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HOUSE THAT
Scroll down to find out whether having a tiny home is legal in the UK
- Olivia Stringer, Fabulous Digital Writer
A COUPLE have revealed that they are now rent and mortgage free, at just 30-years-old, after building their own tiny home.
Lexie and Jed had hardly any DIY experience when they embarked on their huge project, but still managed to create their dream off-grid home.
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The couple said that a lot of blood, sweat and tears went in to the project, but thanks to a basic five-week building course taken by Jed, they were able to finish it without any major hiccups.
Lexie first got the idea to build the tiny home after being inspired by content creators on YouTube.
"I love caravan holidays and it really fit into my desire to live sustainably and in a small space," she told Living Big in a Tiny House.
Jed then encouraged Lexie to build her own house, as he could see how passionate she was.
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The house took a total of one and a half years to build, and was completed just before Lexie's 30th birthday.
The tiny home is two and a half metres wide, eight metres long and 4.3 metres high, meaning that the couple can transport it on the back of a van if they want to relocate.
Lexie and Jed's house is almost entirely off-grid, and is powered by solar panels which they have attached to a nearby shipping container.
They collect rainwater in a barrel to use for washing, and have a compost toilet, which Jed passionately built themselves.
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As the couple live in sunny Australia, they are able to wash in an outdoor solar shower.
"It's a great way to have a shower with a view," Lexie said.
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Lexie and Jed have made the interior of their home incredibly colourful, which they say makes you feel uplifted as soon as you enter the house.
Their tiny home is situated on a friend's stunning farmland, so the couple have installed huge windows in the house, so that they can admire the views.
The couple added that they feel the huge windows help to make the space seem bigger than it actually is.
Lexie even works from home from the tiny cabin.
Tiny Homes FAQs
The tiny house movement began in the USA before gaining popularity in the UK.
What is a tiny home?
Tiny houses are small, fully-equipped living spaces designed to lead a more sustainable, off-grid lifestyle. Although they vary in size and shape, tiny homes tend to be between 15 and 50 square metres in capacity, made of sustainable materials and are easier — and cheaper — to maintain than traditional brick homes.
Are tiny homes legal in the UK?
As long as the tiny house doesn't exceed 19.8m x 6.7m in size, it is defined as a caravan in UK law. Therefore, tiny houses are classed as legal additional living space.
Can you get a mortgage for a tiny home?
The small size and relatively low cost of tiny houses means they’re not generally considered eligible for a mortgage. However, there are plenty of options to take out a loan to fund your dreams of the perfect, moveable home.
"There's nothing better when you're staring at a computer screen for a few hours than being able to look up and enjoy the view," she said.
Although their home is small, the couple have been able to squeeze in a full size oven, a fridge and a hob.
The couple love cooking, so this is the perfect set up for them, although they have had to get used to not having a dishwasher.
"There's something weirdly satisfying about cleaning the dishes," Jed said.
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"There's so much satisfaction in being able to look at every nook and cranny of the house and think 'we did that'", Jed said.
"It's really rewarding to be in the space."
