Am I unreasonable?

mrsmopp, There are two solutions, one is as suggested just tell everybody without exception that for some reason or another you cannot let other people stay in your caravan unless you are there also. The other, I am afraid, is to charge, not in a business or profit making way but to cover the costs of peoples stay. They will be using gas, electricity, water etc. Why should you pay for their free break? A charge of £10 or £20 a night for use of the caravan would be a bargain and see off the free-riders.

We have a holiday home in France and we have done that since we bought it 25 years ago. The only exceptions are our children, they stay without cost. We also have limits as to who we let use it. Limiting it to friends and family only and also limiting how many weeks a year we happy for other people to be there. In our case six weeks a year that have to fit around our use of the house.

We are completely upfront about charging and our time limitations and everybody who has used the house has been happy to go along with them. The plus side is we have cousins and friends who have stayed their regularly and share all our happy experiences of our house and contribute recommendations for restaurants and attractions to visit.

You must bite the bullet and just say no. A neighbour of ours had a large static caravan and her children used it many times, but it seemed that she always had the job of cleaning up after them. You bought it for your bolthole, and if you allowed it to be used by others, then it might not be available when you really need to get away. Be a bit selfish for once

Exactly what Farnorth said
You are not being unreasonable.

Anya it is a static.

We have no grandchildren; we have two sons who are not interested in using it. Then there are two nephews, one whose wife is appalling and their children are noisy, hyperactive and destructive. I told him we weren't covered for letting. Now his brother wants it and I can't say yes to one and no to the other. I just wish they would stop asking! It's not as if they want to see US, they just want use of our caravan.
Jing, I probably am what you call a walkover, I do find it hard saying no to people. I did say no to the ex colleague though.
I am considering saying to the next one who asks, "yes, you can have our caravan for a week, can we stay in your house while you are away?

Tell them the truth : "So many people are asking and we've decided to say no to everyone as we want to use it a lot ourselves."

I'm amazed that people can be so rude as to ask you in the first place! Say no.

You've got some very odd friends. We had a caravan for years and no one asked to borrow it. Have you always been a walkover?

Just say no.

I think it is better to tell the truth and say I'm sorry as we use it a lot ourselves we have decided to only lend it to close family.

Not unreasonable. I have a second home but do not allow all and sundry to stay there. You have to consider wear and tear and let's face it, not everyone treats your property the way you do yourself.

Or you could ask what week they are thinking of going, check if it's available and tell them the cost will be £xxx pounds not including gas and electric.

Is it kept at your house and used as a touring caravan or is it a static?

If the former then simply tell friends and family sorry but it's not insured for them, and no you can't add them to your insurance nor can they take out their own as the terms of your insurancers don't stretch to that.

If it's a static then tell them sorry the site doesn't allow the caravan to be sub-let. If they say something like 'well we wouldn't be paying anyway' or 'we'll just say we're family' then sound shocked and reply that you couldn't do anything illegal like that or you might lose your tenancy agreement.

Yes, the are being cheeky and if it takes a little white lie to get rid of them, then do be it.

Otherwise just take a deep breath and say 'NO'

Not unreasonable. I would only allow close family. Could you say it's only insured for you and visitors when you are also there?