Hello everyone, just curious if anyone would have an opinion on this matter. We store our caravan on a silver CaSSOA site and sometime before the end of last year we were informed of a price increase when our annual payment would be due in July this year. Since then the site has been the target of theft twice, once for batteries then towing hitch couplings, sadly we were victims of the towing hitch coupling theft. Would we be justified not paying the increase fee due to the fact the site is a CaSSOA site that comes with certain guarantees etc., for security considering the recent thefts.
Storage price increase
- Thread starter IreneAB
- Start date
- Mar 14, 2005
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I am sorry to read of these events, and like you I do feel that storage sites should carry some responsibility if their security systems have failed to prevent losses. Unfortunately if you check with the site owners or indeed CaSSOA , they will most likely tell you they are NOT selling or providing any specified level of security. That is why they say property left is at the owners risk.
I do think CaSSOA accreditation is a licence to take more money from caravanners whilst offereing little more if anything than non CaSSOA sites.
The sites fees are what they feel they can charge, and whilst you can ask, but I doubt they will give any concession for the fact you have suffered a loss.
Hello again, I have also contacted CaSSOA with this question so once I have an 'official' reply I will post again to advise others who may also find themselves in this position.
- Nov 11, 2009
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On a large site small scale theft such as battery is almost impossible to prevent. The vans are close together. It’s unlikely that there will be that much CCTV that the managers can see each van. That’s one reason I remove the battery and gas bottle and take them home. So it’s really down to what the contract says and what you signed up for. Don’t cancel your storage pitch without having an alternative as many sites have waiting lists.
reply from CaSSOA as follows:
"The site owner would only be liable if they were found to be negligent in some way, by not providing advertised levels of security for example. Whilst our site owners may offer the highest levels of security possible, there may be times when incidents occur. Could you advise which site you are referring to? With regards to site fees, I would anticipate that if you don’t wish to pay the increase, the site owner will ask you to remove your caravan from the site. Grading of the site will only be affected if we feel that adequate measures have not been implemented to ensure that repeat thefts are prevented."
I can say I don't think the site owner is being negligent, there is CCTV all around the site and I have seen the camera's in the office, though not always monitored. Chain link fencing on three sides and fourth side is bounded by a stream and railway line with a three wire fence, entry/exit is by appointment 24 hours in advance with a barrier arm. There is a type of razor wire across the chain link fencing, nothing to secure the bottom at the ground level and nothing to stop a would be thief from cutting the wire and pulling it apart to gain access. Despite all this theft has occurred with entry gained by same route! Looks like we pay up and shut up. Other sites too far away and higher fees!
- Nov 11, 2009
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On my site some thieves took their 4x4 up an overgrown bridle path and cut through chain link fencing. They got away but we’re caught shortly afterwards en route. Another attempt failed when the thieves vehicle got bogged down on a wet ploughed field. The stolen caravan was just left.
It’s impossible to mitigate for all eventualities and sadly there’s always someone out there looking to misappropriate someone else’s belongings. That’s life and when suitable precautions have been taken we just have to get on with it.
- Jan 3, 2012
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Hi Our caravan was in CaSSOA Site we had a phone call someone had pinch the Cassette Toilet, Water Heater, & Battery the caravan insured and the price went up not by much to me i look at it this way what you get security for your caravan all year around .
At the time that storage was only 5 miles from home very easy to pick up and get on the road .
Similar to otherclive someone had took a 4x4 and broke through at the back of the storage site but they got caught .
- Jul 18, 2017
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I think you are correct as a storage site opened not far from us and they got a Gold rating, but never got a visit from CASSOA which I believe is now part of an American company? Security was terrible with unlocked gates etc which was one of the main reason we moved to another CASSOA site.
- May 7, 2012
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At law, the simple answer is the site owner can only be liable for loss or damage if negligence can be shown. You have the opportunity to check the security before you leave the caravan there, and in doing this are assumed to accept the site as it is. There is little an owner can do to prevent people attempting to break in and steal, this is a risk of life and you need to insure against it.
You can ask for a discount because of the break ins but you have no legal right to one. If the owner says no it is your choice as to whether to stay or not.
You can ask for a discount because of the break ins but you have no legal right to one. If the owner says no it is your choice as to whether to stay or not.
