In Cornwall, a growing number of young locals are turning to old campervans as a permanent housing solution, driven out of the rental market by tourists and landlords favouring lucrative Airbnb properties. With an estimated 24,000 holiday lets and 13,000 second homes, long-term rentals are scarce, and seasonal employment makes regular rent payments difficult.
Living in Vans Year-Round
Skye, a 25-year-old special educational needs teaching assistant, has lived in her van for five years after failing to secure a rental with her then-boyfriend and a friend. She often faces freezing conditions, with ice inside the van and door handles frozen shut. She says, “Some winters I’ve had ice on the inside of my van windows... That was genuinely awful.” She now pays off a £2,000 repair bill in instalments but enjoys the freedom, feeling she would be “trapped” in a house.
Louella, 33, a singer-songwriter, has lived in her van since age 26. She previously stayed in a friend’s shed and says, “I can’t afford to pay rent and pursue my music career.” She avoids campsites as too expensive and struggles with limited public toilets, water access, and drying space. She notes, “There aren’t many public toilets, and they are often closed when you need them.”
Support Services and Isolation
Caroline Dann, who runs Traveller Space charity in St Day, hosts weekly drop-ins for van dwellers. She says many are cold, lack cooking facilities, and survive on cheese sandwiches. Her charity offers hot meals, showers, and laundry. Dann notes a stark difference from Traveller communities: “What we’re seeing with the van dwellers is that they don’t have these skills.” Many young people buy old vans without knowing how to insulate them or manage basic needs.
Isolation is a major issue. Dann sees posts on Cornwall van life Facebook pages saying, “I haven’t spoken to anyone for a week and I’m feeling really lonely.” Louella adds that winter can be the loneliest time, and she sometimes goes to the pub just for company.
Alternative Accommodation
At Potter’s Farm in Halvasso, owner Sue Nicholls rents caravan spaces to 35 people, most referred by homeless charity St Petroc’s. Some are as young as 17, often kicked out by parents. The caravans are old and shabby, and the field becomes “like a bog” in winter. Nicholls says, “Everyone here is vulnerable. They are all struggling with their mental health. I wish there was more for them. But it feels like they are on their own.”
Uncertain Future
Skye worries that the council may crack down on vans in seaside areas, which could force her to leave. She hopes to one day get a bit of land to park her van on. For now, she continues to move nightly to avoid angering locals, saying, “It is nice to have a base. Maybe one day I’ll get a bit of land to call my own and park my van on it.”
