Is living in a van the solution to the housing crisis for young people? Many Brits think it could be

‘Van life’ could be a solution to the housing crisis for young people, according to new research released today.

Nearly four in ten adults who still live with their parents (37%) have ‘given up’ on the idea of owning a home – at least in the next five years. More than one in ten (12%) have given up on ever doing so. For this group, van life appears to be a potential solution.

A staggering 32% say they would ‘consider’ living in a van to escape living under a roof with mum and dad, according to the figures from Cazoo.

But it’s not just those who live with parents – four in ten of all Gen Z adults (41%) say it’s something they’ve done or would consider doing.

Why would young adults consider leaving the comfort of brick and mortar for life on the road? Over four in ten (42%) say they would do so to ‘escape the rising cost of monthly rent’ while the same proportion would in order to travel.

Meanwhile 37% say they would ‘for the experience’ and 35% highlight the increased freedom. Meanwhile, a fifth (19%) say it’s something they’d consider in order to save up money for a deposit on a permanent home.

However, there’s still the question of how this might impact job prospects – however, 71% of Gen Z adults say they don’t believe their employer would have an issue with them living off grid in a van.

The research revealed a surprising amount of people who say they have already lived in a van – 7% of all respondents have experienced van life in the past – at least temporarily. Men were more than twice as likely to have done so versus women (9% vs 4%).

While a fifth (20%) of those surveyed said they lived in a van due to financial necessity or as a temporary solution during hard times (18%), the most common reason was that it was a ‘genuine lifestyle choice’ (38%).

Older generations – many of whom will have paid off their mortgage and enjoyed watching their home increase in value in recent decades – are on board with the idea as a solution. Over half of Gen X adults (52%) and 40% of Baby Boomers agree that ‘living in a van could be a good solution to the housing crisis for young people’.

Those surveyed who have lived on the road before also highlighted the challenges involved. Hygiene and finding places to shower and go to the loo was the biggest barrier (42%) while 40% highlighted legal issues, such as finding places to park at night. An impractical ‘lack of space’ was also highlighted by 37%.

But the financial benefits can be significant – just over half of respondents (51%) stated that the lack of utility bills was the main money-saving factor, while 44% specified that not having to pay any rent or mortgage was the biggest area where they were able to save.

Ashima Anand (@ashimaanand) a Van Life influencer, shared her story: “I originally bought my van for work, spending the summer travelling around the UK and sleeping in it overnight. Along the way, I fell in love with the simplicity of the lifestyle and began converting into my home on wheels. I was paying £450 a month in a rented house and car insurance, fuel and road tax combined was £180 per month. So when my housemates moved on and I started my Masters, instead of paying rent to another landlord, it just made sense to move into a van.
Every month, I spend roughly £300 on fuel, insurance costs £85 and road tax costs £30 per month. I save over £2000 per year and this money goes straight to funding my travels and adventures.
The freedom my van gives me is unmatched. Whether I wake up by the beach, in the mountains or at the gym car park, I can go wherever I want without packing a bag. Whilst there are still costs to consider with fuel, insurance and maintenance, with rents the way they are, living in a van means my money is actually my own and I can use it to build my own little home.
It’s not always easy and it’s definitely not for everyone but if you value your freedom and want to take back control of your finances, I would absolutely recommend it.”
The trend is being fuelled in part by social media, with ‘van-life’ content reshaping perceptions of ‘home’ amongst younger generations. More than eight in ten Gen Z (84%) report seeing ‘van-life’ content on social media – while freedom and finances are the primary draw, 12% admit they’d also consider it for content creation.
As the interest in alternative ways of living grows, Cazoo has seen increased demand for vans suited to conversion and long-term travel – and there’s been a 24% increase in van searches through the website between 2025 and 2026.

Additionally, Cazoo has created a dedicated guide to help first-time van-dwellers navigate the realities of life on the road – from choosing the right vehicle, to tips on overnight parking, security and maintenance.

While van life can offer greater freedom and lower living costs – and for some, a way to redefine independence – it’s often seen as a temporary or transitional solution rather than a long-term fix. For others, the concerns around safety, access to facilities and long-term sustainability still remain.

Charlie Harvey, Motoring Expert at Cazoo, says: The ‘van-life’ movement has grown in popularity in recent times on social media because it offers young people a tempting escape from the harsh reality of the housing crisis and an opportunity to save for the future.

The freedom to live ‘off-grid’ on your own terms is romantic, but it’s definitely worth getting the right van to lay down the perfect foundations for your new home.”