All You Need to Know About a Tiny House in Europe
Looking to explore whether it’s possible for you to begin building a Tiny House in Europe and starting this journey yourself ?
And finding out at all whether Tiny House living is for you?
You’ve come to the right place.
Below are the most popular questions about Tiny House Living in Europe:
Topics
What is a Tiny House?
A tiny house is a home that has all the essentials and nothing more.
All the essential rooms that a normal house would have, are in a tiny house positioned and effectively designed for using as little space as possible.
Any ‘dead’ space such as hallways and entrances are removed.
To really make a tiny house tiny, rooms, furniture, items have multiple functions and uses which really minimizes the space needed compared to a full-size house.
Exactly how much space and room you would like in your tiny house comes down to who you are as a person and how much space you need.
There is no specific definition or law determining when a tiny house is a tiny house and when it isn’t.
The general understanding of the term ‘Tiny House’ is roughly a 2,5m x 8m construction on wheels.
But they can differ a lot in size, design and whether they are on wheels at all.
In common is the idea of downsizing in all areas of your home to what you find is necessary.
We’re building a Tiny House in Denmark 2020! Read about our Why, Goals and How.
Are Tiny Houses Off-Grid?
A tiny house can be off-grid and on-grid.
Tiny houses don’t have to be off the grid but it is an option for people who are interested in this lifestyle.
Some people like having the option of doing both and have installed the right systems and connections.
So when they want to go off-grid, they can choose too!
This gives the freedom connecting to the system when needed and in other periods being totally off-grid.
Read more on off-grid with Marjolein living in a Tiny House in Holland
What are the Benefits of Living in a Tiny House?
To a growing community, the idea of tiny house living starts with the desire to simplify and downsize multiple areas of their life.
This may be materialistically, psychologically, financially and more.
Material Stuff
Know the feeling of relief when you finally clear and sort out a cupboard that has been filled with items and things for ages?
I sure do!
Getting rid of materialistic clutter has a wonderful bonus of also decluttering psychological stress and chaos.
This is why we feel a sense of calmness and comfort after throwing out items we haven’t used for the past few years.
How would you love to clear your mind a little? Less stuff = Less to think/worry about.
Time
Freeing up time is a well-loved added bonus of living in a tiny house.
Working 7/8 hours a day, sleeping 7/8 hours a day leaves most people with a third of the day left to themselves.
This is the time of day where they freely can do exactly what they wish to do.
Unless you love your job and would be doing it anyway; this seems a little odd only having a third of the day to yourself.
Tiny house living appeals to some people as it can create the opportunity needed to readjust their work/life balance by living more simplistically.
This might give you the option of reducing your need to work and shifting towards working on exactly the projects you wish and want to explore!
Finances
Owning a large house comes with equally larger expenses, that for some peoples carriers and finances can be a troublesome and stressful aspect to manage.
Downsizing to fewer square metres keeps the monthly expenses and running costs to a bare minimum.
Plus the added bonus of maybe being able to save the annoying interest payments on a mortgage. Yes, please!
This may even give you the option of having an extra amount per month to invest in your future.
That’s the hopeful financial plan here on Thriving Willow.
Tiny House living has some great benefits to reap and enjoy.
And it is probably why this is a growing worldwide community!
Join more fellow finance interested tiny house enthusiasts on facebook
Is Tiny House Living for You?
When watching various programs on YouTube and Netflix, the tiny house movement focuses mostly on all the positive sides to Tiny House living.
And even though there are many great things about tiny house living it’s important to take all aspects of it into account.
Living in such a small space requires a specific mindset and motivation wanting to downsize a considerable amount.
Tiny living can give you freedom in many ways. Materialistically, financially, psychologically.
Downsizing in some areas can also affect other areas of everyday living.
There may be times where you’re missing the one item, you only use once every 2 years, but had to get rid of when going tiny.
Other times if you’re living with a partner or other relation where you may be wanting to have a door to slam giving you the option of a little privacy.
