Hello Michael,
You say your caravan is a 2007. I assume that you purchased it new from a dealer. And my answer is based on that assumption. If it was a private purchase then this answer does not apply.
Swift are correct in so far that the metal skin of a caravan will expand and contract according to the temperature. This is a well known physical fact. Did you know that Concorde actually grew over 30cm in length when it was flying at mach 2.2? This was due to the friction of the air heating the exterior panels of the air craft.
I think Swift and all other manufactures would have known this when the caravan was designed and built, they should have have made provision within the design and construction to accommodate these effects and yet retain the full weather protection. It is reasonable to expect a caravan to resist water ingress despite these effects.
The manufacture may have ascertain that this is a weakness in the design, and to prevent it from becoming a reality they may recommend regular inspections to ascertain the condition of the sealing, with a view to take timely action to repair any weak areas before ingress occurs. This is a reasonable action, and it is incumbent on the owner to ensure that these inspections and repairs are carried out and recorded.
Provided these inspections have been carried out in accordance with the manufactures schedule, and the caravan has developed a water leak despite the inspection/repairs, then the product is not fit for purpose, and that is a design or manufacturing fault. If however the specified inspections and any consequential repairs have not been carried out, then the manufacture may be absolved of any responsibility.
Now this may seem silly, but when you bought the caravan you probably paid money to your dealer this is your seller. Thus your contract of sale was with the dealer and not the manufacturer, so you take this matter up with the seller. If you used a finance arrangement, then the finance house is your also involved as a seller.
You should contact Trading standards who will advise you, but it might help to have an independent engineers report carried out. If this confirms that the exterior panels have allowed water in and there is no other reason for it, then the seller has failed in the terms of the Sale Of Goods Act (SOGA) requirements that the product must be free from manufacturing or design defects.
I also make the point that as this is a contractual matter between you and the seller, the manufactures opinion can have no influence on the outcome. Even if Swift say 'no its not their fault', your claim may still stand against the seller.
As a totally independent matter, it is then up to the seller to counter claim against their supplier or manufacture and so on down the line.
Seek professional advice.
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