Motorhome owner: 'I don't pay mortgage, water or electricity and live in 12m²'

José Antonio Núñez, a 29-year-old civil servant, converted a truck into a 12 sq m home, avoiding mortgage, water and electricity costs. Initial costs from €30,000, monthly expenses €800–1,500.

High rental prices are forcing some people in Spain to move into motorhomes. One such resident invested 30,000 euros in a seven-meter motorhome, abandoning a rented apartment due to fatigue from roommates and unstable employment. Industry professionals warn that motorhomes are neither the cause nor the solution to the country's housing crisis.

José Antonio, a civil servant from Cádiz earning 1,300 euros a month, gave up his apartment and moved into a fully equipped Volkswagen T5 camper van. He pays no mortgage, water, or electricity bills, and his goal is to save for a Mercedes Sprinter and become a digital nomad. The van includes a bed, kitchen with sink and stove, refrigerator, dry toilet, and a solar panel. The conversion cost 25,180 euros.