Tiny Houses – An Affordable Answer to Having Your Own Place?

How can I afford my own place to live? Will I ever have enough money to buy a home? How can I live a more eco-friendly life? How can I live a simpler life?

If you have ever asked yourself any of those questions, then there may be a trend that is sweeping America and Europe that could be just the answer you are looking for.

Tiny homes.

Not small homes, but tiny homes.

What’s the difference between a small house and a tiny house?

A small home is generally considered to be between 500 and 1,000 square feet, whilst a tiny home will typically be between 100 and 400 square feet in size.

Yes, tiny homes can be tiny.

Tiny living may not be for everyone, but over 8,000 tiny homes were sold in the UK last year and it is a trend that is set to continue as many more people come to discover the advantages of living in a tiny home.

From unique, trailer-based homes built to your exact requirements, to repurposed shipping containers, to log-type cabins, tiny homes seem to be a solution for many people seeking an affordable and eco-friendly home.

In this week’s home moving blog, we will look at these amazing homes in more detail and answer all your tiny home questions.

You may be interested to read: The Pros and Cons of Living in the Country. The vast majority of tiny homes are located in the countryside and if you are moving not just from a regular house but from the suburbs or city, then life will change dramatically. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of living in the countryside.

Who Typically Lives in a Tiny House?

You may imagine that tiny homes are predominately for young couples or singles, but according to research by www.homeadvisor.com, two out of every five tiny homeowners in the US are aged 50 or over, showing that many people choose a tiny home when looking to downsize as their family moves out or they are nearing retirement.

So who might consider living in a tiny home, why would someone want to live in a tiny house?

• You want to be mortgage-free
• You want to live a minimalist lifestyle
• You want an eco-friendly home and lifestyle
• You want a unique space to live in
• You want the ability or option to move your home

The tiny home movement has been big in the USA for many years and so we can see some interesting data that has been collated recently.

• 60% of tiny homeowners have no debt
• 78% of those who live in a tiny home have no mortgage
• 55% of tiny homeowners have more savings than the American average
• A tiny home uses 93% less energy than a traditional home
• Tiny homes emit 26,000 pounds fewer greenhouse gasses than a traditional home
• Living in a tiny home can reduce your ecological footprint by 45%

There are more benefits of tiny home living that we will look at in more depth later, but for many people, it is the financial freedom that owning a tiny house will give them that is so appealing.

With financial freedom comes less stress and a better quality of life.

You could obviously live in a caravan or motorhome, but they just do not have the charm or appeal of a handmade tiny home, nor do they have the storage capacity that many tiny homes have.

But just for comparison, let’s see the difference in cost between buying a caravan, a motorhome, and a tiny home, then you can compare that with how much it currently costs you to rent your home, or how much you pay in mortgage each month.

You may also be interested to read: How to Downsize for a Better Life. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of downsizing your home. We also offer some tips to make the transition to your smaller home easier and cheaper.

How Much Does a Tiny House in the UK Cost?

www.tinyhouseuk.co.uk is one of the leading suppliers and builders of tiny homes in the UK and their website quotes the following prices:

• Trailer bed £3,000-£4,000 (optional, but most people choose to build their tiny home on wheels)
• Self-assembly 12-foot-long kit home £6,500 (basic kit excluding fixtures and fittings)
• Turnkey tiny home £30,000-£55,000

www.camplify.co.uk quotes the following costs for a new and used static caravan:

• Used static caravans range from £5,000 to £50,000
• New static caravans range from £15,000 to £100,000

Looking through www.autotrader.co.uk there is a vast selection of campervans available.

• Used campers can be bought from just £2,000
• New campervans can range from £30,000 to £174,000

So financially, choosing to live in a tiny home can make a lot of sense.

Not only will the original outlay be far less than a conventional home, but the running costs will be significantly less too.

Then of course there is less to maintain, replace, or clean, which can offer significant savings over the years.

But saving money is not the only reason that so many people are considering this change of lifestyle.

You may also like to read: 10 Best Housing Options for Older Adults. You may be interested in living an alternative lifestyle and in this guide, we suggest some housing options that may suit you.

What are the Benefits of Living in a Tiny Home?

What is living in a tiny home really like? Are tiny homes worth it?

Judging by the huge amount of interest that the topic generates on the internet and the popularity of living in a tiny home in countries such as America, then the benefits of tiny home living far outweigh the downsides.

But here we list the pros and cons of living in a tiny home so that you can decide for yourself.

#1 Reduce your Carbon Footprint

Tiny homes are significantly cheaper to keep warm and use far less energy than a large home, so you will reduce your carbon footprint substantially.

#2 Eco-Friendly living

Many items can be upcycled or made from reclaimed materials and many tiny homes will have solar or wind turbines making them very eco-friendly.

