We mourn the passing of our founder, Dave Graebel. View a celebration of his life and achievements
Details on service arrangements will be provided at a later date.

Tiny Houses, Complex Issues
1:31

Tiny Houses, Complex Issues

Chris Binding

With a desire to simplify, save money, achieve greater independence and to reduce their impact on the environment, thousands of people are joining the tiny house movement. Companies should determine now rather than later, how they will structure and tailor relocation benefits for the owners of these unique houses.

There’s no official definition, but a tiny house is generally considered to be a residential structure between 14 and 95 square metres, built on wheels or on a foundation and weighing around 6,000 kg. They are often custom built and can cost from £30,000 to £95,000, depending on the materials and amenities the buyer chooses. The average build time is eight to ten weeks.

Two of the key attractions of owning a tiny house are their mobility and the siting flexibility they afford. Homeowners can move the home relatively easily—it can be towed with a pickup truck or hauled on a flatbed lorry. If it’s constructed foundation-ready, a tiny house can be transported by a commercial freight company. In these cases, the structure cannot be longer than 10 metres and must be no taller than 2.5 m, including the trailer’s height.

What are the implications of tiny houses for relocation programmes?

  • Should the relocation programme cover the transport of a tiny house?
  • Is moving the house considered a household goods shipment?
  • Will van rental and permit costs be covered?
  • How will the house’s contents be packed? Do the same household goods policies apply?
  • What are the local restrictions for a tiny house site?
  • Are traditional mortgages or construction loans available?

Key Takeaways

  • While relocation benefits should be flexible to account for the employee’s lifestyle choices, companies should determine how far to take this when it comes to tiny houses
  • Industry best practices are still evolving in this area, so companies should closely monitor trends and developments
  • Companies should consider the fact that tiny houses are favoured by millennials—a generation of employees especially critical for companies at the moment

Chris Binding