Australian Tiny Homes Association president Janine Strachan said the property type was a “housing solution for a diverse range of people” — particularly those constrained by affordability, including retirees struggling with rising house and land costs.
The latter started in March 2017 with only two members, and continues to grow each day. Group admin Donna Birch said it was currently gaining about 110 new Australian members each week. Ms Barrett added that it was difficult to provide substantiated figures in such an unregulated industry, where many customers were living “under the radar” due to council limitations.
She also said that the “cost of buying them had increased some 50 per cent in the same time frame,” with current prices ranging from $70,000-$150,000. Ms Paton also noted that the tiny home movement had helped numerous people “get back on their feet after being homeless”, particularly with help from Launch Housing — a Melbourne-based community organisation providing services and support to homeless and disadvantaged Victorians.
“It makes me teary thinking now about the financial anxiety I had before, compared to now,” she said.