Especially having the right partner and relationship that allows you to handle everyday life living on fewer square metres can be a challenge.
Testing living in a ‘small’ area together is definitely a great way to see if a tiny house project is at all a possible living accommodation in the future for you both.
Mrs. Willow and I have tested this previously living in a friend’s allotment garden which was roughly the same size as a tiny house.
Plus having an amazing journey on our 5-month long honeymoon last winter in South East Asia spending 154 days together, every day.
Vang Vieng, Laos
Luckily we’re still together and enjoyed our trip immensely. Phew!
We both love being outdoors and working in the garden which may be why we have a great interest in living a little tinier than the average homeowner.
And hopefully, allowing for an extra big garden to complement it!
Read about more benefits of simplifying your life in this post
What are the Regulations Regarding Tiny Houses in Europe?
This subject can be a difficult matter to address as in Europe and especially Denmark as the rules change depending on which county you’re in.
This is what many people get stuck trying to work out as it can be especially hard to build something that can be approved as an all year round living residence.
The reason why it’s difficult to build a tiny house following the regulations is for starters that there aren’t any regulations specifically made for tiny homes!
Especially not in Denmark.
At the present time, the regulations I will be focussing on are for Tiny Houses in Denmark.
In the future, a more general overview of Europe is the goal that hopefully can guide you further in your project.
See an overview of some of the Best Tiny House Books to be Read
For a start, you may have had the thought that if your tiny house is on wheels it should count as a camper/caravan.
As this is true in a way; in Denmark, the rules are as followed :
When the vehicle has been parked in the same place for over 6 weeks it has to be registered as a permanent structure and follow the standard building regulations.
This is hard to accomplish as having to follow the regulations and at the same time having fewer square metres to work with creates some challenges.
It would mean a great deal of insulation, thick walls and other tricky aspects to incorporate.
The solution to this tricky aspect is firstly working out where you would like to live and in which county you are going to be based.
This helps a lot as you can research and focus on the rules for your specific area and build hereafter.
Giving a general overview of the regulations for all countries and counties is at this point in time impossible.
Fingers crossed this area of the Tiny House movement in Europe will improve at some point.
What are the Costs of Building a Tiny House in Europe?
The price of a tiny house comes down to how you decide to create your mini home.
Is it a self-build or do you plan to hire someone to design-build your tiny house from start to finish?
See the finances of other Tiny Houses in the Meet ‘n’ Greet Series with people in Europe sharing their story on living in a Tiny House.
Building a Tiny House Yourself
We ourselves have learned from other tiny house builders in Denmark that have built their mini home themselves purchasing new materials were roughly finishing at a price of 180.000 dkk (24,000€) to 200.000 dkk (26800€).
Some up to 300.000 dkk (40200€) depending on materials and luxuries.
Using recyclable materials from building sites and other reusable companies is for some tiny house builders an important goal.
And can also be a great way of reducing the price of the overall build.
Prices can then become lower than 100.000 dkk (20100€), which is very appealing to some!
Buying a second-hand Tiny House in Europe
Check out TinyFindy that facilitates a platform for selling and buying tiny houses in Europe!
- Private tiny house enthusiasts can create a listing describing their Tiny house for sale with location, size and unique features.
- Like-wise people with land to spare wanting to give the opportunity for tiny house enthusiasts to live legally on a specific spot can also make a listing!
Hop on to TinyFindy.com for more.
Buying a Ready-made Tiny House
When looking at the prices of buying a new Tiny Home we are looking at above 400.000 dkk (53600€) when buying from Sweden as an example.
Purchasing and designing a tiny house has also become popular through companies that use countries such as Poland, Lithuania, and other nearby countries.
The tiny houses are produced in a ‘cheaper’ country in Europe and hereafter transported back to the buyers afterwards.
This may be a good opportunity taking into account the price which is anywhere from 250.000 (33.500€) to 500.000 DKK (67.000€).
My precautions are that companies using other countries to build in may not have the required experience following specific building regulations in Europe which vary from country to country a lot.