- Jul 18, 2017
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I I remember correctly I think that under contract law you can claim from the storage owner as you paid for secure storage therefore onus is on the storage owner to ensure that your unit is safe and secure.
- Nov 11, 2009
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But wouldn’t you have to show that the site owner had failed to fulfill the written conditions, or had been negligent. To claim the onus would be on the litigant and I can’t see them getting legal aid on such a civil case. So they would have to bear the upfront costs. Easier said than done as you would be dealing with their insurers unless it was so black and white that the site owner settled themselves.
- Jul 18, 2017
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I am not sure but we did an analysis of this type of scenario at university in 2002 and it was shown that the storage owner would be liable as you had paid them a fee. I cannot remember which legislation was used as nearly 20 years ago. Generally real life scenarios are used. Either way it would be your insurance comapny that would pursue for any costs from the storage owner if they thought they would stand a chance of winning .
- Nov 11, 2009
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Incident at my site 12 months ago. Be interesting to see how the claims went.
https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/ne...eld-caravan-storage-site-steal-four-vehicles/
- Mar 14, 2005
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That is why I specifically suggested the OP check what services the site is contracting. We naturally assume that security is part of the offer, partly becasue we see fences and access controlled entrances, but is it specifically mentioned that they will "secure" your property in the contract? And if it is mentioned is its specified to resists a particular level of attack?
It seems at best sites can create a deterrent, rather than a ring of steel, and you can't hold them to account if their provisions fail and you suffer a loss.
It seems at best sites can create a deterrent, rather than a ring of steel, and you can't hold them to account if their provisions fail and you suffer a loss.
- May 7, 2012
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The storage site owner has a duty to maintain the security as it was at the time you entered into the contract for storage but can only have a liability to you if he is negligent or does something wrong. You will normally find a clause to this effect in the contract but it only serves to reinforce the legal position.
I do not accept the "if they want it they will get it" idea. You do get examples of this sometimes, but as a rule thieves will look for an easy target and go for that. The more secure your caravan is, the more chance there is of them going for the next one.
I do not accept the "if they want it they will get it" idea. You do get examples of this sometimes, but as a rule thieves will look for an easy target and go for that. The more secure your caravan is, the more chance there is of them going for the next one.
- Jul 18, 2017
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I can no longer recall the law that I studied at uni 20 years ago, but if thieves crossed 2 fields, cut through the wire to steal a caravan then perhaps the owner is negligent as he should have foreseen that there is a possibility that it can happen? Not being a lawyer, I don't know.
Our storage has high banks around the perimeter, then a strong fence. The one area where there is no high bank is a wooded area not open to the public. All the normal lights, CCTV and locked gates. Ground staff also sleep on the premises. We also have proactive tracker and alarm plus the wheel locks and ALKO Premium hitchlock.
- May 7, 2012
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I have been dealing with insurance liability claims at various levels throughout my career. I would not accept that the scenario you put forward is negligent. The site owner sells the service on the security you can see when you contract to put your caravan there, for a claim to succeed it would need that security to be reduced in some way and you would still need to show it led to the loss. If there was a wire fence bordering two fields, you can see this and accept this if you use the site.
- Mar 14, 2005
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Caravans are a relatively easy target for thieves, as they are left unattended for long periods, and often in locations where there are few people at sometimes of the day or night. Many storage sites are located away from residential areas, so night time is a high risk time.
I agree with Ray in so far that thieves will be more likely to opportunistically go for the caravan with the least protection, but there is some evidence that some caravan thefts are to order, and it is these where if they will risk quite a lot more to get it, witnessed by some of the reported thefts where it must have been planned in some detail.
During the C19 pandemic, farmers have reported having more thefts especially of high value equipment, again these seem likely to be to order, and the police have reported how organised gangs have been using remote controlled drones to survey and plan thefts with some precision.
I agree with Ray in so far that thieves will be more likely to opportunistically go for the caravan with the least protection, but there is some evidence that some caravan thefts are to order, and it is these where if they will risk quite a lot more to get it, witnessed by some of the reported thefts where it must have been planned in some detail.
During the C19 pandemic, farmers have reported having more thefts especially of high value equipment, again these seem likely to be to order, and the police have reported how organised gangs have been using remote controlled drones to survey and plan thefts with some precision.
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