I got tired of paying the rent so I made a shed in my house – my bills are £240 a month

A WOMAN has revealed she converted a barn into her home to give her and her daughter financial freedom.

The mother known only as @happy.homestead online revealed that her expenses are now just £240 a month, including electricity, water and internet.

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The mum shared a look inside her unique home on TikTok, revealing the shed is on her grandparents’ land, meaning she doesn’t pay rent.

Before she renovated it, it looked like an ordinary wooden shed, with stairs to a mezzanine floor.

The mother has worked hard to transform the home, and the inside now looks identical to an ordinary house.

She installed wooden floors, a large refrigerator and a huge kitchen island, giving the place a stylish and modern look.

The downstairs area is open plan, with a cozy looking brown sofa and a large mirror in the living room.

Upstairs, the shed has a large double bed and desk so the busy mum can work from home.

It also has a bathroom with a large bath and a large washer and dryer.

The mother’s video has probably impressed many people as it has been viewed over 1.1 million times on the video sharing platform.

TikTok users rushed to the comments section of the video to share their thoughts on the shed.

One person said: “It’s a beautiful house, it’s just sad that the economy is so crazy that we have to convert barns…”

A second person said: “This is the dream, I’m in a camper at the moment, I just need the land.”

A third person added: “Living small is so much better.

“A big house with a space you don’t use, filled with stuff you don’t need, is just sad.”

Living in a barn conversion is a great way to save money on a house, whilst still remaining independent.

As the cost of living crisis continues to weigh, more and more adults are struggling to get onto the property ladder and are opting to stay in their family home for longer.

Frequently asked questions about Tiny Homes

The Tiny House movement started in the US before gaining popularity in Britain.

What is a tiny house?

Tiny houses are small, fully equipped living spaces designed to help you live a more sustainable, off-grid lifestyle. Although they vary in size and shape, small homes typically have a capacity between 150 and 500 square feet, are made of durable materials, and are easier (and cheaper) to maintain than traditional brick homes.

Are tiny houses legal in Britain?

As long as the small house does not exceed 19.8 x 6.7 meters, it is defined as a caravan in UK law. That is why tiny houses are classified as legal additional living space.

Can you get a mortgage for a tiny house?

The small size and relatively low cost of small homes means that they generally do not qualify for a mortgage. However, there are plenty of options for taking out a loan to finance your dreams of the perfect, portable home.

The 2021 census showed that more than half of people aged 23 and under still live with their parents.

The average price of a house in Britain was £285,000 in March 2023, rising to a whopping £735,254, which is completely unaffordable for many.

Furthermore, research from the Resolution Foundation shows that the average down payment for a first-time buyer has tripled from 5 percent of the property price in 1989 to 15 percent in 2019.

This means buyers will have to save for much longer and use a greater percentage of their income to get onto the property ladder.

Recent research from property site Zoopla found that 42 per cent of adults under 40 who don’t yet own a home have given up due to the astronomical costs of buying a home.

This included 38 percent of people earning more than £60,000 (almost double the average salary for the UK).