The Tiny House Movement

By Austin Griffin

Legal Note There are many photos

and videos in this presentation I

gleaned from online sources.

Some I have given the source to, and

others I have not. I do not own any

of these photos. This presentation

and their use are meant for purely

academic purposes.

Questions to Consider

0 With energy and resource prices rising, savings falling, and global climate change looming, is the tiny house movement a possible solution for some people?

0 Is a tiny house more energy and resource efficient than the average American household?

0 And further, can you actually go about building or buying and if so, what are the benefits and drawbacks?

0 What are the legal issues that can arise with Tiny Houses?

0 And how might they be overcome?

What is the Tiny House Movement?

Historical Context

0 The average U.S. house size (in sq ft) has gone from 1000 sq ft in 1950 to 2000 in 2000, up now to 2400 sq ft.

0 Building permits are at a 5-year high for new homes.

0 Average # of people per household has been dropping for 50 years. (Now 2.6)

0 Energy costs aren't getting any cheaper.

Average House Size: 1950s and onward

U.S. Energy Consumption 1950-2000

Does the data line up? What might be a solution?

What is a Tiny House?

0 "I never really make a definitive definition of what is small and what constitutes a small house." -Jay Shafer, founder/designer of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.

0The definition stems not from the actual house, but the deliberate choice of the owner (usually builder) of simplifying, reducing, and becoming more efficient (whether for economic, conscious, or other reasons).

0But really, what's a tiny house?

Tiny Houses: Common Characteristics

0 Usually under (or just at) 1000 sq ft (the 1950 average house size).

0 Almost always handmade, owner built, or built by small companies.

0 Can be split into four informal categories by size, from largest to smallest: Cottage (up to 1000 sq ft or more), Classic (100-300 sq ft), Micro/Pico (under 100 sq ft), Short-term (Wee Shelters) (even less than 100 sq ft - includes reading shacks).

0 Note - These categories are just one way to understand tiny homes, apart from the panoply of styles, materials, etc.

tinyhousetalk.com

All of these are Tiny Houses

What is the Tiny House Movement?

0 Movement traced back to Henry David Thoreau and his cabin in Walden in 1854.

0 The surge in automobile ownership in the 1920s brought "autohomes" that were handmade.

0 Others see backlash against suburban ideals in the 1960s with a resurgence in the 1990s.

The Not-So-Big House

0Sarah Susanka, American Architect, is credited on starting the modern (90s to 00s) movement with her book series, The Not So Big House (pub. 1992).

The Movement in Quotes

0 “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." -H. D. Thoreau, Walden.

0 “Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury - to me these have always been contemptible. I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best for both the body and the mind.”― Albert Einstein

0 "If you own a rug, you own too much." - Jack Kerouac

Now

0The small house (tiny house) movement can be seen having surged in the past decade due to rising energy costs, global climate change concerns, aging Baby Boomer Generation, and economic downturn.

0 It's almost all online - including ebooks, blogs (lots of blogs), house plans, forums, etc. BUT - actual workshops are appearing in more states.

0Please use this link to an infographic about the modern movement: http://www.thetinylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/TinyHouses-Infographic-1000wlogo.jpg

Benefits of Tiny HousesThe Efficiencies of Energy, Economics, and Ecology.

Energy0 Due mostly to their size, tiny homes are incredibly energy efficient.0 The 2012 average monthly consumption of electricity for the residential

customer in the South Atlantic region (EIA's designation for FL, DC, NC, SC, DE, VA, MD, & WV) was 1,079 kWh.

0 The average monthly bill for 2012? $122.710 Assuming the house size is the national average, 2400 sq ft, then this works

out to be about .45 kWh per sq ft per month to run the household and everything in it.

0 Using the Tumbleweed Tiny Home as an average (tiny homes are all across the board in materials, styles, and quality), most people have utility bills that range from $10 to $35 a month. (Yes, all utilities - electric, water, sewer, and propane).

0 Many tiny houses also include solar systems built in which, if installation is not counted here, bring the electricity bill down to $0 or close.

0 Heating is almost always a nautical propane heater.

Economic (a big reason why many switch)

0 The average price for a new house in 2012 was: $272,900.0 The mortgage for this house ran an average of: "$222,261

with a $1,061 average monthly payment for a 30-year mortgage at 4 percent." - Lending Tree, Nat'l Ass'n of Realtors.

0 Of course, this is assuming you're in the market for a new house.

0 The average tiny house? Depends on the size, materials, builder, etc, but an Elm tiny home (the "classic"), purchased ready made, is $57,000 with 10% down with a 6% APR on a 15 year loan. Or, $433/mo.0 But no mortgage.

A single mother built this home for $4k.Since most are handmade, you can control the expenses and seek out

salvage. Some have been built for only $4000.

This Vardo was built by hand for $4k.

According to the owner/builders of this house, minimotives, the total bill (so far)

is only $11,900.

Ecological0 A large part of the tiny house movement

is reducing (quite literally) the owner's carbon footprint.

0 Due to their artisan nature and small size, tiny homes frequently utilize much more sustainable, eco-friendly, or local materials and products in their designs.

0 This of course includes things like No-VOC paint (and even some milk-based paint), sustainable wood, solar systems, etc.

0 For instance: "Ecovative" Myco-insulation. Insulation that is fire-resistant, incredibly efficient, and biodegradable (and won the first Cradle to Cradle design award) - it's made of mushrooms.

