law also states that you do not require planning permission if the use of your motorhome is ‘incidental’ to a house or dwelling and is also within the area of land that is attached to said house.
What does this mean? This translates as: you ‘re allowed to live in a motorhome indefinitely on your property without any planning permission as only as it is already in the garden or driveway.
Even so, there are numerous properties around the UK that prevent caravans and motorhomes from being parked on them by legal covenants. Make sure you check the Land Registry before you park your motorhome anywhere, just to be safe.
Final Thoughts
Motorhomes offer many benefits to anyone who is willing to try them out and live a new and different life. However, it would be a lie to say that everything about this life is easy and good, because there are challenges that you will face.
One of the biggest issues with living in a motorhome comes down to the law and how unhelpful it can be. With rules regarding whether you can live in a motorhome on your own property being so vague, this confusion extends to many other areas, too – with one of them being benefits.
So, can I still claim my benefits if I live in a motorhome? The answer isn’t clear due to vague laws and contradictions. For a definitive answer, we recommend contacting your local council to hear the ruling straight from them, as accidentally misleading you will do more harm than good.
To learn more about motorhomes, feel free to have a look at our articles on what food you can take to France in a motorhome, if motorhomes are worth it, and the new 2024 rules and regulations you should be aware of. We also have guides on motorhomes and explore the average life of a motorhome, so you will know what you are getting into ahead of time.
