Sunshine Coast builders weigh in on advantages and disadvantages of tiny homes

Sunshine Coast builders reveal arguments for and against tiny homes as a building watchdog warns people to do their homework before work starts.

Sunshine Coast builders have weighed in on the tiny home trend sweeping the region, reminding residents to do their homework as demand soars.

Sunshine Coast builders have laid out the advantages and disadvantages of tiny homes as the popularity for the dwellings remains strong.

The Australian Tiny House Association defines a tiny house as a movable dwelling suitable for permanent residential use, with self-contained amenities and services and the option to be grid-connected.

They differ from other structures like granny flats that are permanent structures.

Thompson Sustainable Homes marketing manager Renita Gordon, whose workplace does not build tiny homes on wheels, said tiny homes were more difficult to plumb than other structures.

A kitchen in a granny flat built by the Thompson Building Group.

“It’s doable, but they come with their challenges,” she said.

The marketing manager said inquiries were strong for granny flats and were coming from Sunshine Coast families who wanted generations of a family to live on a single block.

A bathroom in a granny flat built by the Thompson Building Group.

She said there were Noosa and Sunshine Coast council rules regarding granny flats including block size, the granny flat position and who could reside in them as long-term renters.

Saltair Modular sales manager Ronnie Conquest said the business was constructing a prototype tiny home for an expo in November.

He said a photo of the partially built timber frame on social media had generated “at least 100” inquiries for pre-sales and pricing.

Mr Conquest said the Coolum Beach builder also offered single-room, permanent prefabricated dwellings that were constructed in a factory and transported to site.

The tiny home prototype being built by Saltair Modular for a tiny homes expo later this year.

He said those buildings were popular with land buyers who did not want to overcapitalise on their build.

“They buy a fully contained single module with bedroom and bathroom and then come back and buy another module and another module,” Mr Conquest said.

He said people could take advantage of the state government’s first homeowners’ grant when building a module and they could not receive that grant for a tiny home.

He said the modules were certified and tiny homes did not need certification.

Master Builders Sunshine Coast regional manager Nicola Scott said it was important with any building for people to find out information before the work started.

“Always make sure if you’re having any building performed call Master Builders or the QBCC (Queensland Building and Construction Commission) before you start,” Ms Scott said.

“Pick up the phone and ask the questions.”

Originally published as Sunshine Coast builders weigh in on advantages and disadvantages of tiny homes