Green Living

What you should consider if you want to live in a tiny house

Small homes continue to grow in popularity as housing and land costs rise. We look at some helpful pros and cons for you to consider before going small

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What you should consider if you want to live in a tiny house

The ‘tiny house’ movement is based around semi-mobile homes built on trailers, with a floor area of 46 square metres or less. While some people build their own tiny homes, it can be a lengthy process, and most prefer to enlist an expert.

Love Shack, based in Whangarei, offers three styles of tiny home. Director Marcel Syron says they are a “great small-home option if you want to have a garden and a sense of community”. His customers range from young first-home buyers to retirees.

Pros:

  • Homes are semi-permanent so can be moved to another section if required
  • The smallest models, 10 square metres or under, do not need consent as they are classed as a vehicle
  • Less maintenance, savings on bills and insurance
  • Can be placed on any section
  • Affordable
  • Sustainable (small footprint).

Cons:

  • May be too small for some people, particularly families
  • Lack of storage and multiple rooms
  • Hard to have alone-time indoors
  • You may want something more permanently fixed to a site.

Considerations:

Waste disposal, site and access requirements.

Budget:

A Love Shack tiny home will cost between $35K and $120K-plus. Costs may be less if you build your own, but you will need to allow for your own labour costs.

Links:

love-shack.co.nz   tinysimply.com   tinytimberhomes.co.nz

Words by: Fiona Ralph. Photography by: Fiona Ralph.

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