Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Guardian Property. Read the original article for full details.
Young Cornish Residents Turn to Van Life as Housing Market Tightens
Young people in Cornwall are increasingly living in old campervans due to difficulties accessing traditional housing. According to Guardian Property, the trend is linked to tourists buying up property and landlords choosing to let homes as short-term Airbnb rentals.
One young resident, Skye, a 25-year-old special educational needs teaching assistant, describes her experience living in a van in Cornwall. She relies on a thick duvet and layers of clothing to stay warm during winter, sometimes experiencing ice on the inside of her van windows and frozen door handles. Skye reports that she parks late at night, avoids staying in one place for more than a night, and sometimes faces hostility from local people.
The report highlights the contrast between the tourist image of Cornwall and the reality for some local residents who are unable to secure affordable housing. Skye’s account includes challenges such as a broken diesel air heater one winter, leading to persistent cold, and the need to adapt her daily routine to cope with low temperatures.
For letting agents and inventory clerks, the report underscores the impact of increased short-term lets and property purchases by non-residents on the availability of long-term rental housing in Cornwall. The situation has contributed to a rise in alternative living arrangements among young people who are priced out of the local housing market.
Source: Guardian Property