A YOUNG Londoner has revealed how he ditched paying sky-high rent to live full-time in a van – right in the heart of the capital.
Lewis, who works full-time in the city, says swapping his cramped £1,000-a-month houseshare for a home on wheels has saved him a fortune, even if it means doing his in a compost toilet.
Lewis is working and living from his van to save up for a flat
The van lifestyle includes using a unique compost toilet box
Sharing his unconventional lifestyle on , known to fans as @lewis.ldn.vanlife , he’s shown followers how he’s managed to live rent-free, bill-free and council tax-free in central .
By day, Lewis works from his laptop inside the tiny van, surrounded by the buzz of city life.
He brews a , opens his work emails and takes in – which, in London, often means piles of bin bags and the odd dumped mattress.
He told followers how he began living in a van to save to buy a flat.
Lewis said: “It had been going quite well when I got up to about 7k, but then introduced for – which now puts my total deposit at minus £2,000.”
He added: “Nothing says we live in a functioning society like having a decent paying job where the monthly paycheck only covers you staying alive long enough to work until the one comes in.”
Living rent free
Despite the challenges, Lewis says van life is still a better deal than London’s brutal rental market.
Essential Living reports that one-bedroom flats in central London (Zones 1-2) average between £2,121 and £2,252 per month.
By living in a van, Lewis doesn’t pay any rent, or .
He claims after paying his tax, national , student loans and pension, he pockets a quarter of his wage for the rest of the month.
Where’s the loo?
But while the freedom of living off-grid has its perks, there are some not-so-glamorous downsides, mainly the lack of a conventional toilet.
Explaining how he manages the basics, Lewis says his morning loo routine depends on where he’s parked.
“I pray I’ve parked up next to either a 24-hour gym or a McDonald’s, otherwise, it’s a quick trip to the bush to do something deplorable.”
Most gyms offer toilet and shower facilities, so can be useful if you’re living in a van.
When nature calls and he’s stuck in the van, there’s always the “emergency box”, which is a portable compost toilet he keeps in his van.
Lewis also mentioned he works from an office two days a week and so is able to use the toilet facilities during his time at work.
Public reaction
Lewis has racked up over 51,000 TikTok followers, but his lifestyle has users divided.
Some praised his creativity and courage.
One fan wrote: “You got this, keep going!”
Another said: “Wow Lewis, love it.”
But others couldn’t imagine swapping a proper home for a van in the capital.
“Why stay in London?” one user asked.
They added: “If I had a van I’d be outta that city and into the countryside.”
Still, for Lewis, the trade-off is worth it.
He told followers that the difficult parts of van-living, such as not always having access to a proper toilet, are a small price to pay for the freedom of living “off-grid”.
Is it legal to live in a van?
IF you are looking to live in a van to save money or travel, you’ll be pleased to know that there are no UK laws stopping you.
However, you must ensure your vehicle has passed its MOT and is fully road legal.
There could also be restrictions on where you can park up to sleep in your van.
For example, local authorities place restrictions on certain streets or lay-bys, and you could be fined if you spend the night there.
It could also be unsafe to stop in certain locations, particularly at night-time.
Check the The Highway Code guide for guidance.
