WATCH: This woman transformed a truck into a tiny home
Tiny homes are having a moment. From genius house on wheels inventions to small-space minimalistic homes, tiny homes are being heralded as an affordable alternative to purchasing property in Australia’s intimidating housing market.
However, being that many tiny homes are classed a caravans – it’s not as easy as buying a tiny home and parking it on a block of land. Laws and regulations around where a caravan can be parked, and if it can be lived in full time, vary wildly from state to state, and even from council to council. So, where can you put your tiny home?
We asked Adrian Chia, founder of Big Tiny, for his advice.
Where can I put my tiny home?
Adrian says the tiny house movement is just now gaining traction in Australia, and the current planning and building regulation for Tiny House on Wheels (THOWs) hasn’t adapted to the trend and varies significantly from state to state and council to council. A Tiny House on Wheels (THOWs) is generally regarded as a moveable dwelling i.e. a caravan.
“Caravans are not regulated under the planning system and do not require a building permit. However, every local council will have their own regulation and by-laws on how they regulate moveable dwellings,” says Adrian.
“In some councils, there are time limits, ranging from a couple of weeks to a few months. It’s relatively difficult to navigate, as it is still a very new industry in Australia, and we will need to give our authorities some time to adjust and amend the planning regulations to accommodate Tiny Houses on Wheels as a clear legitimate, long term or secure residential housing option to live full time.”
Why do people buy tiny homes?
“Currently, 90% of our buyers have purchased tiny homes for short-term tourist accommodation. However, we do see a growing trend of Australians renting tiny houses from us as a residential housing options. Big Tiny is one of the few companies in Australia that offers longer term rental (6 months and above) of tiny houses. We have a portfolio of more than 50 tiny houses in Victoria and New South Wales and this provides a good opportunity for prospective buyers to rent and stay in a tiny house as a trial period and determine if they are ready to stay in one permanently.”
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