Faulty Bailey Caravan

spcomp67

Hi,

Newbie after some advice please

I bought a brand new 2025 Bailey Grande GT75 Portofino Caravan from a well respected dealer I've been using for several years. It is already leaking water in plus has some cosmetic issues not seen at collection. 

Initial order was placed with the dealer on 23/10/2024 and I took delivery on 30/01/25. At that time there were some very minor cosmetic issues that were all dealt with at the time.

I paid by Part Trade in (£14300), Credit Card (£1000 Deposit), & Finance (£16752). Total with extended warranties and some extras came to £32052 but the base caravan was £30044

The Caravan has significant leaks in 2 different places which came to light on 2nd July which was the first time we used the caravan in the rain. We dropped the caravan back to the dealer on 5th July and they've done an initial investigation. Their findings are:-

"This has been identified as a leak through a cable gland for the solar panel which is easily rectifiable and also a leak around the front middle window frame. This can also be remedied in workshop and fully water tested after completion."

I wrote to the dealer and this is their response to my request for a replacement new caravan:-

"Unfortunately we are not able to offer a replacement caravan however will cover the cost of all repairs under the warranty provided with the caravan. We have been in contact with Bailey and have explained your disappointment and they will support the warranty to rectify issues caused as a result of the water leaks. Once we have identified parts needed a warranty claim will be submitted this week. The cause of the leaks will however will be rectified in the next few days so the caravan is useable."

I believe under the CRA I am within my rights to request a replacement as the van is clearly not manufactured to the standard promised in their sales literature and therefore not fit for purpose. Whilst I accept that the repairs may be fairly straightforward in the dealers eyes but doesn't account for the 5 months of water ingress up to that point and any hidden damage that has been caused to the internal furniture. One cupboard has started to show black mould already.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated,

born_again

You have to give them once chance to fix the issue.
The strange part is why has it taken from end of Jan to July for the leak to be apparent. Given the amount of rain earlier this year?

Alderbank

spcomp67 said:

Hi,

Newbie after some advice please

I bought a brand new 2025 Bailey Grande GT75 Portofino Caravan from a well respected dealer I've been using for several years. It is already leaking water in plus has some cosmetic issues not seen at collection. 

Initial order was placed with the dealer on 23/10/2024 and I took delivery on 30/01/25. At that time there were some very minor cosmetic issues that were all dealt with at the time.

I paid by Part Trade in (£14300), Credit Card (£1000 Deposit), & Finance (£16752). Total with extended warranties and some extras came to £32052 but the base caravan was £30044

The Caravan has significant leaks in 2 different places which came to light on 2nd July which was the first time we used the caravan in the rain. We dropped the caravan back to the dealer on 5th July and they've done an initial investigation. Their findings are:-

"This has been identified as a leak through a cable gland for the solar panel which is easily rectifiable and also a leak around the front middle window frame. This can also be remedied in workshop and fully water tested after completion."

I wrote to the dealer and this is their response to my request for a replacement new caravan:-

"Unfortunately we are not able to offer a replacement caravan however will cover the cost of all repairs under the warranty provided with the caravan. We have been in contact with Bailey and have explained your disappointment and they will support the warranty to rectify issues caused as a result of the water leaks. Once we have identified parts needed a warranty claim will be submitted this week. The cause of the leaks will however will be rectified in the next few days so the caravan is useable."

I believe under the CRA I am within my rights to request a replacement as the van is clearly not manufactured to the standard promised in their sales literature and therefore not fit for purpose. Whilst I accept that the repairs may be fairly straightforward in the dealers eyes but doesn't account for the 5 months of water ingress up to that point and any hidden damage that has been caused to the internal furniture. One cupboard has started to show black mould already.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated,

Welcome to the forum.

The CRA says you have the right to a repair or replacement. You can request a replacement but if that would cost the dealer significantly more than a repair they can opt for a repair, as they have done.

If they take back a six month old caravan with significant faults and replace it with a brand new one, the cost to them would be thousands.
The law says they can replace with a six month old used caravan similar to yours but without the faults, if they have such a thing. Would that be acceptable to you?

If they attempt a repair, which must include replacing any water damaged panels, etc., and the repair fails then you don't have to allow them any more goes to fix it. At that point you can ask for a refund.
They can make a deduction from the refund for the amount of 'use' you have had. That would probably be related to the number of times you have been away in it. I suspect it has had very little use?

daveyjp

born_again said:

You have to give them once chance to fix the issue.
The strange part is why has it taken from end of Jan to July for the leak to be apparent. Given the amount of rain earlier this year?

If the caravan isn't being used when it is raining (highly likely over winter) identifying a leak isn't easy.  It rains, it leaks, the water dries out.

If it is leaking now and the problem areas identified let them repair it.

Aylesbury_Duck

born_again said:

You have to give them once chance to fix the issue.
The strange part is why has it taken from end of Jan to July for the leak to be apparent. Given the amount of rain earlier this year?

It's possibly been stored under a carport or some sort of cover?  Or perhaps the water only gets in when the caravan is being towed and the water flows in precisely the wrong direction.

spcomp67

Thanks for the comments. We picked the van up on 30th Jan and spent 5 dry days on site on the East Coast, 5 miles from the dealers. It then went into storage at the same site and due to work commitments we weren't able to get back to it until 22nd June. We stayed from 22nd June to 5th July and the first day of rain was on the 2nd July.
I'm not asking the dealer to foot the bill for a replacement as that wouldn't be fair on them but I am asking them to ask the manufacturer to replace and take the old one away. The dealer shouldn't suffer either due to shoddy workmanship from the factory.

Aylesbury_Duck

The trouble is that you have no legal rights with the manufacturer, only the dealer.  Unless there's a manufacturer warranty you can claim a replacement on, which would seem unlikely.

You can ask of course, but a repair is probably all you're entitled to here.

sheramber

spcomp67 said:

Thanks for the comments. We picked the van up on 30th Jan and spent 5 dry days on site on the East Coast, 5 miles from the dealers. It then went into storage at the same site and due to work commitments we weren't able to get back to it until 22nd June. We stayed from 22nd June to 5th July and the first day of rain was on the 2nd July.
I'm not asking the dealer to foot the bill for a replacement as that wouldn't be fair on them but I am asking them to ask the manufacturer to replace and take the old one away. The dealer shouldn't suffer either due to shoddy workmanship from the factory.

Your rights under the CRA are with the dealer, not the manufacturers you did not buy it direct from the manufacturer.

Tour rights with the manufacturer are what the warranty says.

Renfrewman

sheramber said:

spcomp67 said:

Thanks for the comments. We picked the van up on 30th Jan and spent 5 dry days on site on the East Coast, 5 miles from the dealers. It then went into storage at the same site and due to work commitments we weren't able to get back to it until 22nd June. We stayed from 22nd June to 5th July and the first day of rain was on the 2nd July.
I'm not asking the dealer to foot the bill for a replacement as that wouldn't be fair on them but I am asking them to ask the manufacturer to replace and take the old one away. The dealer shouldn't suffer either due to shoddy workmanship from the factory.

Your rights under the CRA are with the dealer, not the manufacturers you did not buy it direct from the manufacturer.

Tour rights with the manufacturer are what the warranty says.

Tour rights (or wrongs) will more than likely be down to the driver? ha ha!

lincroft1710

After 75 years of producing caravans even a well established maker seems unable to make a leak free van.


Let the dealer repair it.