Young workers in Cornwall are increasingly living in campervans due to a shortage of affordable housing, as tourist property purchases and short-term rental conversions reduce long-term accommodation options in the region.
Skye, a 25-year-old special educational needs teaching assistant, has been living in a van in Cornwall, enduring winter temperatures that freeze door handles and create ice on interior windows. She moves locations nightly, parking away from beaches to avoid confrontation with residents.
Housing supply pressures
The situation reflects broader housing availability issues affecting young local workers in tourist-heavy regions. Cornwall has experienced increased property purchases by non-residents and a shift towards short-term holiday lettings, reducing the stock of long-term rental accommodation for local residents.
The housing shortage in Cornwall mirrors wider supply challenges across England, where housebuilding has failed to keep pace with demand. The conversion of residential properties to tourist accommodation has particularly affected coastal areas.
Living conditions
Skye described winters when her diesel air heater failed, leaving her without adequate heating for an entire season. Even with heating, temperatures below zero create difficult conditions. “I often get dressed in bed,” she said. “You just have to adjust.”
The van-dwelling lifestyle contrasts sharply with the tourist perception of campervan living, according to residents. Skye limits stays to one night per location to avoid complaints from local residents and selects parking locations carefully, typically avoiding coastal areas.
Market implications
The shortage of affordable accommodation for young workers raises questions about workforce retention in tourist-dependent economies. Service sector employers in Cornwall have reported difficulties recruiting and retaining staff due to housing availability issues.
Property market observers note that pricing pressures in tourist areas often exceed local wage growth, creating affordability gaps for residents employed in the region.
The situation in Cornwall highlights the tension between tourism-driven property markets and local housing needs, a challenge facing multiple UK coastal regions where holiday accommodation demand has reshaped residential property markets.
