Disclosed herein is an occupancy detection device for detecting an occupancy of a seat of a motor vehicle. The occupancy detection device comprises an electric resonant circuit and a sensor element, wherein the electric resonant circuit experiences a change due to a change of the surroundings of the sensor element, so that with reference to the determined electrical parameter an occupancy of the seat can be detected; and a heater control connected with the occupancy detection device such that the sensor element can simultaneously operate as a heater.