Guide
Secure caravan storage: what the Cassoa grades mean, and what to look for
Updated
Security is the driver most worth paying for and the hardest to judge from an advert. There is an accreditation scheme, and there are five things to look at yourself when you visit.
The accreditation scheme
Cassoa, previously written CaSSOA, describes itself as the UK accreditation scheme for secure caravan and motorhome storage, and states it has been setting recognised standards for storage sites since 1999. Its site states that it offers three levels of accreditation for storage site operators, Silver, Gold and Platinum, with awards based on a variety of security elements including CCTV, perimeter protection and alarm systems, and that the more points a site accrues, the higher the accreditation. Accreditation is based on a mandatory survey required every three to five years to ensure standards are being maintained (cassoa.co.uk).
- What is assessed. Cassoa states that its surveyors visit each site personally to check perimeter fencing, access control, the entry and exit system, CCTV, alarms and fire protection, along with on-site facilities, and that each category is subject to a points matrix.
- Who assesses. Cassoa states that surveys on all its accredited storage sites are carried out by SECOM, described as specialist risk surveyors.
- How many sites. Cassoa's directory page states there are 520 accredited storage sites across the UK.
- Ungraded is a category too. Cassoa lists an associate or ungraded level alongside the three awards, so accredited and graded are not the same claim.
Five things to check when you visit
- The perimeter, all the way round. Walk it if you can. A good gate on a poor fence protects nothing, and the weak point is usually at the back where nobody looks.
- How entry is controlled. Fob, code, barrier, key, or someone with a clipboard. Ask what happens when a member leaves, and whether codes are changed.
- Where the cameras point and what they see. Ask how long footage is kept, and whether the view covers the pitches or only the gate.
- Lighting and overlooking. A site visible from a road or a house is watched for free. A dark yard behind a hedge is not.
- Who else is in and out. A shared yard with other businesses is a different security picture from a dedicated storage site with one gate.
The insurance question, which is yours to ask
Insurers often ask where a caravan or motorhome is kept, and Cassoa states its accreditation is recognised by insurers with discounts available. What any of that means for your policy is between you and your insurer. Before you commit to a site, ring the insurer, tell them the site name and grade, and ask directly how it affects cover and premium, and whether they have any requirement about where the van is kept. We do not give insurance advice and we do not recommend any policy, insurer or product.
Security is one of the reasons two quotes for the same length van look nothing alike. See what drives the price, then get quotes.