Installing a Mobile Home: Step-by-Step Guide with Costs

By Matheus Agueda · 10 September 2026

Last updated: 18 September 2026

From delivery to habitation: the complete process

Installing a mobile home is significantly simpler than building a house — but it's not as simple as "drop and plug in". There are important steps that, if done correctly, ensure decades of comfort. If done poorly, they cause chronic problems.

For the full technical guide, see how to install a mobile home on land.

Step 1: Site preparation

With Green Village, levelling and positioning the unit on its base are included in the delivered price; the options and ranges below are indicative, for reference or for self-managed installations.

Levelling

The site must be level within 2 cm across the footprint area. Options:

• Already flat ground: compaction and placement of concrete blocks only (300-800 EUR)
• Moderate slope: light earthworks with a mini-excavator (800-2,000 EUR)
• Steep slope: pile or post foundation or platform (2,000-5,000 EUR)

Base

The mobile home sits on precast concrete blocks or adjustable jack pads. Never directly on the ground — the gap between the chassis and the soil allows ventilation and prevents rising damp.

Skirting (underside cladding)

Recommended but not mandatory. Covers the gap between the chassis and the ground, improving visual appearance and thermal protection. Materials: PVC (500-1,000 EUR), treated wood (800-1,500 EUR) or masonry (1,500-3,000 EUR).

Step 2: Positioning

The unit is positioned on site by the Green Village team, including for difficult-access spaces. The process takes 2 to 4 hours for a single and 4 to 8 hours for a twin unit.

Access note: make sure the delivery vehicle can reach the installation site. Minimum access road width: 3.5 metres. Minimum turning radius: 12 metres. If access is difficult, Green Village evaluates this during the technical site visit, at no extra cost, and includes the solution in the delivered price.

Step 3: Utility connections

With Green Village, connection to the utility points already on the plot (water, electricity, drainage) is included in the delivered price; the options and ranges below are indicative, for reference or for self-managed installations.

Water

• Mains connection: requires application to local water company (200-800 EUR fee)
• Borehole or well: alternative on rural land (1,500-4,000 EUR for borehole + pump)
• Plumbing to the mobile home: 300-1,000 EUR (depending on distance)

Electricity

• Grid connection: contracted capacity request via retailer (300-1,500 EUR fee)
• Off-grid solar: panels + batteries + inverter (3,000-8,000 EUR for basic system)
• Cabling: 200-500 EUR from main board to the mobile home

Sewage

• Public sewer: connection to the collector (500-2,000 EUR)
• Septic tank: mandatory where there is no sewer (2,500-5,000 EUR for tank + drain)
• Biological treatment (compact WWTP): more efficient and eco-friendly (4,000-7,000 EUR)

Gas

• Butane/propane gas bottle: the simplest and most common solution (45 kg bottle lasts 2-3 months)
• LPG tank: for higher consumption (500-1,500 EUR installation)

What's included and what isn't

With Green Village, levelling, positioning and connection to the utility points that exist on the plot (water, electricity, drainage) are included in the delivered price shown in the catalogue — no separate quote needed.

What stays the owner's responsibility, organised with a local contractor: land preparation where the plot needs it (platform/base, access road, utility supply points up to the connection point, septic tank where there is no sewer), plus optional extras such as skirting and a deck or veranda. Costs for this vary by plot and are confirmed in writing before you commit.

5 common mistakes to avoid

1. Not checking access before buying — an 18-metre delivery vehicle can't enter just any track
2. Skimping on levelling — a twisted chassis causes wall cracks and doors that won't close
3. Forgetting underside ventilation — the space under the mobile home MUST be ventilated to prevent condensation and chassis corrosion
4. Connecting gas without certification — all gas connections must be made by a certified technician
5. Not waterproofing connections — exposed water and sewage joints freeze in winter in northern and central Portugal

Within mainland Portugal, delivery and installation are included in the Green Village price shown in the catalogue. Contact us to confirm availability for other destinations.