#3 Healthier lifestyle

People who live in tiny homes tend to live a healthier and more outdoor-focused lifestyle. The reason for this is that you will have a disposable income so can go out more, your tiny home is more likely to located in the countryside for easy access to the great outdoors, and also that you will have the time to do more.

#4 Have more quality time

You will have a smaller home to keep clean and maintain, leaving you with fewer chores to do and more free time to spend doing quality things.

#5 Personalisation

You can build a home that suits your lifestyle and preferences. The home will be made to reflect your personality and fit your requirements exactly.

#6 Freedom

You have the freedom to move your home where your work is for instance.

No rent deposits to pay, no surveyors, moving fees, or relocation costs, if you move regularly this can save you an absolute fortune.

#7 Freedom to travel

Imagine you are downsizing after retiring and have kids at either end of the country.

You can just hook up your tiny home and travel to see them whenever you want. And you take the luxury and convenience of your own home with you.

No expensive hotels to worry about and you and your children’s family can have their own privacy whilst you visit.

#8 A simpler lifestyle

You will live a far simpler life with fewer possessions, every item you own will be multifunctional and necessary, your home will be less cluttered and you will lead a less stressful way of life.  

#9 Financial security

No matter what life throws at you, you will always have a roof over your head when you own a tiny home.

Redundancy or another financial crisis will not affect you as badly as when you have huge rent or mortgage costs to meet each month.

And being cheaper to run each month, you will have the opportunity to save money and have an emergency fund should you ever need it.

#10 Bonding

Living in a tiny home, in such close proximity to each other, you will have to be more tolerant of others, but it will also encourage more communication.

You will also do more things together, enjoying the countryside and spending quality time.

You may also like to read: Making a Small Home Work for You. In this guide, we look at why moving to a smaller home makes so much sense. We also offer some tips on organising and living in a smaller home and some tricks to make the best use of all the available space.

Your Health – One of the Major Reasons to Go Tiny

Why buy a tiny home?

One of the principal reasons to live in a tiny house, alongside the obvious financial benefits, is the health benefits that are associated with tiny living.

There have been a number of studies that back up the theory that tiny living has many health benefits, In 2017 Kansas State University started research into the health benefits of tiny living and the American Public Health Association released a paper on how a home affects a person’s wellbeing.

So how does living a minimalist lifestyle in a tiny house benefit your health?

Improved Mental Health

For many people, the worry of meeting their rent or mortgage payments often leads to depression.

Tiny homeowners tend to not have such pressures and can devote their mental energy to enjoying positive activities.

Damp and moldy homes have also been linked to poor mental health as cited in the report above, but as tiny homes are usually very energy efficient, they promote good mental health.

Leading an outdoor way of life is also believed to have a positive impact on your mental health, and tiny home dwellers tend to be people who want to embrace living outdoors and combine that into their everyday life.

Tiny home owners also tend to be proud of their homes, and like to share their enthusiasm with like-minded people.

This leads to a sense of community and well-being that is also beneficial to mental health.

You may also like to read: Can Moving Home Make You Happier? In this guide, we ask whether moving to a new home will make you happier or will you just be taking your stress and worries with you.

Improved Physical Health

Most tiny homes will be located in the countryside which promotes physical activity, and most tiny home owners also tend to be gardeners.

Tiny homes do not tend to have all the labour saving devices that a large modern home would have, so some tasks become more physical.

Tiny home owners also tend to care more about where their food comes from and prefer organic foods.

They spend less time cleaning and maintaining their homes, so therefore can devote more time to making meals from scratch which is also healthier.

Certain components of a traditional home are also known to cause respiratory problems, especially in children.

Things like old carpets are known to harbour dust and mites which can inflame asthma for example.

Tiny homes can be built with natural products, or toxin-free materials, far cheaper than a large home, so you can protect asthma sufferers for example whilst on a budget.

If you have a member of your family who is allergic to a certain material, you can specify the materials that your tiny home is made from, totally eliminating that allergenic from the sufferer’s home.

You may also be interested to read: What are the Health Benefits of Moving Home? Aside from the obvious health benefits we have already shared, there are numerous less obvious benefits. In this guide, we share what those benefits are and see what the health experts have to say on the subject.

What are the Disadvantages of Living in a Tiny House?

So far, going to live in a tiny house seems like an idyllic solution for many people.

But there must be downsides to living in a tiny home, so what are some of the reported tiny house problems?

Less Living Space

Obvious, yes, but there will be less space for everything.

So you may need to compromise on some things to fit the things that you really need.

But that can be a blessing too, you will choose your surroundings and possessions carefully and will only be surrounded by what you truly need and love.

There is also the problem of a lack of privacy and personal space.

For a couple, this would not be too much of an issue, but for teenagers, this could be a concern that you would need to think carefully about.

