Housing crisis push as young Brits eye van life to escape parents and rent

Housing crisis push as young Brits eye van life to escape parents and rentEXCLUSIVE: According to research, 7% of all Brits have already lived in a van, and a third know someone who has. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By Ciaran McGrath, Senior News Reporter 08:06, Sat, May 30, 2026 Ashima Anand originally bought her van for work - but now lives in it (Image: Cazoo)With home ownership slipping further out of reach and rents soaring, young Britons are increasingly eyeing life on the road as a route to freedom from both their parents’ homes and landlords’ demands. New research by Cazoo reveals the scale of the shift. A striking 32 % of adults still living with their parents would consider moving into a van to escape family life. Among Gen Z overall, 41 % have either tried it or would consider doing so.Nearly four in 10 (37 %) of those at home have given up on buying within five years, while 12 % believe they will never own a home, 42 % want to escape rising rents, the same number crave travel, 35 % seek greater independence, and 19 % see it as a way to save for a deposit. Meanwhile 7 % of all Brits have already lived in a van, and a third know someone who has. Even older generations back the idea, with 52 % of Gen X and 40 % of Baby Boomers calling it a “good solution” to the housing crisis. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Read more: 'We sold everything to travel the world in a van - this was our favourite place' Read more: HMRC confirms increased £4,170 tax charge for van drivers Ashima Anand says she saves more than £2,000 a year (Image: Cazoo)The trend is particularly visible in Bristol, where converted vans have become a familiar sight as young people seek alternatives to the traditional housing ladder.For many, the move is about taking back control. Van life influencer Ashima Anand (@ashimaanand) swapped rented accommodation for a van after her house...