What's your advice on flood damage?

• Friday, 4 January 2008
• Mike Cazalet

I’m about to buy a four-year-old Elddis which the dealer says was slightly flood damaged, but he has dried it out and it is in perfect condition. He will back that up with a six-month warranty. But I remember Caravan advising to be very cautious about buying flood damaged caravans.
Name and address supplied

MIKE SAYS
There are a number of issues here. Firstly, if the floodwater only lapped the bottom of the van it might be possible for someone to dry it out.
However in most of the TV reports of last summer’s floods they reported that the water was washing sewage out of the drains. If the floor was only wetted that might not be a problem, but if the floor was soaked with sewerage that could be an issue.
The very fact that the caravan wasn’t written off suggests that it wasn’t insured, so there is a risk that the caravan wasn’t inspected.
I personally wouldn’t touch a flood-damaged caravan, but if the price is right and you can get a warranty that covers you against long-term problems I suppose this Elddis might just be worth a gamble.