AUTO SLEEPER GUARANTEE?

is the habitation service worthwhile after the first 2 years if everything working ok,  considering A/S guarantee?

I confess I'm not sure how long the Auto-sleepers warranty is these days, but a habitation check will cover things that wear out or get to the end of their working life, which a warranty won't - for example gas hoses which (depending on their constrction) may need to be changed every few years.

I do my own habitation checks every year and it's not complicated, but you obviously need to be aware of your own abilities/limitations when doing that...

I've been reading through my insurance having recently changed vans and found I am not covered for fire unless a habitation check has been carried out by qualified person. As my new van was supplied by a dealer with a habitation check I'm covered but I wouldn't have been on the old van as I hadn't had a check for 2 years. So not just warranty to consider.

Paulmold wrote:I've been reading through my insurance having recently changed vans and found I am not covered for fire unless a habitation check has been carried out by qualified person. As my new van was supplied by a dealer with a habitation check I'm covered but I wouldn't have been on the old van as I hadn't had a check for 2 years. So not just warranty to consider.

It would be helpful to know to which insurance company's policy this refers.

.

Its really a safety issue. 
What gets me is many dealers incl AS S/c charge the NCC rate for a Caravan, the rate for a Motorhome is less as they are not doing things like brakes and hitches. Used to do our last vans myself but I have used a mobile NCC approved guy now (last 4 years) 
I found the 1st 2 hab services hadnt been completed to what I expected by the supplying dealer and their parent company and I was paying over the odds for the 2nd (1st was free) despite a so called club discount.

rogerblack wrote:

Paulmold wrote:I've been reading through my insurance having recently changed vans and found I am not covered for fire unless a habitation check has been carried out by qualified person. As my new van was supplied by a dealer with a habitation check I'm covered but I wouldn't have been on the old van as I hadn't had a check for 2 years. So not just warranty to consider.

It would be helpful to know to which insurance company's policy this refers.

.

I have taken this clause from Highway (part of LV) Insurance Company schedule..

'Caravanette Clause. This insurance does not cover loss or damage caused by fire or explosion arising from the use of heating or cooking equipment, unless the equipment has been serviced and /or fitted by a CORGI or HSE registered engineer and a fire extinguisher and/or blanket is kept in or on the vehicle, or loss or damage to the contents of the caravan or motorhome other than the contents which the manufacturer of the vehicle has fitted as standard.'

It just goes to show that insurance isn't worth having.

Thanks, Paul - I'll recheck our policy (Safeguard) but can't recall seeing any similar requirement in there. And I am one of those boring    who actually reads small print   

CORGI hasn't existed for several years, the replacement scheme is Gas Safe Registered which is run by HSE so this clause must have been added or amended around the time of the changeover.

Interesting that there is no frequency stated, e.g. annually, so it could be argued that having the system checked once complies with their requirement for ever after . . .

Paulmold wrote:I have taken this clause from Highway (part of LV) Insurance Company schedule..

'Caravanette Clause. This insurance does not cover loss or damage caused by fire or explosion arising from the use of heating or cooking equipment, unless the equipment has been serviced and /or fitted by a CORGI or HSE registered engineer and a fire extinguisher and/or blanket is kept in or on the vehicle, or loss or damage to the contents of the caravan or motorhome other than the contents which the manufacturer of the vehicle has fitted as standard.'

I'm not sure if you should reach the conclusion that this ~requires~ that you have a habitation check done.

This clause does not state how often, or even that, a heating or cooking appliance should be serviced (see the use of the words and/or in the middle of the relevant sentence). All it seems to say is that ~if~ an appliance has been serviced or fitted, it must have been done by a CORGI or HSE registered engineer.

I agree it reads like that but knowing how insurance companies will try to wriggle out of things I wouldn't want to give them any leeway. I did replace the heater in the Symphony myself so I got a mobile guy to check it out afterwards, just in case. I've also removed fridges for the 'upside down' cure in caravans and never gave it a thought regarding insurance cover.

Interesting that wrapped into this "Caravanette" clause is also exclusion of anything other than original fitted equipment. So no cover for accessories added later or for personal belongings of any kind?

Is this is a standard motor insurance policy rather than one written specifically for motorhomes.

The Safeguard Motorhome Policy we have includes contents, awnings, attached accessories, fixtures, fittings plus personal belongings cover up to £3,000, with the usual single item limits for 'valuables' & exclusion of laptops, etc however it does include TVs, audio/video equipment, binoculars, cameras/photographic equipment etc.  Plus specialist breakdown/recovery cover in the UK and most of Europe.

Probably not the cheapest but certainly the most comprehensive and relevant to our needs.

Oh, and I've just been through it carefully and no mention of any habitation servicing requirement.

I can't get at my insurance documents at the moment but please note that a standard motorhome habitation inspection (service) does not include servicing of any appliances - they just check that they work.

If you want gas or electrical appliances actually serviced then you must specify that and pay extra.

