Juan Pablo, better known as Juampy, has turned a discarded city bus into a functional home on a rural property near Madrid. He bought it from a scrapyard for just over €1,200, then spent more than a year renovating it and securing approval for the vehicle. He describes the conversion as legally approved, though a vehicle’s technical or inspection approval is distinct from permission to use a particular rural plot as a permanent residence.
Juampy was no stranger to this type of bus: he once drove the same model on the 514 line between Alcorcón and Príncipe Pío. When he found a similar vehicle in Galicia, he brought it to Madrid and began the change. The work went well beyond removing seats. He installed a kitchen and bathroom, then fitted the bus with a bedroom, storage and energy systems, while retaining features from its public-transport past. He says the approval process took more than a year. It required technical documentation and workshop certificates before the final inspection.
Energy Independence
Living off-grid, Juampy relies on solar panels and batteries to power lighting and low-consumption devices. He cooks with gas because an electric stove would quickly drain the batteries, particularly at night. In winter, he relies on propane, which he chose for its performance in freezing temperatures, and burns firewood collected from the surrounding land in a wood stove. He says this arrangement leaves him without electricity or water bills. Beyond vehicle insurance and food, he says, upkeep is minimal.
Spain’s vehicle-inspection structure, set out in Real Decreto 920/2017, governs the ITV system and distinguishes vehicle classifications, including category M motorhomes and category N vehicles such as camperized vans. Passing an inspection or securing approval for modifications addresses a vehicle’s technical and roadworthiness status. It does not, by itself, authorize permanent residential use of the land where the vehicle is parked. In the Community of Madrid, land-use decisions also depend on regional planning law and municipal rules; the classification of the specific plot matters too.
Traffic rules also distinguish parking from camping. Under criteria summarized by La Opinión de Murcia, a vehicle may count as correctly parked rather than camped when it stays within its footprint, rests on its wheels and does not discharge fluids outside. Those criteria concern how the vehicle is positioned and used. They do not replace planning permission for a fixed home on rural land. The conversion’s status and the way the bus is installed are separate from the permitted use of the property.
Functional Interior
The bus’s interior blends practicality with personal history. Juampy repainted the kitchen, inherited from his grandmother and nearly 60 years old, white to make the space feel brighter. He added a sink and appliances, built in storage and installed a full bathroom. He recommends an oval shower tray to prevent dirt from collecting in corners. A curtain separates the bedroom and helps conserve heat or cool air at night. Each item has a practical purpose in the limited space.
Managing energy matters when the bus is not connected to the grid. Juampy uses an integrated battery system and says authorities distinguish between batteries fixed in place and portable units carried as cargo. How the equipment is installed can affect vehicle approval and the way the bus is treated under parking rules.
Rural Life and Work
Originally parked in an industrial area of Fuenlabrada, the bus now sits on a 10,000-square-meter plot in the Madrid mountains. Sheep graze there; Juampy also keeps chickens and turkeys and tends a small vegetable garden. The bus doubles as his workspace, where he makes videos and streams live broadcasts. He says his income is modest, but low living costs allow him to maintain this lifestyle.
Living on rural land involves more than the condition of the vehicle. Spanish planning guidance says the land’s classification matters, as do local rules on residential use. Authorities may also consider how the structure is connected to or used on the plot. In Madrid, the relevant authority is the municipality where the property is located; regional law may apply alongside local licensing procedures. Approval of a vehicle conversion so does not grant blanket permission to establish a permanent home on any rural parcel.
Reflecting on his decision, Juampy says, “It’s not about how much money you have, but how much time you have to enjoy it.” He also notes that the purchase price excludes renovation, approval and ongoing maintenance costs. His experience is a personal choice, not a universal blueprint for living cheaply on wheels.
Spain’s rules for vehicle conversions require technical work and an official inspection, while land-use requirements are determined separately. Juampy’s setup shows how solar power and batteries, gas for cooking, and wood for heat can reduce household utility costs. Off-grid living still requires practical upkeep and compliance with the rules governing both the vehicle and the land it occupies.
