Anders Fernstedt, a man from Sweden who has fallen into homelessness due to life's hardships, has been living at the entrance of a very expensive building in Knightsbridge, London, for over three years. This building, located just a few steps from Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park, was sold in 2020 for £210 million to Hui Ka Yan, the founder of the Evergrande Group in China. However, Hui has never moved into this house, and now the property is in an uncertain state.
Living at the Entrance of the Building
Anders, as a homeless person, has used the entrance of this building as his home. He has never gone inside the property and has gradually made a home for himself at its entrance, where the large columns protect 45 rooms, an indoor pool, and 116 windows. He sleeps under the entrance's roof and a large umbrella, where he has placed his mattress and bedding.
He says about this: "I never worried for a long time that I would lose everything. Since I've been here for a long time, I'm no longer worried, and if we worry too much, we won't be happy."
Relationships with the Locals
Fernstedt has established good relationships with local bakeries, cafes, and florists, receiving food, flowers, and electricity from them. He also benefits from a local charity for shower use, clothing assistance, and socializing. He has become recognized as an accepted part of one of London's wealthiest neighborhoods.
He talks about the locals' reception: "Sometimes they introduce themselves and ask if I need anything. And my answer is: 'Well, as you just gave me, a little normal time, right? And neighborhood conversation.'"
Although some locals object to his presence, many others have concluded that his presence can help prevent theft and vandalism in this house. According to the charity 'Crisis,' there are over 200,000 homeless people in London, and the number of homeless in the city increased to 4,392 during the spring and summer of last year.
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