Psychological Efficiency?0Tiny House owners tend to list among their benefits

not a "quantifiable" efficiency, but a sense of organization, well-being, and peace from the ability to have "just what you need" and no more.

0Obviously, the "tyranny of stuff" referred to by some minimalists is minimal here. You just don't have the room.

0Plus, many tiny homes are mobile, allowing for spur of the moment travel and the freedom that arises from that.

The Drawbacks of Tiny Homes

Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud.

Land

0Tiny houses are frequently built on wheels because zoning regulations require larger houses or won't allow such a structure to be placed on that area.

0Variances can be sought and received, but these are frequently expensive and take a long time to get (if you do at all).

0Permits for building (if foundation, not wheels) are only allowed for buildings up to code - specifically with size.

Loans

0Banks don't want to loan money for Tiny Houses - it's too small for a mortgage and not as recognizable.

0 Insurance assessment is usually dismal, as well. 0 Tiny dwelling, one entrance/exit, use of lofts, etc.

0 If wheels are on your tiny house, you can get an RV loan BUT you will have to build it according to RV specs (which can be exacting).

0Some manufacturers, like Tumbleweed Tiny Homes, offer their own loan programs, but most others do not, due to the artisan nature of the structures.

Law0 Housing Code enforcement disrupts tiny home building. (focus on

"enforcement").0 "Habitable dwelling" and "habitable room" standards require minimum

square footage, certain kinds of plumbing (some T/H are off grid), etc.0 Bathroom is considered one of biggest problems to get past the housing

codes (many are “wet” baths, meaning the room doubles as a shower).0 Of course, most of the enforcement is on a complaint-based system.

You're at the mercy of your neighbors.0 Conceivably, though, you could live illegally on your friend's land or in

the country and not have these problems.0 Can be overcome using a trailer in (many) instances (DMV v. Building

Council).

When the building code inspector comes by, a common ploy:

“This is just an enclosed trailer parked here that meets all the road safety

qualifications.”NOT

“This is my tiny house.”

Most tiny home dwellers live currently under the legal

radar.Please see video: We the Tiny House People

http://youtu.be/lDcVrVA4bSQ?t=2m54sStop Around 6:00.

Or continue later, it’s a complete documentary on the movement.

Some colloquial legal advice from: Cracking the Code by Ryan Mitchell of The Tiny Life

“1. Most cities are “complaint driven enforcement” meaning if your neighbors don’t say anything, they don’t seek you out.

2. In 2012 and 2013 most cities started cutting back their code enforcement staff and they’d rather leave you alone.

3. If you maintain an address at a traditional home, its hard for them to prove you live in the tiny house.

4. They won’t say it, but they think tiny houses are awe some and the wave of the future.

5. Most campgrounds limit your stay to 14-21 days, but if you have two campgrounds in town you can alternate until one of them likes you enough to invite you to stay. Private campgrounds are more willing to do this.”

It’s Still Somewhat of a Niche Market

0 Affects price, accessibility, legal changes (for zoning and the like).

0 Apart from Tumbleweed, Four Lights, Zip Shelter, and IKEA, there are not many options for pre-made tiny homes.

0 Most are owner built, which creates an assumed DIY culture that can be intimidating for newly interested parties.

0 Prices are high partially because of the niche aspect of the market.

0 Doubtful that this will change in a big way any time soon, looking at housing size growth on average, but the numer of T/H is growing.

Social Stigma

0 This social stigma can be seen in the local land ordinances/inspection laws but also in mainstream culture.

0 Consumerism/ Expansionism is still the dominant cultural trend and tiny houses go directly against that.

0 The question many will ask is "are all tiny house owners granola-eating, mantra-chanting Hippie Communists? (The answer is no, but it can be a deterrent, if it "looks weird" to do).

0 Interestingly, not even in Portland, OR (a hotspot for tiny house enthusiasts), you are not allowed to "front" your home - that is, make it visible on the street.

Case in point: a $75 million, 90,000 square foot home in Florida.

In some ways, the biggest benefit (economy) is also the

biggest obstacle to the tiny house movement

Can I get one right now?

Yes, but you're going to want to research and consider a few things first:

0Rent, buy, or make?0Owner-built, consulted, or professionally-built?0Plans or your own design?0Kits or your own materials?0On grid or off grid?0Legal or illegal?0Wheeled or stationary? (Or a boat?)0Do you have any good friends with big yards?

Don’t Want One? Other Uses for Tiny Homes:

0 Dormitories0 Hotels (in Portland, OR)0 Nursing Homes0 Homeless Shelters (on the smaller side).0 Office space for telecommuting0 Small-scale business space.0 In-Law suites.0 Retiree housing.0 Disaster Relief (already proven in the Katrina Cottages).

Finally, a Tiny House built by Students of the Yestermorrow Design Build School in

Massachusetts…

0http://youtu.be/eXqvZO6M2a8

Conclusions

0Tiny Homes offer a different, counter-cultural way of living which provide some very clear benefits of efficiency and peace of mind. They are more flexible than the traditional suburban home, but have distinct drawbacks that must be considered and remedied for their widespread use.

0However, just as the almighty dollar has prevented their spread, the dollar can react to an increase in tiny homes as well, opening the market to future “contraction” of the American home.