I think that any insurance requirement would be for a 'competent' rather than 'qualified' person.

Peter

I noticed on my insurance two years ago that clause so knew it had to be done. You should get it done as better safe than sorry.  

Love the new look to the forum Admin. Much easier

Surely, its like a service history, it makes huge sense to have a full set of habitation service certificates to keep with your vehicle, just the same as M.O.T. and vehicle service, this will greatly enhance its attraction when you come to sell it!!

Geoffrey A. Mason wrote:Surely, its like a service history, it makes huge sense to have a full set of habitation service certificates to keep with your vehicle, just the same as M.O.T. and vehicle service, this will greatly enhance its attraction when you come to sell it!!

You would think so wouldn't you but having just swopped our Symphony for a Nuevo with a part-ex at a dealer, it didn't make a jot of difference. Weren't asked for any service history, habitation certificates or even past MOT's although I did supply them all at handover.

Geoffrey A. Mason wrote:Surely, its like a service history, it makes huge sense to have a full set of habitation service certificates to keep with your vehicle, just the same as M.O.T. and vehicle service, this will greatly enhance its attraction when you come to sell it!!

Sorry, but IMO there is no real similarity. There is very little on the habitation side that ~requires~ regular maintenance in order to prevent excessive wear and assure a long working life, unlike vehicle service. Some components - such as gas hoses - have a maximum recommended working life, but in reality they all have plenty of leeway. Gas hoses, for example, aren't suddenly going to self-destruct as soon as they exceed 5 years old (though I should add that on mine I have chosen to swap out the original brand new rubber pigtails for stainless braided ones with a 20 year life).

I personally don't see any greater value in having a sheaf of yearly checks by someone else than having an owner that checks everything regularly themselves. In some respects it is a bad thing to rely on an annual check - IMO it's better to keep an eye on things as you use them, and take action as soon as you see something untoward. Checking things yourself also has the advantage that it helps gain an understanding of how the various habitation systems actually work - though I accept that some people are more or less inclined that way than others.

I quote the relevant general condition that applies to my Caravan Club insurance:

"Taking Care of your Motor Caravan

You must:

• Make sure your Motor Caravan is roadworthy;
  
  
• take all reasonable steps to protect your Motor Caravan and its contents from loss and damage;
  and
  
  
• allow us to examine your Motor Caravan at any reasonable time if we ask you.
  
  
  

There is no specific requirement to have any task or service carried out.

I have the habitation service done for the first two years to comply with the warranty.  After that, because I am competent to do so and am prepared to accept any potential risk, I inspect myself.

As Mojo says it is best to examine things as you use them but I also specifically inspect and record as scheduled in my AS handbook and annotate the service record.  That said I have not found any interest in those records when part exchanging vehicles although if I sold privately they may help.

That said, if there is anything about the operation of the habitation fit out that you are not sure about I strongly recommend you have a professional inspection carried out annually for your own safety.

Peter

Why would you want to keep a sheaf of ALL the past MOT certificates?  Surely only the current one has any relevance?

rogerblack wrote:Why would you want to keep a sheaf of ALL the past MOT certificates?  Surely only the current one has any relevance?

Perhaps to show continuity of mileages and also any advisories so you can check if they were done.

I have always kept all my mot `s and all receipts of work done on all my vehicles, ever since my first vehicle,  when I have sold they go with the relevant vehicle.

Those of us who have bought our vans via Marquis as previously owned, have to continue with a hab inspection to ensure the 3 year warranty is not invalidated.

I think I'm correct when I say that AS give 6 year water ingress cover on new van - Provided they are serviced annually during the period of the warranty. Yes its costly, but so is having to pay for any work related to damp in the body panels.
Joe janssis

I can't find any reference to water ingress warranty. The warranty PDF only mentions a two year warranty on their vehicles.

http://www.auto-sleepers.co.uk/customer-service/warranties

See above - it is two years maximum and much more specific than it was a few years ago.

The faults I have experienced that fall under the terms of the warranty have been rectified without quibble.

Peter

Paulmold wrote:

rogerblack wrote:

Paulmold wrote:I've been reading through my insurance having recently changed vans and found I am not covered for fire unless a habitation check has been carried out by qualified person. As my new van was supplied by a dealer with a habitation check I'm covered but I wouldn't have been on the old van as I hadn't had a check for 2 years. So not just warranty to consider.

It would be helpful to know to which insurance company's policy this refers.

.

I have taken this clause from Highway (part of LV) Insurance Company schedule..

'Caravanette Clause. This insurance does not cover loss or damage caused by fire or explosion arising from the use of heating or cooking equipment, unless the equipment has been serviced and /or fitted by a CORGI or HSE registered engineer and a fire extinguisher and/or blanket is kept in or on the vehicle, or loss or damage to the contents of the caravan or motorhome other than the contents which the manufacturer of the vehicle has fitted as standard.'

Surely this line means that as long as your equipment is original fitment it is covered? It states "and/or" not "as well as" 

Allan