Army Veteran Forced to Live in Van in Cornwall

In a striking reflection of the housing crisis in Cornwall, a 27-year-old woman has opted for an unconventional living arrangement by converting a baby blue VW T4 panel van, affectionately named after the Genie from Aladdin. Faced with soaring property prices and the challenges of being a single woman in the region, she expressed her frustration, stating, "I absolutely could not buy a house." Despite having savings and a Help to Buy ISA, she feels that the situation is unlikely to improve, as an influx of new residents exacerbates the problem. The woman highlighted a troubling trend where property ownership among her peers is increasingly rare. Many of her contemporaries either rely on parental support, inherit wealth, or participate in shared ownership schemes. She noted that most young people in her circle are living in alternative accommodations, such as caravans or their parents' annexes, as traditional homeownership becomes a distant dream. Originally from Birmingham, she purchased the van for £3,700 with the intention of using it for weekend surfing and paddleboarding trips. Since then, she has invested an additional £2,000 to convert the vehicle, adding a bed frame, insulation, and windows, which has allowed her to enjoy a nomadic lifestyle. Emphasizing the benefits of her new way of living, she remarked on the freedom and simplicity it offers. "I just love it," she said, relishing the ability to travel and experience the outdoors, even finding joy in the sound of rain on the van's roof.