Niels van Wensen has been living in his van in Manchester for about six weeks.

30-year-old Niels moved into the van with his two dogs, Tiggy and Pippin, after his landlord in Stretford asked him to move on.

The Dutchman, who moved to Manchester in December 2017, is one of a growing number of people who have embraced 'van life' - as an alternative to the frustrations of landlords and letting agents, stagnating wages and rising house prices.

(Image: Niels van Wensen)

Behind the driver's seat, his Ford Transit is kitted out with bedding, a stove, a sink, a toilet and soft furnishings.

Night after night, he pitches up on industrial estates and quiet residential streets in the city, or lay-bys and beauty spots when he travels outside of Manchester.

"At the end of last year I had considered getting a van, but more as an option rather than a firm decision - I thought it would be nice just to have a van and drive around", Niels said.

"But then I got a phone call from my landlord saying that they wanted to move back into the house, meaning I was evicted.

"I viewed some houses and flats, but none of them would take me with my two dogs so I decided to buy a van to live in."

Niels says he was initially going to buy an empty van and do it up himself, but as the date to eviction neared he realised it was too big a task.

So he bought a van that had already been converted from a couple who had used it for seven months to travel around Europe and had a toilet installed.

To supply running water, he uses a 105 litre tank of water, which he can fill up at a friend's house and lasts him about two to three weeks.

He sometimes washes using water heated on a pan on his stove, but prefers to shower at work to save water.

Sandwiches are a staple of his diet, as he can only cook basic meals on his two burner gas hob, or heat hot meals at work.

The dogs provide an added element of security to his van - as well as warmth and companionship.

He said: "The first night I was adamant that Tiggy and Pippin would not sleep on the bed, but I then woke up in the morning with both of them on me.

"They keep me warm, but it does mean I have to wash my bedding at least once a week.

"The dogs do add to safety. I think there is only one time that I felt unsafe, which was when I woke up to some noise, but it was just people passing by.

"I am a tall person with two dogs, so if it did happen I think anyone who broke in would be shocked to see a tall man with two dogs rather than some tools."

Though Niels' family were initially unimpressed, they've come to realise he finds 'van life' liberating.

(Image: Niels van Wensen)

"My family haven't seen it as they all live in Holland, I think my sister and my dad thought I was a bit mad, but my mum thought maybe it was something that fit with my personality.

"The van is my freedom. Before I was living in a house and I couldn't afford a car, and I couldn't go anywhere but Manchester.

"Now with the van, this week I am planning to go to the Peak District and maybe make a trip to the mainland later this year," he added.

Financially, the van is by far cheaper than what he was spending on rent in city centre Manchester.

"I was spending most of my wages on rent, around £1600 a month. Now, the expenses are around £500 including food and I have much more spare income now.

(Image: Niels van Wensen)

"This morning was a bit chilly when I woke up - it was one degree, but you get physically used to it - it's insulated well enough and it stays warm with the dogs."

Compared to Niels, 28-year-old Tim Dobson is a van-life veteran.

Born in Glossop, he has lived in Manchester since he was 18 and works in the technology sector.

For the past three-and-a-half years he has been living in a converted van - largely staying put around Manchester but moving around the UK at the weekends.

He was inspired by a friend who lived in his van while at university in Manchester, and by his grandparents, who spent their younger years living in a converted double decker bus - which his mother spent the first few years of her life in.

As he spoke to the M.E.N. he was lounging on his bed, doing work on his laptop, while parked in a large car park near the Manchester Arena.

(Image: Tim Dobson)

Before moving into his van, Tim lived in a comfortable and relatively inexpensive house share in Manchester.

He said: "I was living in a shared house and that lease was coming to an end.

"I was thinking I would like to go travelling.

"I read about this guy who quit his job, converted a van and travelled around Europe.

"I wondered whether I could do that, and convert a van without quitting my job and without travelling as far as Europe.

(Image: Tim Dobson)

"I had no idea how that would work. I had never lived in a van before and I had no experience - I had never even owned a car before so it was all a big question mark."

Tim moved into his van permanently on 1st June 2015.

One of the first major hurdles he encountered was heating the van.

(Image: Tim Dobson)

"Heating was one of the things that turned out to be much more important than I thought, it sounds stupid saying that now though," he said.

"For example, at the time in May when I was moving I did not think heating would be a big issue - it was only a small space and if you had enough insulation and layers it would be fine.

"During the winter in a house it doesn't drop much below 14 degrees - but it really does in a van.

"I now have a gas heater and now often my van is warmer than my girlfriend's house."

During the week, Tim mainly stays around Manchester which he considers to be his home.

But at the weekends he ventures further afield and the van gives him the opportunity to pursue his passions, like kayaking and rock climbing.

(Image: Tim Dobson)

"My preference for parking is towards places which are away from anyone else, so I go to areas like industrial areas or areas that are under development - anywhere where it won't bother people.

"At the moment I work fairly remotely, I can choose to work wherever I want."

"When I first moved in, I thought that I would be constantly travelling around the UK and not returning to the same place," he added.

"After a while I just acknowledged that I was very happy living in the van but I really wanted to live in Manchester.

"My friends are here, my business is here and my life is in Manchester.

"My ideal life is to spend most of the week in Manchester and then the weekend not in Manchester. This year so far I think I've spent only one weekend in Manchester."

(Image: Tim Dobson)

Though the van is fitted with most of the thing he needs, Tim chose not to have a toilet inside and does all of his cooking on two gas hobs.

He parks near places where he can use the toilets and shower, like sports centres, supermarkets or offices.

"The thing I miss most about living in a house is an oven - I miss making lasagne. You can get ovens for vans but there is always a trade off between expense and convenience," he said.

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"But I have been able to turn this into an advantage. I have offered to come round to my friends houses and cook for them, which they find a bit jarring at first, but they absolutely love it.

"You get to be a great friend, they get to eat great food, and you get to do the cooking and be with friends."

Though for him it works out cheaper than living in a shared house and having a car, Tim spends a significant amount on petrol each month.

(Image: Tim Dobson)

"Living in a van is not something I was pushed to do. I could stop it tomorrow. I do it because I enjoy doing it," he said.

"What I am doing now is cheaper than living in a shared house and having a car, but probably is not cheaper than living in a house without a car.

"But I have control over my house and my life here. I can spend up to £400 a month on petrol which is controllable.

"What I am trying to say is it's not that cheap, but we do have some control - if you travel less it will cost less."

(Image: Tim Dobson)

As for the future, both Niels and Tim are uncertain whether 'van life' is for them in the long term.

Niels eventually wants to own somewhere - whether it be a small house or even a bit of land to park his van on.

"I think it is short term but it is also long term", Niels said. "It's short term, in that I would like to buy a small house or cottage, but I would also maybe like to buy some land some where and park the van and live on the land," he added.

Tim thinks he will eventually move into a house, but will keep what he is doing as long as he finds it enjoyable.

He is in a financial position to afford a mortgage, he says, but doesn't see any point giving up the van at the moment.

"I think I will stop eventually but I will keep living in it whilst it seems like a fun idea", he told the M.E.N. "Right now, it is fun, and I do not see any reason to stop. But when the moment seems right I will settle down."