Residential parks: a solution for siting tiny houses?

There are no separate planning laws in Australia that allow tiny houses to be used as a principal place of residence without first obtaining council development approval. They are legislatively regarded as caravans and under existing state and territory Residential Park Acts tiny houses could be sited in residential parks but the supply side is insufficient. This article calls for flexible discretionary planning policies that would encourage development of residential parks for tiny houses and provide them with siting options. Many tiny house dwellers want to remain in the same place and not move on a regular basis. Residential parks and tiny houses could potentially enable some people at the lower end of the affordable housing and rental markets to obtain an affordable home in a community environment. The park lifestyle may also appeal to older home owners wishing to downsize and free-up larger homes. High house prices, rental costs and supply shortages will prevent some households from accessing traditional housing over their life’s course. Residential parks could provide a different form of home ownership for people who may not otherwise be able to obtain it or, due to altered personal circumstances, obtain it a second time. Practitioner pointers Local governments’ discretionary planning policies should be flexible to encourage development of residential parks to accommodate tiny houses. More residential park site supply could address the issue of legality for tiny houses, help ease the shortage of affordable housing and increase housing diversity. Residential parks and tiny houses might provide opportunities for lower-income households to access an alternative form of affordable housing in a community setting.