I turned a London bus into a 'beautiful' two-bedroom apartment - this is why I'm selling it for a bargain price
A DIY expert has transformed a red London bus into a 'beautiful' two-bedroom apartment - and it's up for sale for less than £50k.
Dan Atkins, 45, from Sunbury-on-Thames, founded Buses4Homeless in 2020 after he discovered that one of his friends had become homeless and was sleeping in a coach's luggage compartment.
He wanted to help those in similar situations and so started transforming a selection of London's red double-deckers into homeless shelters, which provide spaces to sleep, cook, eat, relax, and search for jobs.
Dan, a father-of-one, then took on a new challenge - and has converted a double-decker into a two-bedroom family home.
The 1998 diesel bus features a master bedroom, a kids' bunkbed room, a designer kitchen, a luxury bathroom, and a stylish living area.
It also boasts a 32-inch smart TV, a breakfast bar, and an engine bay converted into a large, lit storage space.
Dan said he believes it's 'one of the most beautiful buses that has ever been renovated' and as a result is selling it for just shy of £50,000.
All the money will go towards his charity - so he can help more people escape homelessness.
Dan said that the engine was professionally removed, making it a fully static build – ideal for permanent placement in a holiday park, private land, or glamping site.
He thinks it could be a unique family retreat, a stylish home office setup - or even the ultimate Airbnb.
He said: 'It's definitely a step up from what we've built in the past. I think it's one of the most beautiful buses that's ever been renovated.
'Our buses usually house around eight to 12 people and function as homeless shelters.
'But with this one - we've made it into what is essentially a two-bedroom apartment and [we] are looking to sell it to raise money for our charity, which was once Buses4Homeless but is now Solutions4Living.
'That way, we can support even more people.' Dan continued: 'It's amazing what you can do once you've stripped the inside out. Now, I look around it and everything is stunning.
'It was wonderful showing the bus to my little boy Rocco. He loved it - and didn't want to leave when we had to go home. I think it will be a hit with kids.'
Dan started his charity when he found out that his friend was sleeping in the luggage compartment of a coach.
The renovation, which Dan hopes will raise money for charity, also comes with a stylish living area
He said: 'We went out that day and bought him a bus and converted it into a home. That's where the ethos began.'
Since then, Dan has converted several more buses into homeless shelters - and helped various people escape homelessness.
He said: 'An important part of what we do is that we hire people who are homeless - or often people who have just left prison - to help us convert these buses.
'This latest bus has taken us over six months and one of the people who has been critical to the project is Roy Nagle, who recently got out of prison.'
Discussing Roy's impact on the project, Dan said, 'He has just been incredible. I can't make that clear enough.
'Seeing what this kind of thing does for people is amazing. It really does change lives. It just makes my heart sing.'
Dan, who lives with his wife Tatiana, 43, and son Rocco, one, said there has already been a lot of interest in the bus.
He said: 'We've had a lot of interest from buyers already. There have been a couple offers too - but nothing we've accepted yet.
The bus is up for sale on eBay for less than £50,000- and Dan said it's already received plenty of interest
Over 900 people had viewed details of the renovated bus on eBay in the past 24 hours of writing
'We've also had people seeing the bus and commissioning us to do buses for other projects - so that's great too.
'We just want to find the right buyer for this bus so we can sell it for the right price and keep helping people as best we can.'
The converted bus is currently on sale on eBay for £49,995. It's proven to be a hit on the site, with over 900 people viewing the bus in the last 24 hours of writing.
The description reads, 'This is not just a bus – it's a luxury living experience like no other.
'Lovingly crafted into a stunning two-bedroom home, this double decker bus is now a high-end static dwelling, offering unbeatable charm and comfort.
'Whether you're looking for a unique family retreat, a stylish home office setup, or the ultimate Airbnb or short-let business opportunity, this iconic build delivers on every front.'
'From top to bottom, every inch of this bus has been meticulously designed and finished to a luxury standard.
'It's more than just a home – it's a unique destination with incredible earning potential as a turnkey Airbnb or short-let business.'
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