A builder who lives in a small, minimalist eco house in a friend’s garden says it saves him £600 a month.
Chris Marsh, 40, has been used to living in a tiny house for the past five years, on and off.
His first small house, made of natural timber, was larger than the one he currently lives in and cost around £50,000.
Last year he built a small 140-square-foot wooden house to fit in a friend’s backyard at Riding Mill in Northumberland.
The builder used to rent a two-bedroom house in Hexham that cost £800 a month and cost £135 in total in 2018 before the cost of living crisis and rising energy costs. I said I needed an invoice.
Chris Marsh, 40, is used to living in a small house, as he has for the past five years.Photo: Marsh’s former home
Mr. Marsh gets the water for free because the garden homeowner he pays is the standard rate.Photo: Marsh’s former home
Last year he built a small wooden house to fit in a friend’s backyard at Riding Mill in Northumberland.
But now it costs him £150 a month, which he pays for living on the land, and electricity costs £80 a month, he says. But this allows him to keep the underfloor heating on all his day.
Mr. Marsh gets the water for free because the garden homeowner he pays is the standard rate.
Mr Marsh said mirror: “I always had a vision of building something and living in it and living in the garden, instead of a traditional house.
“When you borrow it, it’s just disposable money that you never really get back. Building something yourself was a bit of an advantage.
He said there are other costs to building a mini-home, but Marsh believes it’s worth it as it saves hundreds of pounds a month.
He says he enjoys the freedom that small homes offer, such as not having to worry about his landlord or take out a mortgage.
According to RightMove, the average price of homes in the NE44 area, which includes Riding Mill, was £345,167 overall last year.
His previous home was 180 square feet, but it was too big for this parcel, so a smaller lot had to be built.
Luckily for Marsh, who lives 15-20 meters from his landlord, he says he “gets along very well” with them.
The micro house includes a fully equipped kitchen with oven and two-burner stove, living space, bathroom, mezzanine bedroom with double bed and separate bed with enough space for a mattress on the floor. I have a room.
Luckily for Marsh, who lives 15-20 meters from his landlord, he says he “gets along very well” with them.Photo: Marsh’s former home
He says he enjoys the freedom that small homes offer, such as not having to worry about his landlord or take out a mortgage.Photo: Marsh’s former home
Marsh has his own business with a team of five people building these mini homes and selling them to people across the UK.
Marsh has his own business with a team of five people building these mini homes and selling them to people across the UK.
The homes are fully mobile, but most are built to fit in specific locations.
He offers curious people the chance to stay in one of his tiny houses starting at £150 a night.
Marsh’s plans for the future include buying his own land and building one with a “completely different design and layout.”
