An easing of regulations to make living in tiny homes easier in the Shellharbour area would be a boon to residents wanting to escape the rental treadmill as well as a boost for a local business. 

Getting more people into the compact dwellings is the subject of a two-year trial Shellharbour council is trying to get the state government to approve.  

Since starting Havenwood Tiny Homes in Shellharbour six years ago, Rick Smith says he has sold his product into every state within Australia and is starting to receive international interest.

Rick said Shellharbour mayor Chris Homer had commented on the buildings' size on a recent visit.  

“Chris came to see us around 18 months ago and he was surprised at how large our homes are,'' Rick said. ''Our most petite model, the Beau River, stands at 2.5m wide, making it a most viable option for living.” 

Shellharbour Council is proposing a change to its Local Environment Plan 2013 to allow a two-year trial for anyone to live in a tiny home on an approved residential property. As the act stands, tiny homes on trailers, like caravans, can be permanently occupied on a property only by a member of the property owner’s household. 

Mayor Chris Homer says tiny homes are a more affordable housing option. “We know that renting can be hard and expensive – this is about giving people more housing choices, while making sure everything is safe and well managed,” he said.

The trial will go ahead only if the NSW government approves the council’s planning proposal. This includes passing a gateway determination from the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. Once this process is complete, the proposal will be put on public exhibition for community feedback. Council says this can take up to six months.

If the trial is approved, tiny homes in Shellharbour Council area could be installed on residential properties without a development application, but must abide by strict conditions such as minimum setbacks, connection to essential services and fire and safety compliance.

Havenwood employs four apprentice carpenters in Shellharbour and could add staff if the trial is successful.

A large two-bedroom model costs around $145,000. Compared to the cost of renting or paying a mortgage, the tiny home makes an appealing alternative. Rick says for many people, this change could be a way into an otherwise unaffordable housing market. 

The homes are built in a factory onsite at Shellharbour and delivered completely finished to clients. Standing at about one-tenth the size of a traditional house, they have a small environmental footprint. Constructed using lightweight materials, they feature refrigeration panels encased in steel that allow easy climate control.

For further information on Havenwood Tiny Homes, visit their website