Writing in response, Rico Wojtulewicz, Director of Policy and Market Insight at the National Federation of Builders (NFB), argues that the growth in van and boat living is a visible symptom of a worsening housing crisis and a failure within the housebuilding sector.

Research from Sky News has found that more more than 600 people are now living in vans, in Bristol.  A figure that has quadrupled in five years, according to council data.

While there is no official UK-wide figure for vehicle dwellers, some councils have published estimates. Brighton reports around 300 people (0.1% of its population), Glastonbury 150 (0.22%) and Falmouth 50 (2.2%). Campaign group Vanlife.uk suggests there could be between 30,000 and 180,000 ‘van-lifers’ nationwide.

Separate data from insurance firm Zego indicates that van registrations under 3.5 tonnes rose by 282,139 at the end of 2022 to 341,455 in 2023, a 21% increase.

Cost-of-living pressures driving non-traditional accommodation

Although social media has popularised van living, the Sky News report focused on the cost-of-living crisis, with interviewees citing a lack of affordable and available housing as the primary driver.

A survey by the Bristol Vehicle Dweller community, referenced by Bristol City Council, found most respondents were living in vans because they were unable to find or afford alternative accommodation.

Wojtulewicz notes that tensions can arise between settled communities and vehicle dwellers, particularly around waste and anti-social behaviour, adding further strain on local authorities and policing.

The shift towards non-traditional housing is not limited to vans. In its 2025 National Boat Count, the Canal and River Trust recorded more than 33,000 boats on its waterways, including an 11.9% increase in vessels without home moorings, typically a cheaper option, and a 1.9% fall in those with permanent moorings.

The Greater London Authority estimates that around 10,000 people live on the capital’s rivers and canals. Across the UK, 8,580 narrowboats are registered as permanent homes.

Marinas are increasingly monitoring usage through key fob systems to ensure compliance with ‘live aboard’ restrictions and mooring rules, as demand for floating accommodation grows.

Bristol rents up 7.5% as house prices and supply pressures persist

In Bristol, rents rose by 7.5% in the year to December 2025, while average house prices increased by 1.1% to £357,000. First-time buyers paid an average of £318,000.

Across England, house prices rose by 2.2% to £293,000, while average rents increased by 4% to £1,368.

Wojtulewicz argues that insufficient new housing supply has compounded affordability pressures. He suggests that councils have become overly reliant on securing social and affordable homes via the private market, rather than directly delivering new stock.

The knock-on effect, he says, is higher public spending on temporary accommodation, including hotels and private rentals, particularly for people with complex needs.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 strengthened powers to remove unauthorised encampments. While no data is available on associated policing costs, some councils have introduced private enforcement measures.

Bristol City Council has adopted a vehicle dweller policy that enables council tax collection on designated pitches and encourages non-local vehicle dwellers to return to areas where they have a local connection.

Build more family homes to unlock supply, says NFB

Wojtulewicz contends that providing pitches for van dwellers is not a long-term solution. Instead, he calls for increased housebuilding, particularly family homes, to free up smaller properties currently occupied by overcrowded households.

He argues that the current system is costly, resource-intensive and disruptive to community cohesion.

The Labour government has pledged to reform planning and accelerate housebuilding, but Wojtulewicz maintains that addressing decades of structural under-supply will require more than incremental change. Construction costs continue to rise due to taxation and levies.

“The housing crisis has not just moved to our streets but our roads too,” he concludes. “It is literally where the van is.”