Bristol becomes van dweller capital of the UK with 800 people living at the side of the street struggling in the cost of living crisis

Bristol has been named the van dweller capital of the UK with 800 people living at the side of street as families continue to struggle with the cost of living crisis. 

There has been a surge of people living in motorhomes, caravans and converted vans in the last year as they battle not only with the economic climate but the nation-wide housing crisis.

Yet many living in the city have insisted their quality of life is now better than it would have been if they decided to stay in traditional housing. They include people with a range of backgrounds from engineers, to stonemasons and students.

Amongst the new community are David and Daniela Fernandes, who moved to the UK from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Mr Fernandes, 51, said: 'It's easy to move from place to place and we don't have to pay rent and all the other things.'

His daughter Anna, 17, is planning to move from Portugal to study law at the University of Bristol, said she will likely follow suit and live in a van if she's accepted. 'When I work I will have less bills to pay, so it's easy,' she told the Times.

Another man, a single lorry driver in his 30s who went by the name Adrian in one in a row of caravans living on The Downs - close affluent residential areas Clifton and Redland.

He said: 'I don't want to be living under the thumb of some landlord. I don't want to be part of six-month and 12-month tenancies and these crazy bidding wars where people put up three and six months of rent to secure a tenancy.'

Adrian made the move from Wales to Bristol as he had been told that the city was accepting of people who felt 'lost' and does not want to be 'restricted'. 

Luke, who works 70 hours a week as a fine dining chef, also made the move to live in a truck on the Downs last year.

While he could afford to live in a house he feels he 'doesn't need to' and believes there is a 'stigma' around his choice of lifestyle. 

He told the BBC: 'I always wanted to live in a truck but also circumstances [affected my choice] and the cost of living and rent in Bristol is insane. I don't want to pay a grand a month in rent ever again,'

According to a report by Bristol City Council, the number of vans has quadrupled since 2020, with only 100-150 people living in vans three years ago. 

Bristol has become the most expensive place to rent in the UK outside of London - with the average monthly rent costing £1.734. It came after the pandemic when people left the capital for cheaper and more rural alternatives. 

Residents living near the Downs in the leafy village of Clifton want to see 'tougher enforcement action' on those dwelling in vehicles, according to councillor Steve Smith.

 Previous complaints included blocked pavements, fires, littering, human waste, double parking and a rising number of vehicles. 

Deputy Mayor Asher Craig told the BBC that other locals wanted to 'find a happy medium because [they] respect the fact these people have nowhere else to live'.

She added: 'They just want to make sure that the park is not impeded, that they're not parked in an unsafe way.'

In May, van dwellers accused the council of trying to 'criminalise our lifestyle'.

Gareth Jones, 28, a clerical assistant who lives near Clifton Downs told MailOnline: 'It is concerning, not just for the lack of clarity in the wording of it. It is indicative of a drive to criminalise our lifestyle.

'I am generally concerned about an overly intrusive state apparatus and this makes you feel unwelcome. As soon as anyone raises a fuss, there tends to be a clamp down. I am surprised the locals are as okay as they are with us being here.'

The increase of those living in motorhomes and vans has not just affected the Downs but also the city's trendy suburb of Easton.

Caravans, transits and horseboxes have been popping up around the Greenbank Cemetry.

Dexter Shallcross, 24, a sociology student at the University of the West of England, has lived on the street in his yellow Mercedes Benz Sprinter since last September.

He said: 'There is clearly high-level prejudice in the council. They presume that rowdy behaviour, general drug use and disturbance must be the van people.

'I'm sure some cases are but not all of them. Although in some ways it's a bit scruffy and not ideal, getting rid of us doesn't stop addiction, it doesn't stop homelessness and it doesn't stop disturbances.'

As long as camper vans are taxed and have passed their MOTs there is little councils can do it remove them.

An injunction order to 'persons unknown' was previously placed on the vehicles warning that inhabitants face court, jail, fines or having assets seized if they do not comply. 

Bristol City Council have been contacted by MailOnline.