I got fed up with wasting money on rent so I moved into an annexe – saving £1.1k a month
A WOMAN said she was tired of wasting her money on rent so she moved from a two-bedroom house to a small outbuilding.
Laura Jade Natalie, a young woman from the UK, confessed that she spent £2,000 on rent every month in London.
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However, she decided to move 15 miles outside of town and moved into a small studio apartment at the back of someone’s garden.
Laura revealed she found the tiny house through a local village group and is now saving £1,100 a month.
And even better, she now has her own garden.
Laura posted on social media giving her followers a peek inside her tiny apartment, saying, “Yesterday I moved from a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment to a one bedroom studio.
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“Rents in London are so high that I was tired of working so hard and spending most of my wages on rent and bills.
“My old flat was costing me about £2,000 a month, give or take winter and summer, and my new studio was costing me £900 a month, including all bills, so that’s a big saving.”
Laura expressed initial concerns, but later said she has now settled into her new home.
She continued: “At first I was worried that I was going to be so cramped in here because it’s tiny and I have so much stuff. When I moved in yesterday I had about 25 boxes, bags and stuff bulging out the sides. But once I moved in and started unpacking, everything seemed to fit and I was able to find a place for everything.
“I was quite nervous, but now that I’m here and settled in, it really feels like home and it’s just super cozy. I feel really lucky that I found something that’s so much cheaper and yet so beautiful for the money.”
Laura confirmed that the extension is located in someone’s beautiful garden, which is also beautifully maintained.
As a result, she now has her own private path with a garden table set.
The small studio has two double glass doors and has a bedroom, a ‘large and spacious’ hall and a living room with a 1.80 x 1.80 meter sofa and a fireplace.
The rise of tiny houses
By Jonathan Rolande
Real estate expert Jonathan Rolande told Fabulous: The reason we’re seeing more creative ways to find a home: extremely high house prices and rents. Younger people are staying in their parents’ homes longer to avoid paying high prices and to save for a down payment. With increasingly busy lives, it makes sense to stay within a larger family group, where chores like gardening and housework can be shared.
Garages are rarely used for their intended purpose, as cars are much more reliable and less likely to rust, and can therefore be left outside. On the other hand, the amount of available space per person has decreased – converting a garage can be very useful.
Things to consider. (the boring stuff)
This is usually easier than building it from scratch, but there is still a lot that needs to be done to convert a garage into a living space.
Check if planning is required (this is more likely if the garage is detached).
Building codes dictate many things to make homes safe and secure. Think about
Walls, are they cavity walls?
Roof height
Windows
How do you connect the pipes, electricity and drainage?
Insulation – It’s getting cold!
Fire safety
Moisture protection
Also consider whether you are adding or subtracting value from your primary residence by remodeling. Garages can add value in busy urban areas where parking is limited.
In addition, there is a kitchen with a small oven and hob, built-in microwave, built-in refrigerator and plenty of storage space.
And if that’s not enough, there’s also a bathroom with a heated towel rail and a shower.
Are tiny houses legal in the UK?
TINY houses can be in the UK regardless of whether they are on a trailer or not. The legality of tiny houses depends on where they are and what you are using them for.
If you want to place your tiny house in the backyard of your home and the total size of your tiny house does not exceed 19.8m x 6.7m (65ft x 22ft), then there is good news! You do not need a building permit.
Tiny houses that fit within these dimensions and are built on a trailer base are legally classified as caravans. This means that you can legally park them on your property without needing a building permit.
If you plan to do this, you are legally required to use the tiny house only as additional living space, such as an office, gym or studio. However, you are not allowed to rent the space to a tenant.
For those of you who live on agricultural land, what is defined as curtilage can be complicated. In these cases, and in any circumstances where you are unsure, we recommend that you contact your local planning officer.
You can place a tiny house on your land as a temporary structure for 28 days. If you want to stay longer, we recommend you contact your local planning officer, as other permits are required.
Source: The Qube
SOCIAL MEDIA USERS RESPOND
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @laurajadenataliehas clearly caused quite a stir, as the video has already been viewed 57,700 times.
Social media users were impressed with Laura’s new home and were eager to share their thoughts in the comments.
You have made a courageous decision, you will have financial peace of mind
TikTok user
Someone said: “Well done, what fantastic savings for you, good luck, it’s beautiful.”
Another added: “Well done for making a difficult decision. Looks lovely and cosy.”
A third commented: “This is actually really big for a studio! A lot of studios are just one room and a bathroom. I’m glad you’re happy with it.”
While someone else wrote: “You have made a brave decision, you will have financial peace of mind.”
