Unlike a car, a motorhome doesn't legally need an annual habitation check - only the base vehicle's MOT is a legal requirement. But skipping habitation services is one of the most common (and expensive) false economies in motorhome ownership.
A habitation service checks everything the MOT doesn't: the gas system, the water system, the 12V and mains electrics, and - critically - tests for damp at known problem points using a moisture meter. Water ingress is consistently cited as the single biggest cause of expensive motorhome repairs, and it's almost always far cheaper to catch early than to let it spread through the body's structure.
Why it matters for resale, too
Buyers (and dealers taking a part-exchange) increasingly ask for a stamped habitation service history, much like a car's service book. A gap in that history - or worse, a damp reading with no record of it being addressed - can knock a meaningful amount off a sale price, or put buyers off entirely.
What to keep
Ask for a written report at every service, not just a stamp in a book. A proper report should note exactly where any moisture readings were taken, what they showed, and what (if anything) was done about it. Keep these alongside your MOT history - together they tell a complete story of how well the vehicle has been looked after.
How often
Most manufacturers and the industry body (the NCC, National Caravan Council) recommend an annual habitation service, ideally timed before a long winter lay-up so any issues can be fixed before the van sits unused for months.