That said, you may find that living in such close proximity may make the family bond closer and will force you to communicate more, to work out your problems, rather than storming off to another room or the other end of the house.

You have to be Organised

When every inch counts, being very organised is essential.

Your tiny home will be designed with a place for everything to fit to maximise the available space, and you will need to ensure that everything is put back in its place.

It is very easy for small homes to look like a disaster area in no time at all.

Lack of Storage

Not for possessions, but just for those bulk buys where you usually save money at the supermarket.

Finding storage for 48 toilet rolls or an extra 20 tins of beans could be nearly impossible if you have not factored in enough storage space for your design.

Toilet Emptying

Not something you want to spend time thinking about when designing your idyllic home, but consider carefully what type of toilet you will install.

This will depend upon if you intend to be mobile, to hook up to a septic tank, or will have a composting toilet.

Also, consider how you will get and store water.

How Will You Tow Your Home?

One of the things about tiny homes that appeal to many people is having the freedom to move your home.

Living off-grid and a more sustainable lifestyle are also often cited advantages of tiny house living, but the flip side of that is that you will need a large vehicle to tow your home, which is less than eco-friendly.

Maintenance

One often cited disadvantage to living in a tiny home is that things wear out quickly because you use each item more frequently than you would in a large home.

The quality of your materials and workmanship when building your tiny home will have an impact on the wear and tear factor of your home but this is something to be aware of.

Can I Live in a Tiny House in the UK?

Is living in a tiny home in the UK legal?

Tiny homes are perfectly legal in the UK, but as you would expect things are never that clear-cut, and there are some laws that you need to be aware of.

In all cases, it may be prudent to speak to your local planning officer and confirm exactly what you plan to do and confirm what you are required to do legally.

Can I Live in a Tiny House on My Own Land?

• You can legally live in a tiny home on your own property
• You do not need planning permission for a tiny home in your own garden
• The tiny home however must not exceed 19.8m x 6.7m
• You cannot rent out the tiny home

Can You buy land and Put a Tiny House on it?

If your tiny home will be permanently sited on the land then you will need planning permission, just as you would a regular home.

Where Can I Put My Tiny Home?

You have several options for where you can legally site your tiny home in the UK.

• Tiny home villages. More and more of these villages are starting to spring up all over the country and you can find out more about these later in this guide.
• In your own garden
• On land that you have obtained planning permission for the tiny home
• On a caravan park
• On a home park / mobile home park
• On certain plots of land, such as a farm, for a 28-day period

Can I Tow my Tiny House in the UK?

If the tiny home is trailer-based it is classed as a caravan and therefore must be road-legal if you intend towing it, that is:

• Must not exceed 2.55m in width
• Must not exceed 7m in length
• The trailer must be braked with a secondary braking system such as breakaway wires or chains

You also need to ensure that you are legally entitled to tow a trailer with your car as the date of issue of your driving licence affects the towing group.

• Licences issued before 1^st January 1997 entitle you to tow a trailer up to 8250kg
• Licences issued after 1^st January 1997 entitle you to tow a trailer up to 3500kg

You can learn more about towing trailers at www.gov.uk

You may also like to read: Can’t Find a Place to Live? Have you Considered Intentional Living? Whilst on the subject of alternative living and living a cheaper, less stressful, and more eco-friendly life, you may be interested to read about intentional living communities.

Final Thoughts on Tiny Living in the UK

If you are undecided about whether going to live in a tiny home is the right thing for you, then you may want to consider staying in one for a holiday.

There are numerous places in the UK where you can rent a tiny home including www.tinyhomesholidays.com or www.airbnb.co.uk

Once you have decided that a tiny home is for you, and you are wondering what to do with all your possessions, don’t forget that your local removal company may be able to offer you storage facilities should you need somewhere to keep seasonal items, or family heirlooms for example, that you just cannot part with.

Storage is cheap and easy and offers you a flexible option for storing things that you do not need access to every day whilst living in your tiny home.

You may also like to read: How to Choose a Storage Unit. In this guide, we explain all you need to know about storage facilities and the questions to ask when choosing a storage unit.

Below you will find a list of websites that are dedicated to the tiny home community in the UK and will give you plenty of useful information and guidance about tiny home living.

Resources for People Thinking of Living in a Tiny Home

• www.tinyecohomesuk.com
• www.tinyhouseuk.co.uk
• www.tinyhousescotland.co.uk
• www.denhomes.co.uk
• www.tinyhousecommunitybristol.org
• www.tinyhousetalk.com
• www.buyland.org.uk

If you decide that tiny home living is for you, please let us know in the comments below, it would be really interesting to know all about your new life.

Be sure to visit our home moving blog which is packed with useful tips and guides to make your home over easier, cheaper, and less stressful.