Micro homes are increasingly in demand due to the fact that the demand for housing in the UK and certain other countries around the world far outstrips the supply of houses. Causing a housing shortage. Micro homes are being touted as a potential solution to this problem. 

What Are Micro Homes?

Micro Homes are small living spaces that normally range between 200 square feet and 400 square feet. In most cases, these living spaces normally consist of a singular room that includes the sleeping area, living room and kitchenette. If you are living in a micro home cluster with other people living in separate micro homes that may be attached to your micro home you may share communal bathrooms with others. Due to the fact that micro homes are usually smaller than conventional houses or flats, there is less room to store belongings which may mean that you may have to reduce your possessions or store certain things with friends, family or at a storage rental unit.   

Why Are Micro Homes Becoming Popular?

Currently, the UK is going through a housing crisis, meaning that the demand for houses far outstrips the supply of houses. Simply put there are not enough houses to go around, which causes house prices to rise due to the fact that there is not enough supply to meet the demand. When housing prices rise they can move out of the price bracket of the average Joe, which is why the concept of Micro Houses is becoming more popular. Micro Houses are more affordable than regular houses due to the fact that they occupy less space and use less resources to build. Micro Houses are increasingly becoming popular in built-up areas in large metropolitan cities, such as New York, San Francisco and London due to the high cost of rent and rising house prices.

How Will My Household Bills Be Affected

Micro Houses use considerably less energy to run than even a one or two-bedroom flat, this is due to the fact that you are living in a smaller space which means it takes less energy to heat your home in winter. Additionally, micro homes can also be built with energy efficiency in mind with considerations such as insulation and triple-glazed windows. You can also get micro homes that have solar panels on the roof, which could provide some if not all of your electrical needs which allows you to slash your household bills.

 

Where Are Micro Homes Taking Off The Most?

Micro Homes are taking off the most in Tokyo, Japan where the population density is noticeably higher than the population density of London’s. This has caused government officials to experiment with the construction of micro homes that allow people to live in smaller living spaces that are still fully functional and livable. This means that land can be used more efficiently and more people can live within the same area, this means that the price of property decreases and housing becomes more affordable. It is not beyond the realms of possibility for similar action to be taken by governments around the world over the next couple of decades.     

Benefits Of Micro Homes

Possibility Of Increased Customisation

You can order customised micro homes that are built to your specifications and desires, this can help you feel like your micro home is more part of you, and can be used to represent your personality when you have guests over.

Less Environmental Impact 

Living in a micro home can make it easier to cut down on your environmental impact, due to the size of your home you will probably be spending less on your energy bills as it costs less money to heat a smaller area. Additionally, because your micro home will be a modern new build you can ensure that it is properly insulated and has triple-glazed windows for maximum insulation from the outside so that you need to put the heater on less often. 

Quicker Cleaning

Imagine if you lived in a big mansion and you wanted to clean it from top to bottom, it would likely take you a long time to finish which can be frustrating. Well, living in a micro home can mean that your cleanup time will take you much less time than even living in a 2-bedroom house.

Mobility

Living in a micro home can mean that you can move your micro home every couple of years if you want to, allowing you to move your home around your country to experience living in different areas. One thing that is important to understand if you are thinking about doing this is the fact that moving your micro home may be expensive and you have to take into account your utilities. If you were to move you would have to pay to get your micro home connected to the power and water grid. However, moving a micro home is considerably easier than moving an actual house across the country! If this is something you are considering you should contact a fit out company who may be able to provide assistance.

 

Affordability

Due to the fact that micro homes take up considerably less space and use fewer materials than conventional houses, they can be smart investments for people looking to get out of the rent cycle. Fully built micro houses usually cost between £35,000 and £60,000, which is considerably less than the average house price in the UK of £288,000. It isn’t just the purchase price that micro-homeowners will pay less on, they will also pay considerably less on household bills; due to having to heat a smaller area and the fact that micro homes can be built out of materials that aid temperature insulation.

Less Property Maintenance

Smaller homes usually require less property maintenance, such as changing the tiles on the roof which can mean that the homeowner is able to spend less money on keeping their home in a livable condition. Yes, you might need to spend money on water damage restoration but overall, the maintenance costs are relatively low. 

 

Micro homes take this to the next level; because they are much smaller than conventional houses and are modern builds which means that they are less likely to require maintenance in the near future. It is also likely that you will be able to get a warranty on your micro home which will mean that the manufacturer is liable to pay for any problems that you can prove were not caused by you. These guarantees usually last between 5 and 10 years and can save you money during this time. 

Conclusion  

Micro homes offer prospective home buyers an affordable option that can allow them to live anywhere around the country they can find and buy the land to put their micro home on. Micro homes can help young professionals move to areas of the country that previously they may have been priced out of, allowing them to access more job opportunities.