People living in vans on the roadside
Discussion
I don’t mean the traditional gypsies / travellers or new age types, but normal people
We’ve had a lot pop up around here, see them moving around, parked up very discreetly
In some respects I admire them because it must be a tough way of life but probably saves a shed load of cash
I do wonder if I was 20 again whether it would be something I would consider and then return to folks on weekends
I am in the south of England
We’ve had a lot pop up around here, see them moving around, parked up very discreetly
In some respects I admire them because it must be a tough way of life but probably saves a shed load of cash
I do wonder if I was 20 again whether it would be something I would consider and then return to folks on weekends
I am in the south of England
In Bristol where I work there are 2 types - those that come and go, so they are parked in different places, and those that never move (mainly touring caravans)
I'm guessing the first type are the ones living the van life lifestyle, the others are living in a van/caravan because that's all they can afford.
There is also the odd car that someone is obviously living in from time to time...
Hard to imagine most of the ones that never move are doing it from choice...
I'm guessing the first type are the ones living the van life lifestyle, the others are living in a van/caravan because that's all they can afford.
There is also the odd car that someone is obviously living in from time to time...
Hard to imagine most of the ones that never move are doing it from choice...
It’s a mix, lots of digital nomad millennials who haven’t got a hope in hell of buying a house so end up in a van travelling around and working at the same time, maybe to save cash, maybe though desperation and no idea of a long term plan
Some newer ones are just like traditional camper van boomers, retired and traveling the world or country, a van converted is much cheaper than a full blown motorhome
Others are just poor people who can’t afford housing and that’s their option this side of a tent.
The Clifton downs have a big mix of all 3, although of late some have been set fire too
There’s also lots of people on instagram living in house boats on canals
I’m sure the ones doing it though no other choice would rather have a house
Some newer ones are just like traditional camper van boomers, retired and traveling the world or country, a van converted is much cheaper than a full blown motorhome
Others are just poor people who can’t afford housing and that’s their option this side of a tent.
The Clifton downs have a big mix of all 3, although of late some have been set fire too
There’s also lots of people on instagram living in house boats on canals
I’m sure the ones doing it though no other choice would rather have a house
Quattr04. said:
It’s a mix, lots of digital nomad millennials who haven’t got a hope in hell of buying a house so end up in a van travelling around and working at the same time, maybe to save cash, maybe though desperation and no idea of a long term plan
Some newer ones are just like traditional camper van boomers, retired and traveling the world or country, a van converted is much cheaper than a full blown motorhome
Others are just poor people who can’t afford housing and that’s their option this side of a tent.
The Clifton downs have a big mix of all 3, although of late some have been set fire too
There’s also lots of people on instagram living in house boats on canals
I’m sure the ones doing it though no other choice would rather have a house
Lots of canal boaters and vanlifers have Youtube channels too. I've watched and met a couple from Youtube on the canals and looks a lovely way to live. Saw one vanlifer on Youtube, stealthcamper or summat similar was his name. He stayed on residential streets, retail park car parks and the like. Some newer ones are just like traditional camper van boomers, retired and traveling the world or country, a van converted is much cheaper than a full blown motorhome
Others are just poor people who can’t afford housing and that’s their option this side of a tent.
The Clifton downs have a big mix of all 3, although of late some have been set fire too
There’s also lots of people on instagram living in house boats on canals
I’m sure the ones doing it though no other choice would rather have a house
Chauffard said:
Homeless in a van, how to flaunt your utter failure in Life status.
We love the freedom of the road, and crapping in the woods, yeah we believe you.
That’s a bit rich isn’t it? Plenty of people can’t afford housing, especially in expensive parts of the country where the jobs are and the state isn’t interested unless you’re a migrant or have kids We love the freedom of the road, and crapping in the woods, yeah we believe you.
