What’s the smallest space you could live in??are we crazy??

[Cottagelife1]

Family of 4- 2 adults and 2 DC under 7. We are thinking of moving into a tiny (old)cottage (TINY being that it is 5m x7m outside measurements) on our land while we build a new house. It needs work done first but we will do that new windows etc, so it will have a small living/kitchen/ dining (wall mounted folding table) and two bedrooms (bunk beds for DC) and a wet room, are we crazy!!?? It will be for max a year but it will save us A LOT in rent!! Would you do it??

We're thinking of doing the same but living in our tourer caravan which is 6m by 2m. 4 of us so no I think you'll be fine. What an adventure!

If it’s a short time period for a bigger goal like an amazing house you are building and you’ve got outside space to live in then go for it. Make a dining area outside under a cover and you can eat out there even in winter and kids can play outside.

Or could you put a bigger static caravan on? But then that’s more morning to outlay.

I'd do that, absolutely

Not so crazy then!?! Feeling reassured already!Thank you!

That doesn't sound so small. It's similar to terraced houses I have lived in that plenty of families lived in on the same street. It will be fine.

We rented a flat of just under 1000 square feet for 2 adults and two grown up children for 6 months while our house underwent renovation. It was part bliss as we had no clutter, just clothes and there was barely anything to keep tidy/clean but we did end up a bit stir crazy by the end and felt we had v little space.

Sounds like extreme minimalism or small house living. I've watched a lot of YouTube videos about people making it work, but I am a home body and couldn't cope with that unless I was living alone.

I’d do it!
It’ll save you LOADS of money!

Ps on a very unrelated topic InterchangeableEmma
‘Hear Be Dragons’ 😉

I think if it's a temporary move where you have a clear end goal then it's the right thing to do.

You'll save a lot that you can put towards the new property.

I'd absolutely do it.

I think the key is being ruthlessly minimal about what you're going to move in with and keeping other things in storage for the new house.

Tbh whilst it is small it's not tiny. You've got 2 bedrooms and a dining area - so space for homework/study/eating. You can definitely make it work.

Here!!! Sorry 🙄

I would definitely do that. Good luck!

That’s fine for a finite amount of time - be hard permanently.

I'd do it. It definitely sounds liveable and worth it to save a year of rent. A lot of families live in terraced houses around that size on a permanent basis!

Yes, certainly. Is it worth also investing in something like a second hand caravan to give you a bit more living space?

I would do it

Sounds bigger than a 4 berth touring caravan and plenty people manage in those or small motorhomes when they do renovations. You'll have running water and more space and facilities - go for it!

Definitely do it, then rent it out as a holiday cottage when you're done.

I have friends- a family of 5 plus a dog, who live in a converted single decker bus! So yes you can definitely live in a small space.

Absolutely, do it!!

Families have decamped to much smaller and much more basic placed than that when carrying out building work eg. Tiny, leaky, draughty caravans.

In the summer you could put up a tent for extra space, bit of variety for sleeping arrangements.

If its on your land does that mean you have an outside area and can spend some time outdoors over the summer? That will make it easier.

For a year? Hell yes.

Forever? No.

Friends of mine did exactly this and it was stressful at times (especially for the mum I think) but thoroughly worth it. The winter was the stressful time whereas during the good weather they spent a lot of time outdoors and really enjoyed it. They also felt they got to know their land better as a result of living there at the same time as building, and made some changes to their building plans as a result.

Definitely sounds doable especially as you can see an end in sight the moment you move in.

We lived in the master bedroom and ensuite for 8 months.

Cooking on a 2 ring electric work top oven balanced on a work bench in the shell of what became our new kitchen.

We lived in a few rooms in our house whilst it was being rebuilt. It wasn't as tough as I thought it would be and I was pregnant at the time as well. make sure you put stuff you don't absolutely use every day into storage so that you keep clutter to a complete minimum. if you can get hold of an old caravan or another space that is always helpful so if someone needs somewhere quiet/away then you have that. make sure you also have a tent - great for summer sleepovers in the garden. We also made sure that we went out somewhere every weekend together and had lots of weekends away planned as well. you need to do this otherwise with a new build its all about the build 24/7 and it gets dull for you and the kids.

Definitely!
For a year or so it's fine, when there is an end goal and you cam see the new house going up its motivating to keep going.

I'd not contemplate it for long term but it sounds fine. Many friends have lived in a static caravan whilst house building and survived!

I think it's doable - if it's on your land and only for a year do you have other space you could use for storage? I think the challenge would be trying to fit all of your stuff in rather than the actual living space so I'd be looking at storage options. Even a big shed where you could store toys and rotate stuff would make a huge difference.