I couldn’t afford a house so I moved permanently into a caravan

A WOMAN told how she decided to move into a caravan permanently because she couldn’t afford to buy a house.

Karen has been travelling in her caravan for three years and loves having her own home without having to pay off a mortgage.

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She said she has been able to travel around her native New Zealand and do things that would otherwise have been out of her budget.

Karen’s caravan is only 6.5 metres long and she says one of the downsides of living in her tiny house is the lack of space.

To address this problem, she tried to make the most of the space by adding fold-out storage and extra cabinets.

Karen works as a graphic designer and is able to work from her caravan while travelling around.

Her caravan is powered by a solar panel on her roof. When she stays at the campsite, she also uses an electricity connection.

Karen has to pay for the campsites she stays at, but says this is much cheaper than her rent.

She also needs to take out caravan insurance and purchase an internet modem so she can work from home.

Another disadvantage of living in a caravan is that you have to pay a lot more for fuel, because towing a vehicle uses a lot more petrol.

But it’s still much cheaper than paying rent.

“I pay less for this lifestyle than when I lived in the city,” she said.

“I find that this allows me to work fewer hours and focus more on the projects I am passionate about.”

The caravan has double glazing and a gas heater, so Karen is never cold.

Karen said that when she first moved into the trailer, she thought it would be difficult to find a date.

Frequently Asked Questions about Tiny Homes

The tiny house movement started in the United States and later became popular in the United Kingdom as well.

What is a tiny house?

Tiny houses are small, fully-equipped living spaces designed to facilitate a more sustainable, off-grid lifestyle. Though they vary in size and shape, tiny houses are typically between 150 and 500 square feet, made of sustainable materials, and are easier—and less expensive—to maintain than traditional brick and mortar homes.

Are tiny houses legal in the UK?

As long as the tiny house is no larger than 19.8m x 6.7m, it is defined as a caravan in UK law. Therefore, tiny houses are classed as legal additional dwelling accommodation.

Can you get a mortgage for a tiny house?

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

However, she now has a partner who lives in a bus.

“I don’t have time to stop caravanning for a while,” said Karen.

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