It is a dream for more and more people: living in a tiny house. Lower housing costs, closer to nature and you contribute to the environment. But there are also quite a few practical hooks and eyes. What is involved before you can call yourself the owner of such a mini house?
Marjolein Jonker is a pioneer when it comes to small living. She herself has a palace of 24 square meters and she helps others who want to embark on a tiny house adventure. She tells you what to take into account if you want to make your dream of living smaller come true.
Living in nature is not that simple
“Living in nature, that’s not so easy in our country. We have to protect nature, that’s the policy. New houses are therefore mainly built on existing building areas. Municipalities and the province have to handle this very carefully, because if they give the green light to live in the countryside, then they also have to say yes to others. Or you have to have a very large bag of money, then it sometimes works out.”
Land is expensive and scarce
“Finding a piece of land for a mini house is not easy. Land is expensive and scarce, and we are dealing with a housing shortage. Municipalities have to compromise with that land. If lots are available, the question is, will a tiny house fit in? the zoning plan? In a neighborhood with large, luxurious houses, this is usually not the case. Moreover, it is a completely new form of living that some municipalities are still struggling with. Tiny houses sometimes still have the image of gypsy wagons, but it is in the right direction. There are now more than seventy locations in the Netherlands where you can build small.”
A place is often not for eternity
“Many places where tiny houses can be built are vacant lots where you can only stay temporarily. These houses often have wheels so that they can be moved. You are not allowed to take out a mortgage on such a movable house without land, which is something to consider. And if you have to move, then of course the question is where you end up. Most people prefer a place where they never have to leave.”
Rising construction costs, even if you build small
“Building has become considerably more expensive recently. And a tiny house, which was very affordable for many, has become less affordable as a result. Prices have risen by 30 to 50 percent in the past two years. “A 50,000 euros or more. And a permanent house, you can’t save that for less than a ton and that’s without the ground. Unless you build yourself, then it can be done for less.”
Good builders are in demand
“There is a nice list of tiny house builders, but good builders are in demand. Then you have to take into account a waiting list of a year. Sometimes a project falls out. Then your turn is faster.”
Be proactive
“You don’t just get your own place, no matter how small. You have to get there early, because there are a lot of people looking. Be proactive, but that also applies if you are going to build an ‘ordinary’ house yourself. Even then you have to make decisions about the kitchen and the bathroom. A tiny house is certainly feasible, but you really have to want it and you have to do something for it.”