It is also important to consider that a neighbouring country to yourself may have extra knowledge of building regulations in your country which may be worth paying a little more for.
Definitely worth exploring and contacting companies!
Check out Thomas and Shaye’s detailed breakdown of their Tiny House build in New Zealand that all in all cost 115.000 dkk (15.400€).
Is it Financially Worth Living in a Tiny House in Europe?
The biggest expense on anyone’s monthly budget is living expenses.
Reducing this expense can have a huge impact on how much income, hours of work needed and how much there is to invest each month.
Our experiences from homeowners we know and have asked are:
‘ The bigger the house, the bigger the costs’.
This seems to be quite a unanimous statement.
Purchasing costs, heating, electricity, and water bills are all reduced in a Tiny House.
Therefore the monthly running costs of a tiny house should be lower than in a traditional home.
An important expense to take into consideration is where you would like to place your tiny house.
Buying a plot of land is an additional upfront purchased that doesn’t come with the tiny house itself.
You may be lucky to have family or friends that will let you live on a part of their land for a small price.
This would be another great option that would keep costs quite low.
The Tiny Life has researched the finances of people living in Tiny Houses in America where the TH movement is far more ahead.
Showing that 55% of tiny house people have more savings than the average American.
Whether it has to do with living in a tiny house or tiny house enthusiasts happen to be more financial interessed and knowledgable.
We’ll have to see!
Once our tiny house is built (so excited to get to this point!) detailed budget reports of our expenses will be incorporated in future monthly financial updates.
Add your email in the sidebar and I’ll let you know when it’s ready.
Are Tiny Houses Legal in Europe?
Depending on how you build and how you place your tiny house after it’s finished on a piece of land, yes a tiny house can be legal to live in.
Many areas have local building requirements that structures have to follow for them to be approved as a full-time living construction.
What is applicable in your area can be both tricky and hard to figure out as not all areas have come across the wicked tiny house movement.
It would, therefore, be preferable before a build starts to have researched these regulations.
And hereby creating the best possible circumstances for getting your building project approved before and after completion.
Time to start researching!
Is it Possible to Live in a Tiny House in a Country With Cold Winters?
Yes, it’s definitely possible to live in a cold country in a tiny house.
This changes the requirements needed in your tiny house build especially aspects such as insolation, heat source and inside climate.
Tiny houses have a positive aspect that they require less energy to heat up during the winter.
This means the heat source doesn’t have to be quite as effective and powerful compared to a traditional building.
This reduces the cost of living significantly in a cold country which is highly appealing.
There are many different ways of heating a tiny house depending on which energy source you see most optimal to your needs through the cold winters!
Check out Kim’s Leaf House that manages the northern temperatures of Yukon, Canada reaching minus 50 centigrades!
Do the Normal Building Regulations Apply to Tiny Houses in Europe?
This all comes down to how you decide to position your tiny house on a plot of land.
In Europe, there are different regulations in every country.
The most important step is finding out what the regulations are in your specific country and county area.
Yes, a tiny house does in some places have to comply with the same regulations as normal building permits.
In other areas, they won’t have to.
As the tiny house movement expands in Europe, as it has so in America, we will hopefully see governments realizing the positive aspects of reducing materialism and living space needs.
Fingers crossed!
Is There a Magazine on Tiny Houses?
You bet there is a magazine about Tiny Houses!
Wouldn’t it be great to get TH inspiration and experiences from across the world once a month?
I’ve made a post with an overview of the Best Tiny House Magazines that exist.
Check out the list here!
“I have no experience in building anything!”
Is it Possible to Build a Tiny House from Scratch and end up with a Good Result?
Well, let’s put it this way.
We are in the same situation and are very excited to see the outcome at the end.
We have talked to people without experience that have had guidance from the right people and have managed to create some really beautiful tiny houses.
We’ve seen these houses for ourselves and loved them!
It is hard to predict beforehand whether you will be capable of creating a tiny house you are satisfied with.
