Logistics of living in a tiny house/ static caravan

[Deleted User]

Hi all,
I am a FTB in Scotland and, like many in my situation, buying a house just now seems less and less probable. I have been considering my options and looking into buying a less traditional house, such as a tiny house/ log cabin/ static caravan. I wondered if anyone has done this before? I am fairly minimalist and don't need a lot of space. I imagine I would have to purchase a small patch of land with planning permission for a dwelling/ electricity and water supply but do you have any other considerations? Any advice would be much appreciated to determine whether this is a viable alternative! Thank you.

user1977

How much cash do you have? Caravans aren't mortgageable, log cabins probably not, but (generally) conventional houses are even if "tiny". And plots with planning for residential use are probably priced on the assumption somebody will be building a conventional (and decent-sized) house.

[Deleted User]

user1977 said:

How much cash do you have? Caravans aren't mortgageable, log cabins probably not, but (generally) conventional houses are even if "tiny". And plots with planning for residential use are probably priced on the assumption somebody will be building a conventional (and decent-sized) house.

Thank you. Yes, you're right about plots for residential use, so the land I've seen tends to be pretty expensive. I technically have up to £50k cash to spend.

eddddy

One consideration is that caravans and log cabins will tend to reduce in value over time, as they get older. Most 'traditional' houses, flats etc will increase in value.

But if you own your own piece of land, that would usually increase in value over time.

There are lots of other considerations - like making sure that the caravan or cabin is suitable for winter use. Some might only be intended for summer use, and be unbearably cold in winter.

[Deleted User]

Deleted_User said:

Hi all,
I am a FTB in Scotland and, like many in my situation, buying a house just now seems less and less probable. I have been considering my options and looking into buying a less traditional house, such as a tiny house/ log cabin/ static caravan. I wondered if anyone has done this before? I am fairly minimalist and don't need a lot of space. I imagine I would have to purchase a small patch of land with planning permission for a dwelling/ electricity and water supply but do you have any other considerations? Any advice would be much appreciated to determine whether this is a viable alternative! Thank you.

If you have £50k in cash how can buying a home in Scotland be less and less probable? Unless you’re trying to buy in the New Town, which I don’t think you are based on a previous thread, surely you must be able to buy something other than a caravan. 

[Deleted User]

Lover_of_Lycra said:

Deleted_User said:

Hi all,
I am a FTB in Scotland and, like many in my situation, buying a house just now seems less and less probable. I have been considering my options and looking into buying a less traditional house, such as a tiny house/ log cabin/ static caravan. I wondered if anyone has done this before? I am fairly minimalist and don't need a lot of space. I imagine I would have to purchase a small patch of land with planning permission for a dwelling/ electricity and water supply but do you have any other considerations? Any advice would be much appreciated to determine whether this is a viable alternative! Thank you.

If you have £50k in cash how can buying a home in Scotland be less and less probable? Unless you’re trying to buy in the New Town, which I don’t think you are based on a previous thread, surely you must be able to buy something other than a caravan. 

Less probable due to the competition and lack of availability of the kind of house I am looking for (ideally small, detached, close to nature. Most of the houses I've seen are huge and very expensive). I also don't want a large mortgage. £50k in cash is an overestimate as I'd rather keep some in savings if possible. Given all of this, it seems a tiny house or log cabin is more what I'm looking for than what is currently available.

Grumpelstiltskin

Just Googled 1 bed house for sale Scotland and these come up.
Houses for Sale in Scotland - Buy Houses in Scotland - Zoopla

GDB2222

Do you like boats? There are some harbours in the UK where you can park your boat for nothing. This is not a complete list, but it's a starting point:

https://forums.ybw.com/index.php?threads/blakeney-britains-only-free-harbour.241870/

GDB2222

Deleted_User said:

Lover_of_Lycra said:

Deleted_User said:

Hi all,
I am a FTB in Scotland and, like many in my situation, buying a house just now seems less and less probable. I have been considering my options and looking into buying a less traditional house, such as a tiny house/ log cabin/ static caravan. I wondered if anyone has done this before? I am fairly minimalist and don't need a lot of space. I imagine I would have to purchase a small patch of land with planning permission for a dwelling/ electricity and water supply but do you have any other considerations? Any advice would be much appreciated to determine whether this is a viable alternative! Thank you.

If you have £50k in cash how can buying a home in Scotland be less and less probable? Unless you’re trying to buy in the New Town, which I don’t think you are based on a previous thread, surely you must be able to buy something other than a caravan. 

Less probable due to the competition and lack of availability of the kind of house I am looking for (ideally small, detached, close to nature. Most of the houses I've seen are huge and very expensive). I also don't want a large mortgage. £50k in cash is an overestimate as I'd rather keep some in savings if possible. Given all of this, it seems a tiny house or log cabin is more what I'm looking for than what is currently available.

Your best bet is probably to buy a couple of acres of woodland, then park a caravan in the middle. The worst that happens is that the local planning authority finds out about it and turfs you off the land. You'll still own the land and the caravan, so buy another small plot and start again.

As soon as you try to go legit, by buying land with planning permission, you are likely to find that the numbers don't stack up. 

[Deleted User]

GDB2222 said:

Do you like boats? There are some harbours in the UK where you can park your boat for nothing. This is not a complete list, but it's a starting point:

https://forums.ybw.com/index.php?threads/blakeney-britains-only-free-harbour.241870/

Yes, definitely a consideration, though I wouldn't know where to begin with moving it! Thank you for the link.

[Deleted User]

Deleted_User said:

Lover_of_Lycra said:

Deleted_User said:

Hi all,
I am a FTB in Scotland and, like many in my situation, buying a house just now seems less and less probable. I have been considering my options and looking into buying a less traditional house, such as a tiny house/ log cabin/ static caravan. I wondered if anyone has done this before? I am fairly minimalist and don't need a lot of space. I imagine I would have to purchase a small patch of land with planning permission for a dwelling/ electricity and water supply but do you have any other considerations? Any advice would be much appreciated to determine whether this is a viable alternative! Thank you.

If you have £50k in cash how can buying a home in Scotland be less and less probable? Unless you’re trying to buy in the New Town, which I don’t think you are based on a previous thread, surely you must be able to buy something other than a caravan. 

Less probable due to the competition and lack of availability of the kind of house I am looking for (ideally small, detached, close to nature. Most of the houses I've seen are huge and very expensive). I also don't want a large mortgage. £50k in cash is an overestimate as I'd rather keep some in savings if possible. Given all of this, it seems a tiny house or log cabin is more what I'm looking for than what is currently available.

So instead of a mortgage that would help you buy what you want you want to spend the cash you do have on a depreciating asset. What happens when you eventually need to replace the caravan or log cabin? A mortgage to buy a property will almost definitely be the less expensive option. 

I do know a couple of people who have lived in static caravans in Scotland. Only on a temporary basis though whilst renovating old buildings to live in. If you buy land factor in the cost, or find out if it’s even possible, to hook the caravan or log cabin up to water and electricity. Also winters are cold. 

Rather than a caravan or log cabin have you thought about buying land and doing a self build to get what you want? Something like this:

https://theweehousecompany.co.uk/modular-homes/two-bedroom-cottage-style/