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AIBU?

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Original poster

Yurt living. How awful is this going to be?

158 replies

Lairymary · 17/02/2022 20:12

I'm hoping someone can convince me that this won't be as awful as I think it's going to be...
Here goes... My OH and I have just purchased a property that needs a lot of work, we're talking complete renovation and needs plumbing and electricity installing. We have found a property to rent while we do it up, (6 months) but that is a 40 minute drive away (literally no other options closer to the property). DH has seriously suggested that we just buy a yurt and live in that on site to save the money on rent and petrol. In theory, yes it's a good money saving idea (will probably save at least 12 grand in total) but in the pit of my stomach I'm a bit horrified at the thought of potentially 6 long months of camping. Hopefully the house will be habitable before then. I just have this awful feeling that it's going to make me miserable, also to add there is a three year old in this scenario too!!
Does anyone have experience of yurt living for longer than a "glamping" holiday. Is it going to be awful?
Just to add, we plan to get the bathroom and a washing machine sorted as a priority, fingers crossed, so hygiene won't be an issue.

OP posts:
Imyourvenus · 18/02/2022 17:11

I’d rather spend £12k ….imagine a yurt today🌪💨

FlamingoDust · 18/02/2022 17:14

Sounds like hell

CottonSock · 18/02/2022 17:14

Not a chance for me. Romantic dream and horrendously expensive.

BoredZelda · 18/02/2022 17:16

I know you say this project has your attention full time but unless you're architects/builders etc or have experience please consider using someone professional in to help or advise. Speaking from experience not mine but close friends.

This.

It is my job to manage and cost these projects. I’ve 25 years experience in the industry and projects can still go wrong if the wrong people are involved. I know how to mitigate it and lessen the impact to get things on track but to a novice they’d be stuck.

I don’t assume I could walk in to anyone else’s job and do it with no training or experience, I’m not sure why self builders think they can do mine and succeed. Any episode of grand designs will show how people fail when they don’t pay a few grand to a PM or QS to manage the job.

Blueeyedgirl21 · 18/02/2022 17:17

Hire a caravan

ThinWomansBrain · 18/02/2022 17:25

worked for an organisation that ran a yurt cafe
ne reason why not - they use yurts in Mongolia which has more extreme weather than UK.
But probably cheaper and more efficient to have a caravan
also, being round, yurts take up a lot of space compared to the livable internal area.

labazslovesliving · 18/02/2022 17:33

a lot of people opt for statics but a yurt is liveable. there is a lady on Tiktok I follow who lives in one full time and with a log burner, her yurt seems very cosy. I think she is in the USA but there is a couple doing the same in Scotland. with the right sort of yurt, I should think it is very doable, especially with a log burner or similar.

crowisland · 18/02/2022 17:57

Well, for centuries millions of people in Central Asia lived year round in yurts. With no electricity or plumbing. The camels and other livestock were their sources of food.

Mitzimccormack · 18/02/2022 18:04

We have just done a massive house renovation, had to move out for 6 months, just moved back in with most of work done. It is a very stressful time. If we hadn't owned the other property we would have bought a static caravan (you can pick them up for a couple of thousand) they are big (much bigger than a normal caravan) and you can put a lot of your own stuff in to make it feel homely. A Yurt might be fashionable, but its camping. No proper cooker, no nice warm shower room, clothes damp all the time. No thanks.

Pinklemonade1 · 18/02/2022 18:07

My brother , his wife and 2 young children have lived in a yurt in rural New Zealand for 4 years..they love it.
They are hippies though but it works for them. I don't think I could cope and would prefer a mobile home .

MdNdD · 18/02/2022 18:26

Caravan! And then sell when you’re done.

Leedsfan247 · 18/02/2022 18:29

A caravan would be better

kmbegs · 18/02/2022 18:30

We did similar (without a child but I was pregnant) and we lived there from the start and just really pushed on to get a new bathroom in, our bedroom in a decent state and a sink installed in a spare room then made that room in to a temp kitchen while we did the rest. I would say it's not for the faint hearted. We obviously had a child soon enough and it's hard with a little one. But we did save so much money that we would have spent renting elsewhere. And obviously living on site means no travelling back and forth.

oakleaffy · 18/02/2022 18:31

@Lairymary
A properly made Yurt, made by someone who know what they are doing should be watertight and warm.

You will be ''On site'' and save a fortune in rent.

I'd say go for it {or a caravan}
Best of luck!

oakleaffy · 18/02/2022 18:34

@labazslovesliving

a lot of people opt for statics but a yurt is liveable. there is a lady on Tiktok I follow who lives in one full time and with a log burner, her yurt seems very cosy. I think she is in the USA but there is a couple doing the same in Scotland. with the right sort of yurt, I should think it is very doable, especially with a log burner or similar.
''Properly made Yurt'' is the crucial bit.
oakleaffy · 18/02/2022 18:44

@BoredZelda

I know you say this project has your attention full time but unless you're architects/builders etc or have experience please consider using someone professional in to help or advise. Speaking from experience not mine but close friends.

This.

It is my job to manage and cost these projects. I’ve 25 years experience in the industry and projects can still go wrong if the wrong people are involved. I know how to mitigate it and lessen the impact to get things on track but to a novice they’d be stuck.

I don’t assume I could walk in to anyone else’s job and do it with no training or experience, I’m not sure why self builders think they can do mine and succeed. Any episode of grand designs will show how people fail when they don’t pay a few grand to a PM or QS to manage the job.

Hear Hear! Amateurs just cause ill feeling with good craftsmen and builders in my experience.

Don't ask an experienced Trade for advice and then say ''But on you tube'' &c &c
Don't even attempt to project manage a build unless you have prior experience of project managing said work.

Amateurs think ''How hard can it be?''
But renovating an old property is WAY harder than building a new design from scratch.

squashyhat · 18/02/2022 19:00

My nephew and his partner lived in one in my sister's garden for a couple of years. They had a woodburner and cooking gas inside and access to hot water, shower, loo etc in an adjacent outhouse. I assume they used my sister's washing machine. AFAIK it was fine.

Yourcatisnotsorry · 18/02/2022 19:00

R u doing the work or having tradespeople? If the latter why do you need to be onsite daily?
I’d rent/stay with friends/caravan for a few months while you sort the plumbing and get a bathroom in then do up 1 bedroom and basically live in that while you do the rest.

perenniallymessy · 18/02/2022 19:40

If you've got the land, could you build a nice garden room and live in that whilst building work is going on, then have the space for a den/gym/craft area/bar afterwards? Could always get an old caravan too for cooking/chemical loo facilities. Would probably cost about the same as the rent elsewhere but you'd have an amazing space for afterwards.

Obviously depends on timescales as I guess it takes a while to get one sorted.

Flatwhitetostayin · 18/02/2022 19:44

Sorry, haven't read the whole thread but would a prefab garden room/ garden office be a possibility? It would end up costing you as much as the rent and petrol etc, but would possibly be an amazing addition to your home long term. They have brilliant insulation so wouldnt have to worry too much about the cold or heat. You could add an orning/gazebo to increase the living space but would at. Least be a permanent safe structure to live in temporarily.

DrSK2 · 18/02/2022 21:13

That would be extremely unfair for a 3 years old baby — it’s even too difficult for an adult. The physical environment is key to the child’s health and wellbeing. I think you must think about your child first.

dworky · 18/02/2022 21:57

April onwards should be bearable, otherwise I would hire a caravan for the duration.

Sunshineboo · 18/02/2022 22:13

i honeymooned in a yurt. great for 3 days awful after that!

caravan is the way forward. you can sell
it on after

Bertiebiscuit · 18/02/2022 23:18

That's a hard no from me - 1)building work always take twice as long as is promised 2)it will be cold, damp, as it for 3/4 of the year, basically you will be living in a transit camp - DON'T DO IT, nothing is worth a nightmare like this

Bertiebiscuit · 18/02/2022 23:21

And with a small child - are you drug addled hippies - or just insane