Gympie based business has 'tiny' way to beat housing crisis

Gympie business is taking 'tiny' steps to beating the housing and rental crisis

The big outside deck on this design adds additional living space.

COZYHOMES Tiny Houses Australia are builders of tiny houses and are based in Gympie and the Sunshine Coast.

But what is a tiny house?

Commonly a Tiny House is a completed home (cladded, wired - both off grid and 240v - insulated, lined, fitted out with furnishings and fittings, ensuite and more).

The standard version by tiny house builders is often 6m in length by 2.4m wide, but this can be extended to 8m.

There is an entire movement based around tiny houses according to CozyHomes Tiny Houses Australia director Brian Irving.

"This movement, while predominant in the US for a long time has really taken off in Europe in the past five years for the same reason as in Australia - the housing and rental affordability crisis; a crisis so many of us face," Mr Irving said.

CRISIS AVERTED: CozyHomes Tiny Houses Australia director Brian Irving says his tiny houses could help alleviate the housing and rental crisis.

"It is the downsizing move to affordability.

"A smaller home with all the usual facilities and furnishings, built in a creative, innovative manner - for example, a bedroom that with the push of a button, the bed raises to the ceiling to reveal a media room. Japan has been doing this for a while.

"We are just catching up."

CozyHomes Tiny Houses Australia has plenty of styles, layouts and fit-outs to select from, or you can build to your design and wants if required.

They can extend beyond what other tiny house builders offer with four versions; a DIY model where you do the finishing to suit yourself, a budget version, a standard and a deluxe version.

The deluxe model has been likened to a five star resort apartment.

Tiny houses are most often based on a trailer but CosyHomes can also discuss building your home on a skid or even a pontoon should you want a trick houseboat.

One of the CozyHomes traditional style designs - a highset cottage with gable roof.

"We can also provide container homes as well as a two bedroom completed prefab home for $65,000," Mr Irving said.

"We always aim for the 'wow' factor with our buildings.

"For example we have two glamper camper trailers under construction, one to look like an English cottage the other a log cabin," he said.

He said there were many reasons the tiny house movement was gaining in popularity.

"Well, primarily, because of the affordability, independence, security, your ability to take your home with you if you move or you can rent it out for a lifetime income."

He also said astute investors were looking into building tiny houses.

"If you are seeking a decent return on your funds which is better than from a super fund returning say 3 per cent, or even a negative return, or 2.5 per cent from a bank, then a tiny house at say $65,000 rented out at a conservative $250 per week provides a 20.8 per cent positive return on your money.

"Try to get that anywhere else.

"You could even park your home on another property," he said.

He said tiny houses were attractive to a number of home buyers, including 25 to 35-year-olds, single people with a good job and income but not able to save for a deposit or a new home, empty nesters wanting to downsize, or those who want to travel the country and take their home with them, single parents, those wanting additional space for a granny flat or teenage retreat or anyone struggling to pay rents in excess of $600 a week.

While the new website is still a few weeks off, Mr Irving welcomes telephone or email inquiries from anyone wanting more information on 0404 549 504 or email [e-mail] or [e-mail].

Originally published as Gympie based business has 'tiny' way to beat housing crisis