AIBU to think we could happily live in a van?

[spiritofadventure]

My OH and I have been talking recently about buying a van and converting it into a self contained home to live in full time.

It started off as a joke when we had to change flats, yet again, as our landlord was selling up, but it is now something we are seriously considering.

We are in our early 30's, both work full time 50 hours a week and are still nowhere near close to saving a deposit to be able to buy in this area.

We've done the maths and think we could do this for less than £12k, including the van.

The van we would buy is a LWB Mercedes Sprinter, which would give us a living space of approx. 4.3m x 1.8m. Inside, we would have a double bed, small dining area, kitchen and a small shower/toilet room.

It would be cosy, for sure, but it would have everything we need.

We live in an area that has lots of places suitable to park up for the night so that wouldn't be an issue.

Monthly costs we think would be in the region of £3-400 excluding food costs

Obviously this wouldn't be a forever home, but we were thinking 2 or 3 years so we could build up our savings.

Are we crazy, or could this really work?

People do live full-time. There are ways of keeping warm. Insulation, 12v blanket, hot water bottles, thermal clothes, sitting in a pub 😎. Talking of pubs, many let you park overnight if you buy a pie and a pint.

www.britstops.com/welcome.php

WI think regards to the permanent address situaction - we would just have all post etc sent to my DP parents address. They are fine with this.

Furniture is just stuff though - very easy to pick up what we needed, if we needed it!

Something like this might be more comfortable than a van.

OP - go with your heart...nothing of what you plan is irrevocable. Always remember its the things you don;t do that you regret. Have some fun! and ignore those who are too frighhtened to cross the road or think outside the box.

BTW - we have done what you are planning and we had a great time

Do you need to stay in the city you are currently living? Move to somewhere cheaper (North west/Scotland/Wales) and buy a house! You could get a house for about 40K and commute into Manchester for example.

I would LOVE to do this. Unfortunately not in a position to, and am currently living the 'normal' life, in a 4 bed house which costs me a fortune to run, with bills I can't afford to pay. Bloody well go for it OP

I literally couldn't think of anything worse. I know someone - a 63 y.o. widow who sold her cottage off and made £70K. She paid off £40K debt she had accrued over the last 10 years, and bought a caravan from what was left.

She is just spending her first winter in it, and I honestly think it's going to kill her off. We called her this morning as we're going to visit her later (she lives in the Welsh countryside up a hill,) and she said she didn't sleep last night because of the cold - even with the 'heating' on.

I am with the 'it sounds ghastly' camp. I couldn't think of anything worse. What if you have kids? You don't already have them do you?!

We have a Campervan which we use for weekends away but even a week in one can be too much (to be fair we do have a 15 month old too!!) You have to be so organised as there is just so little space. Everything has to be put back straight after using and you have to be so tidy. I feel exhausted at the thought of it all the lifting and putting away etc on a full time basis. We have a roof that rises up to make a bed up top which we have up but use as storage space but of course when you drive it all has to come down and be stored in the van.

It's certainly possible but maybe hire one for a week first. I really wish I had done that before I spent up on ours!!!!

There is a huge "Small living spaces" movement. youtube is full of videos of people who have converted vans, buses, milk floats etc.
It is very doable, You have to totally rethink your ideas about possessions and live with minimum stuff.
But you can't just park in the supermarket carpark. You'll need to find a fairly permanent pitch.
I think it's a great idea.

Ps have you considered a caravan as they have a lot more space in them. Just a thought.

I have a friend who is currently doing this! He had been sofa surfing for a long time with various friends as he 'didn't want to pay rent as a lifestyle choice' he has a gym membership which I think is for a 24 hour gym so he can shower and go to the loo. He's been doing it for almost a year but now he has a girlfriend I think he is reconsidering his 'lifestyle choice'. It's certainly doable but if it doesn't suit you it will be a lot of wasted money that could have been saved towards a deposit on a real home.

I couldn’t think of anything worse. We used to have a VW California for weekends away/camping trips etc and it literally drove me insane. The longest we did was 3 weeks in France and by week two I wanted to go to a hotel.

Also, I forgot to say, she thought it would be a great idea and was super excited about it; a cosy little caravan in the Welsh hills, with a view over the valleys, just 15 miles from the sea. The reality is not quite as it seemed. I really, really wouldn't do it. Not in the UK.

It's much easier to heat a van or caravan than a house!

A caravan would be great if you don't want to be mobile and have somewhere to site it. A van you can stay anywhere that it's legal to park overnight.

@slookiroo

Have you actually lived in a caravan long-term, in sub zero temperatures in the winter?

If not, then you can't really comment that it's 'much easier to heat than a house.'

It really, really isn't.

You can rent a decent warm 2 bed for that monthly cost in many parts of the country. Or your £12k will be a deposit.

It's my retirement plan (RV) though not in this country! Don't forget about a PO box, OP. Need somewhere to give as your address. Wonder what it would do to your credit rating also?

“He had been sofa surfing for a long time with various friends as he 'didn't want to pay rent as a lifestyle choice'”

Ah you mean scrounging

@dangermouse7

Yes on the North coast of Scotland. Have you?

Ah sorry, I see you're going to use your DP's parents' address. I think it's probably cheaper to rent a studio somewhere. Same situation, just warmer.

Just to put the record straight, vans, camper vans and motor homes and caravans come in different sizes. A caravan is not bigger, unless you buy a bigger one.

OP you might want to look at small motorhomes. They are purpose built, well insulated and usually have gas heating. A second hand one can be picked up cheaply.

The other thing to be aware of is problems with tax and insurance on a van. The van will not be taxed as a leisure vehicle, so getting road insurance will be difficult.

You’ve completely ignored the issue of getting a mortgage and proof of address over previous years.

If you’re going to do the post at your parents house, you will also need to register at that address to get on the electoral role at your parents house. And pay council tax at the address.

And that would be committing a criminal offence.

If you spend money on a van conversion, it won’t be worth anything, as it will still be registered as a van.

It’s do-able (I say that having spent a lot of my childhood as one of 4 children in a caravan and now have friends who are “van dwellers” because they can’t afford to rent, never mind buy), but it’s not enjoyable - the practicalities of laundry etc aren’t good if you need clean dry clothes for work.

Perhaps look at a room in a shared house instead? Some will rent to couples and at least you’d be warm. Also if you’re looking to save for a mortgage, living in a van will Not help your application. The longer you’ve been at one address, the more utilities, council tax etc paid the better your credit rating.

Above all, it’s a sign of how fucking shit this country has got that once again working people can’t afford a roof over their heads.

Wild camping is illegal in england and wales. You need to get landowner permission or pay site fees.