Growing Trend of people living in Vans in Bristol

Growing Trend of people living in Vans in Bristol

10:58 AM, 10th October 2017, About 7 years ago 11

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The local press in Bristol have picked up on a Gumtree advert offering a parked van to live in for £220 per month.

The advert said the LDV Convoy van (a yellow minibus) comes with all the facilities required for winter living on a city street with a fire burner, cooker, oven, sink, tap, double bed and kitchen table.

The Bristol Post reported that due to the housing crisis scores of people across Bristol have resorted to living in vans on the streets. There is a legal loophole where as long as a van has an MOT and tax there is nothing the authorities can do to move them on, although notice can be served on caravans.

A spokesperson for Bristol Council said: “We are aware of a growing trend of people who are turning to living in vans or caravans on our streets in Bristol and around the country.

“We realise that this trend is having an impact on other residents around the city however the council is restricted in how it can respond. Without parking restrictions, we are limited by national law in what we can do to enforce moving these kind of vans which are parked legally.

“This kind of enforcement would in any case not help to combat the longer term causes of this national problem. We are looking at a number of short term solutions to address this problem, combating the impact on local residents, and providing more security for the van dwellers.

“For some people, the long term solution may be finding affordable housing, and we are continuing to work hard to build more houses across the city.”


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Comments

Annie Landlord

14:28 PM, 3rd November 2017, About 6 years ago

This story is just one more indication of the desperate state of housing in this country. Many people living on the streets do have mental health needs and as they are able to decide their own fate, and refuse offers of support, their situation remains dire. There are many others, singles and families, who just cannot find affordable accommodation. We need councils and government to work with private landlords to address this appalling problem. The unrelenting attacks on the PRS are simply making the housing crisis worse, as landlords sell up, raise rents and decline to house tenants on benefits. Living in a van is NOT an acceptable situation in a civilised country.

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