Mobile home on my garden

jcee19

Hi, I have elderly parents that can no longer live alone. I have had the thought of building a self contained log home on my garden . Can anyone offer me help and advice on whether this would be possible and how I need to go about it.
Thanks
Jcee

iampetesmith

I assume your own your house and the land it sits on rather than renting it. You can buy one and either build it yourself or get one built for you. However as it will be a habitable room it will need power, lighting, heating, plumbing, insulation, sanitation etc. which will need to be done by the relevant professionals and signed off by building regulations. You'll also need planning permission before you start, I'm sure there will be more replies soon with a bit more detail.

spadoosh

You can have structures in your garden that do not need planning permission. THis falls under permitted development. 

The issue arises as soon as you want to allow someone to reside in the structure. You will need planning permission, getting it in your back garden will be subjective to local planning rules. I think youd find it easier going with an extension as opposed to a completely detached building, you will still need planning permission with that though. 

Other option is to look at moving with something along the lines that your after already in place.

DCFC79

Well first off you should find out if its possible to have 1 in the garden and if there's any restrictions eg size it can be.

Once you have that answer you can then decide which route to take.

knightstyle

I believe it is easier to get permission for what you want to do if the new building is placed as an extension of the existing dwelling and not a separate dwelling away from it.

davidmcn

Check for title covenants which may be relevant. If house is mortgaged, may need consent from the lender too.

thearchitect

Depending upon which home nation you are in, permitted development rights may exist for he installation of certain modestly-sized ancilliary structures for the benefit and enjoyment of residents however planning will be alert to what might be construed as development (i.e. an additional residential unit) hence this might not be straightforward.  As, as David says, there may be issues around title covenants and lender requirements.

xylophone

Do you have room for an extension to your home?
Do your parents currently own their own home or are they renting?
If elderly and frail, is there any possibility of very sheltered housing within a Local Authority scheme?

Skiddaw1

It can work. When I was a child my grandparents lived in a static caravan in my parent's (large) garden. Caravan drainage fed into mutual septic tank. Garden was big enough for grandparents to have a wee garden of their own. They lived in the caravan with support from my parents until they died. It was a very happy arrangement. It's going back a lot of years however and I have no idea what PP, etc, you'd require for such an arrangement these days.

diggingdude

I never understand why old people want to see out their days in a caravan type structure rather than a warm property

Skiddaw1

It was surprisingly cosy @diggingdude . I spent most of my time with them when I was wee. I never remember it being chilly even in the middle of winter (though the windows used to steam up some!) I think the issue was that they wanted their privacy and there wasn't the money to build a proper granny annex for them. Worked for our family anyway, though I know what you mean. Not sure I'd want a similar arrangement.