All things tiny.
What happened at the WA tiny house expo
Tiny House Builds
Two Options use a reputable builder or be an owner builder with a builder mentor. Generally a mentor will help you to organise trades in the right order eg: framing, electrical, openings etc. They can refer reputable trades.
Building on wheels- ensure your trailer is built to road specifications, ensure lugs are welded to chassis to attach framing. Living in the tropics consider cyclone strategys eg: ground fasteners.
Building on skids - ensure its built to fit onto your transport whatever that maybe eg: flatbed loader. Ensure its built to road safety width and height. Living in tropics consider cyclone codes.
Trailer ball size, according to the weight of the tiny. Your trailer manufacturer will use the correct ball size. You need to know that some bigger 90mm balls can only be towed by big tractors or tow trucks.
Tiny living as a host
Generally hosts and renters need to be disposed to honesty, sharing and goodwill. As a host a list of basic boundaries do’s and dont’s is good practice. If erring on the side of insecurity, use contracts these are binding. Always create exit strategy if things dont work out.
Engage in Mutual trust agreement—created together by both parties—to ensure everyone feels secure. If trust is broken, agreed-upon actions should already be in place from the start.
Tiny living as a renter
Generally renters and hosts need to be disposed to honesty, sharing and goodwill. Always have plan b up your sleeve hosts may sell up, Engage in a Mutual trust agreement—created together by both parties—to ensure everyone feels secure. If trust is broken, agreed-upon actions should already be in place from the start.
In comings and goings always err on the side of consideration for your hosts. This way tiny living will keep its golden reputation. Consider the same respect as house sitting : Eg pet sitting, air bnb and its review system.
Composting and waste
Commercial compost toilets: Generally still smell, are problematic because they do not separate liquid from manure . This is the key to a perfect ecological break down of human waste, consider animal waste processes.
Sustainable compost loo. The only process that works perfectly, Its essential to separate liquid from manure. I lived with this process for four years and it worked like magic. It is somewhat labour intensive but its worth it and sustainable. It is better than living with a $1000 smelly system. Contact me for plans and process.
Councils and laws
All councils have laws re: extra dwellings on property’s. In NSW you can live in a tiny if you don’t have a second DA on your property and they are family or farm workers. In Esperence in WA it is completely legal ensuring compost and grey water are responsibly processed. On the Sunshine coast you can live upto 4 weeks. To stay longer, you must apply for a temporary home permit (often called a “Healthy Places” application), which can allow up to 18 months. After the floods in Nth NSW no time frame, largely ignored (half the population would be evicted). Considering making it safe and legal would be afew lines on new document its outrageous that councils have not addressed this perfect answer to this heinous housing crisis.
Electricity
Off the grid you will pay upto 20 K to rig up a system that will handle an aircon. I think tinys need aircons as they can get especially hot box ish in the tropics. Although with the right insulation and airflow design they can cool down just as quick.
ON the grid I prefer hooking up 240 power like caravans. Tinys use hardly any power inc an aircon. My power was $350 annually. Install a new power point line to the hosts garage or shed. Attach this to a meter which is half the size of mobile phone and connects to the new line out . The line out being a power socket that you plug your tiny power into. It displays your power usage, its the best gadget and option. Cost $500 to install by an electrician, which can be paid for by renters.
A Brilliant option !
Grey Water
Grey water fed into a sunken banana patch away from dwellings is ideal. Bananas grow fast, start with one. Push it through a grease trap if you are big on grease food. Best practice in the tropics is cook meat outside it stinks up the tiny anyways.
Water
I fed water into the tiny from a header tank, worked perfectly or pay for pressurized water or set up some tanks from tiny roof. As my roof was sloping I caught the water via a gutter at the low end. Too easy, all common-sense.
Air-conditioning
On grid Air conditioning split system is very efficient to run. They can be located on the ground next to tiny and unhooked when relocating. Ensure you build windows at least both ends of tiny for flow and one for hot air to escape at the highest point. It works wonderfully. Do not install too many windows in your tiny. Leave one long wall windowless except for the highest escape window. This also gives and option for a one side of privacy. One or two substantial windows lets in loads of light.
Gas Piping
If you are using gas hot water ensure all piping is out the back of the tiny not on the sides. Building for road specify nothing is to be protruding further than 2.4m either side of your tiny.
Contracts
Official contracts are available if needed. You can also use a mutual trust agreement—created together by both parties—to ensure everyone feels secure. If trust is broken, agreed-upon actions should already be in place from the start.
Financial Gain its a NO BRAINER
Hosters
For example @ $200 wk you will be up $10400 annually . This will cover rates, insurance and fuel.
Renters Generally for singles or couples, low rent, saving for own home power, share skills, companionship for whatever reason.
Exchanges
The world is your oyster here. Make it a consideration its not always about money. Its about community, sharing, collaboration, what you can do to be helpful or share?
Trail Periods
Don’t really settle in, until both parties are happy eg: start with trial periods, one month, stretch to three months. Saves alot of grief later on.
Include this trial period in your contract which is binding. Tiny renters should always have a plan B as they dont own the land, anything could happen eg: hosts selling up.
Under the radar
As much as you agree or not this is how most tiny living is done. Out of site of neighbours (the complainers). You would not be in this situation if laws were made for people. What will you choose tiny living in dignity or live in the back of your van. I know what I chose. Show me a council policy that states neighbours have the right to complain expecting action. Both parties need to rigorously use best practice processes to compost human manure, grey water and use fire precautions. eg: Keep the underside of your TH clear of debri. Sprinklers are super easy to install over tinys.
Rent prices
Generally Rent prices depend on the location eg: around Byron Bay you could shamefully ask upto $450 wk. Rural areas $150 - 200wk ish not including power/water.
Trailer Maintenance
If your not mechanically savvy be aware that trailers need maintenance. Especially grease the wheel hubs twice ayear. tyres should be removed or covered as they deteriorate in the sun. Brake wiring should be checked , rattis rattis loves to mess with wiring, ensure wiring is hidden from this creature.