We feel that being able to say say that every part of the build is something we have had our hands on and created must be a wonderful feeling to live in the midst of.
And having experienced the challenging, enjoyable and sometimes frustrating process along the way.
We’ll see!
See how the build is coming along on this page
Where Can I Buy Building Plans for Building a Tiny House in Europe?
Having a general design plan before starting your build can really help the process and can mean the world to inexperienced tiny house builders, like myself.
There are many great tiny house companies in Europe, besides all the great ones in America, that have specialized in offering detailed plans of alternative living homes.
Over 50 different European sites offer detailed plans on how to build a large variety of different types of smaller living constructions.
See below where!
Provided generously by ‘Tiny House Community’: Builders, plans and more
Also a great list of plans (some free) from this list from LoveProperty: Best budget-friendly plans to download
Which are the Best Tiny House Books?
Looking for inspiration from experienced Tiny House enthusiasts is a helpful way to kick-start your TH build.
As the TH movement started much earlier in America we can thank some of the pioneers with 10/20+ years of living tiny for taking the time to share this knowledge in various books.
I’ve made an overview of the Best Tiny House Books and divided the list into specific topics and perspectives you may be needing.
Check out the list here!
Can I Finance a Tiny House in Europe?
Depending on whether your tiny house is on wheels or whether it is on a foundation tiny houses can be financed in different ways.
A tiny house won’t apply to be financed in the traditional way with a normal mortgage but may be able to qualify for a similar personal loan.
Banking systems vary from country to country and it’s there for important to find out what is possible for you.
In some countries, if your tiny house is on wheels you may be able to acquire a loan similar for purchasing a campervan/caravan.
Buying a custom-designed prefabricated tiny house with a trusted company in some cases offers to finance through them which can be of help.
Ask your local bank and other establishments what your options are.
How can I Transport my Tiny House in Europe?
The regulations for trailers pulled by a personal vehicle in Europe allow you to transport a trailer with a combined weight (car + trailer) of 3.500kg.
Anything above this weight requires a special permit to be on the road.
With this amount of weight, it is understandably important to point out that a vehicle with a large motor is needed for these weights closing in on 3,5t.
The maximum size of the trailer, if wanting to move it with a car, is 2,55m wide.
And between 4-4,5m high depending on which country in the EU you are in or driving through.
In Europe, the requirement of registering any trailer also applies to a tiny house trailer.
This means the tiny house has to be matriculated before being able to go on the road.
Any Other Tips for Beginners?
Does tiny living intrigue you? I understand!
You can find inspiration in the multiple magazines experienced Tiny House pioneers have created filled with stories, guides and tips. I’ve made an overview for you of the best Tiny House Magazines out there.
Take the leap and give it a go! We’re definitely giving it a shot beginning in Nov. 2019. Check it out here!
And if jumping in a project feels like a bit too exciting.
Start with small steps.
Find someone in your community with a tiny house and ask if you could pop round for a quick tea and see their tiny house.
Bring a little cake. (who doesn’t like cake, right? )
Living alternatively is something TH enthusiasts are proud of and very likely would love to show and tell about for a quick 30 minutes.
They have carefully and consciously chosen this lifestyle and probably would enjoy your excitement towards their way of living.
Who wouldn’t love talking about their hobby to eager awaiting listeners!
See other European Tiny House projects in the group ‘Tiny House Europe Financially Free’.
Reach out if you have more questions.
I would love to talk about Tiny Houses all day, every day.
2 Comments
Claus
Hi there,
I am looking to build a tiny house in denmark, have the land but no contacts for building such house, do you have you can share?
Thriving Willow
Hi Claus,
Great to hear you’re beginning your tiny house journey. The company ‘Tiny House Living’ makes premade tiny houses to purchased. No work required. There are also especially many Danish Tiny House groups on facebook where i’m certain others can recommend possible builders. I myself am building with a company based at Grobund in Ebeltoft. Send me an email if you have any more questions. thrivingwillowtree@gmail.com.