I bet you object to housing developments near you and then moan your kids can’t buy a house
Quattr04. said:
There’s also lots of people on instagram living in house boats on canals
I’m sure the ones doing it though no other choice would rather have a house
Indeed, take a trip along the river Lee path north of Hackney Marshes. A lot of diy 'houseboats'. It's basically an aquatic shanty town of people who can't afford to live any other way.I’m sure the ones doing it though no other choice would rather have a house
Quattr04. said:
That’s a bit rich isn’t it? Plenty of people can’t afford housing, especially in expensive parts of the country where the jobs are and the state isn’t interested unless you’re a migrant or have kids
I bet you object to housing developments near you and then moan your kids can’t buy a house
Put down that violin, i'm out of tears, millions of working class people can manage to rent or buy, people used to move to a place where houses were cheaper. I bet you object to housing developments near you and then moan your kids can’t buy a house
ked over a whole generation. The current plan to swamp us with immigrants is only going to make it worse.Quattr04. said:
It’s a mix, lots of digital nomad millennials who haven’t got a hope in hell of buying a house so end up in a van travelling around and working at the same time, maybe to save cash, maybe though desperation and no idea of a long term plan
Some newer ones are just like traditional camper van boomers, retired and traveling the world or country, a van converted is much cheaper than a full blown motorhome
Others are just poor people who can’t afford housing and that’s their option this side of a tent.
The Clifton downs have a big mix of all 3, although of late some have been set fire too
There’s also lots of people on instagram living in house boats on canals
I’m sure the ones doing it though no other choice would rather have a house
I was quite surprised to see so many in Redland on the edge of the Downs as quite an expensive area to live. Lots of caravans rather than vans. Some newer ones are just like traditional camper van boomers, retired and traveling the world or country, a van converted is much cheaper than a full blown motorhome
Others are just poor people who can’t afford housing and that’s their option this side of a tent.
The Clifton downs have a big mix of all 3, although of late some have been set fire too
There’s also lots of people on instagram living in house boats on canals
I’m sure the ones doing it though no other choice would rather have a house
I think as long as they recognise that they need to be somewhere that doesn’t impact others then it’s not a big deal
On the previously mentioned Downs in Bristol (wide open scenic place enjoyed by many) not acceptable
Or a car park as up the thread a bit, not ideal.
But on a quiet dead ended bit of road I run up, no houses nearby and screened from the main road and only seen by a farmer accessing his field from time to time, then why not?
On the previously mentioned Downs in Bristol (wide open scenic place enjoyed by many) not acceptable
Or a car park as up the thread a bit, not ideal.
But on a quiet dead ended bit of road I run up, no houses nearby and screened from the main road and only seen by a farmer accessing his field from time to time, then why not?
Another from Bristol here. I see quite a few vans in various spots that are obviously being lived in, but they don't stay long and they always leave the place better than they found it. There are a few areas like the Downs, near IKEA and a road up by Southmead that have long term encampments that can look pretty rough. Lots of rubbish and crapping in bushes, which obviously annoy the locals who are paying overpriced council tax to look at it all. It is on the local news tonight that Bristol CC are looking at sites to move them to, but I can't imagine that is going to work.
nuyorican said:
It's hardly surprising is it?
Have you heard there's a housing crisis? Too many people, too few affordable homes.
How many of them are families? if you are living in a van on your own you dont need an affordable home you need a room in a shared house. The affordable house idea has sailed many years ago because the government has not been serious enough about spreading employment opportunities around the country and improving public transportation systems. Have you heard there's a housing crisis? Too many people, too few affordable homes.
You simply cannot build "affordable" housing in lots of parts of the country certainly when it comes to owner occupier. If the average salary is 35k then that means for most people a mortgage ability of 140k and then with a 10% deposit thats 160k max which will buy you nothing at all in a lot of areas. We need to be offering really long mortgage terms with 100% loan starts and take into account what people are spending on rent. Thats what happens in countries like Japan so you have a 50 year mortgage.
We also need to stop old fashioned companies insisting on office attendance when remote working works. This doesn't help the millions of people in manual and unskilled non-office jobs though. How do you afford to live working in McDonalds in London? Affordable homes like 160k for a 2 bed house in London is just a dreamworld and expectations need to be lowered. Other countries see multiple generations of families living in one house and in some countries mortgages are passed on to children.
Expectations need to level. "back in the day" when my parents were kids nobody owned a house unless you were really well off. People lived in rental accommodation, and crap rental accommodation that people just wouldn't accept today, for their whole lives. Why should there be any difference today? why should there be a right to own your own home? just playing devils advocate
we have a camper and prefer to wildcamp, the campsites want minimum stays of 2 nights (useless if stopping half way to somewhere) and most wont accept you turning up much after 8pm or leaving before 8 am,
we have met lots of full time vanlifers, all of them are nice people, ok one or two would not fit in with settled life in a house,
most look on it as an extended gap year,
we have met lots of full time vanlifers, all of them are nice people, ok one or two would not fit in with settled life in a house,
most look on it as an extended gap year,
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff