What’s involved in a caravan habitation check?
When you arrive at a campsite, there’s often a bit of time spent making sure you’ve got the right spot before you settle in for your stay. It might not be known by everyone, but most sites have a strict six metre rule - requiring that you maintain a gap of this distance between your caravan and those belonging to others when parking up. It’s designed to keep everyone safe, but, actually, is six metres really enough? And what can happen when caravans park closer together than this?
What is the 6 metre rule?
Interestingly, there’s no defined piece of legislation relating to specific distance requirements between pitches. Ultimately, pitching distances on campsites are left up to local authorities to determine, based on fire safety and public health issues, often resulting in requirements for a minimum distance - typically 6 metres - between units. Specific rules are set locally by each council and are included in site licenses or planning consents, rather than there being a single, uniform national rule.
Having said that, the 6 metre rule is a fire safety guideline used on most UK caravan and camping sites, requiring that there is a space of six metres between the sides of adjacent caravans, with at least three metres clear space between them. This space acts as a firebreak, helping prevent flames from spreading from one caravan to another in the event of a fire. Given how quickly fire can take hold in caravans - with their lightweight construction, gas bottles, and electrical appliances - this gap is not just a formality, it can be a genuine lifesaver.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club rules for their sites state the following:
To avoid the spread of fire, there must be at least 6 metres spacing between facing walls of adjacent caravans, motorhomes or trailer tents and a minimum clear space of 3 metres between adjoining cars/awnings/tents and other items (including windbreaks) in any direction.
This avoids awnings overlapping into a neighbour’s ‘safety zone’ and helps prevent fires spreading via the often flammable fabric.
The Camping and Caravanning Club states this:
For your safety, we operate a "six metre rule" which means that units (excluding guy ropes) should be 6 metres apart from adjacent units in order to protect against fire.
It’s a pretty consistent rule in the UK. However, if you go abroad, you might see that this rule is not always apparent, and the site might be packed liked sardines - it depends on where you go, to be fair.
Is six metres really enough?
Six metres is considered the minimum safe distance, but whether it’s truly ‘enough’ might depend on many circumstances. In the event of a small, contained fire, such as a cooker flare-up or minor electrical fault, six metres is usually sufficient for firefighters to contain the incident. However, in a severe fire, the intense heat can travel quickly across gaps, and strong winds can carry flames or burning debris further than might be expected.
In practice, many caravaners feel that six metres can feel a little too close for comfort. Some caravan setups are wider than others, with large awnings, tables, chairs and even barbecues set up outside. Add to this the site layout, where owners sometimes try to maximise the number of pitches available, and six metres can seem like a bit of a tight squeeze rather than a generous safety margin.
What can go wrong if caravans are parked too close?
Parking too close together not only increases the fire risk but also creates practical and social problems. For example, pitching too closely to a neighbour who has lit a charcoal barbecue could cause smoke to drift directly into your awning, filling it with fumes and leaving you worried about a fire starting and then spreading. Even without a fire, the lack of space from pitching too close would likely make both families feel hemmed in.
There’s also other potential issues, whereby there could be restricted access for emergency vehicles, difficulty manoeuvring caravans in and out, and also reduced privacy. Nobody wants to sit outside their caravan feeling as though they’re eating dinner on their neighbour’s doorstep.
How to pitch responsibly and safely
The simplest way to stay on the right side of the six metre rule is to always follow the site’s instructions. Wardens usually mark out pitches or provide clear guidance on how to line up your caravan, but here are a few extra tips to get it right:
Position carefully
Measure from the outer walls of your caravan. Make sure there’s six clear metres to your neighbour’s caravan wall.
Think about your awning
Remember that there must be three metres clear space between caravans, so avoid overlapping your awning into someone else’s space. You might need to think about whether it’s best to turn your caravan round to alleviate this, depending on the set up.
Leave access routes clear
Don’t clutter the gap between caravans with barbecues, bikes, or gas bottles - the six metres is there as a safety buffer, not for storage space.
Be considerate
If the area permits, leaving more space than the minimum is often appreciated by our neighbours. It gives everyone more privacy and peace of mind.
Check before setting up
If you’re unsure, ask the site warden to confirm your positioning. It’s far easier to move before you’ve got settled than after everything is set up!
The six metre rule isn’t about being fussy - instead, it plays a vital role in keeping fires from spreading and ensuring everyone has enough space to relax. If anything, treating six metres as a bare minimum and giving your neighbours more breathing room when possible is the best way to go.
After all, caravanning is about enjoying both your personal privacy and the community - and a little extra space goes a long way towards keeping that community safe and happy.
