Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Ways to make money from an outhouse / garden house

37 replies

merr1goround · 29/04/2023 16:18

I've got an outhouse in a house I've just bought.

It's brick or breeze block, but sturdy, a proper looking tile roof, velux windows, a shower room and a little kitchenette.

It's about 5 metres by 5 metres.

Now, the thing is it is in my garden, but its a mid terraced house and I don't feel so great about renting it out or airbnb as they'd have to walk through my house (I have four kids under 8) and my husband if often away on business so I'd be the only adult. I can't think of a way around it.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can make money on this room? We don't really need it for living space.

Any ideas welcome, money is definitely tighter than I would like at the moment!!!!

OP posts:
crazecatlady2 · 29/04/2023 16:22

Could you put shelves up for seed trays then use it to raise plants, craft room where, if you've got specific skills you could run classes (though with 4 ankle biters would you have the time?)

Greenpasture · 29/04/2023 16:23

Rent it as a therapy room? Or someone to use as an office? Or storage?

Though you'd still have people walking in and out.

GoldenGorilla · 29/04/2023 16:25

You can rent it out for storage with the proviso that they can only collect their stuff at agreed times - eg see this website https://www.storemates.co.uk/

Otherwise use it for crafts space and make something to sell?

Storemates - Low cost and safe storage in your local community

https://www.storemates.co.uk/

helpfulperson · 29/04/2023 16:41

Adhoc office space. I'd love to be able to rent somewhere l8ke this for a couple of hours in a morning.

Original poster
merr1goround · 29/04/2023 21:01

Thank you!

I am a psychotherapist, and had thought about that BUT the tricky thing is trying to keep boundaries when client have seen your ~dishes in the sink~ house....

I like the idea of renting it as someone else's office space for part of the day. That's not loads of walking in and out and they wouldn't need their own key. Kids are at school in the day, so no cross over. That makes sense.

I'm not a crafty person, it is honestly one of my life regrets. I really wish I were dexterous and creative...

OP posts:
NutellaNut · 30/04/2023 08:26

I’m not sure about the idea of renting it out as office space to some one else if there isn’t independent access. What about when you go on holiday? Would you give the tenant a key to your home, or expect them not to use it if you’re away? Don’t see how that would work.

Personally I’d turn it into an office space for family use, either for yourself and your DH, or a quiet place for children to do homework or study for GCSEs/A levels etc. Or a hobby space for the family use depending on yours or the children’s interests. (Art studio, music studio, etc)

C4tastrophe · 30/04/2023 09:15

NutellaNut · 30/04/2023 08:26

I’m not sure about the idea of renting it out as office space to some one else if there isn’t independent access. What about when you go on holiday? Would you give the tenant a key to your home, or expect them not to use it if you’re away? Don’t see how that would work.

Personally I’d turn it into an office space for family use, either for yourself and your DH, or a quiet place for children to do homework or study for GCSEs/A levels etc. Or a hobby space for the family use depending on yours or the children’s interests. (Art studio, music studio, etc)

I wouldn’t rent it as an office either. Would be awkward starting early or working late. What about summer holidays when the kids are screaming in the garden.

helpfulperson · 30/04/2023 09:36

What I was suggesting was something more like the renting out your drive as a parking space. So you offer it only when you know you will be at home and it is booked by, for example, the hour.

Hoppinggreen · 30/04/2023 09:38

I think that as long as access is only via the house it’s not going to be possible to rent it out. Anyone who needs an office or therapy room is going to want better access than that and you would have to give them a key

purpleme12 · 30/04/2023 09:46

Is there a way you can actually make a door so it can be accessed itself?
Without have to go through house?

KnickerlessParsons · 30/04/2023 10:32

Has it got any heating?

If you rent it out for anything -office space, whatever - you'd probably need some kind of insurance, but tbh an outhouse in someone's back garden that you have to go through the house to get to is not somewhere I'd pay to use.

It sounds like an ideal hangout for teenagers, but until you have some of those, I'm not sure. Accommodation for an au pair or lodger is all I can think of.

DrySherry · 30/04/2023 11:21

Without independent accessibility it's not much use for renting out.
Do you like cats ? It sounds like it might be quite suitable as a small bespoke cattery. Need to invest a little to create 3 or 4 nice cat pads and it needs temperature control. Easy enough to do if you don't mind investing a little and it's surprising what people pay to have tiddles tucked somewhere safe whilst on holiday. Check with your local council for rules in your area and licensing conditions.

Original poster
merr1goround · 01/05/2023 11:53

Thanks you all,

Points taken on board.

Absolutely no independent access, if there were I'd airbnb it! I'n in a 'trendy' part of London.

Just thinking as I need the money, had a few financial knocks recently.

Cattery is a thought, I really never thought of that at all.....

How much do people pay for that?

OP posts:
Ted27 · 01/05/2023 12:04

yes people will pay a lot for catteries but we also expect our cat masters to be pandered to, talked to, played with etc etc. Litter trays need mucking out. You need storage for food, litter etc.
How would you fit it all in with work and looking after 4 kids.
your busiest times would be school holidays, Christmas, ie times when you want time off.
friends of mine used to run a cattery and kennels, its harder work than it looks and ties you to the house.

manontroppo · 01/05/2023 12:10

No offence but it sounds a crap idea, mainly because you have no access without going through your house.

Everyone likes to think you can just Airbnb/appify anything you own for instant profit but it’s nonsense. Generally you have to work for money, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Surely it would be more straightforward to pick up some evening shifts in a pub?

hattie43 · 01/05/2023 12:24

Yoga studio
Artist studio
You get the drift
If you don't want someone in there all the time rent it out as a class room / book club space etc

Original poster
merr1goround · 01/05/2023 17:10

Thanks all, some good ideas there.

@manontroppo Hopefully I was quite clear when I said I would airbnb if I had side access. I can't enter pubs, but thank you for your contribution.

I could quite easily rent it to a lodger, and I wouldn't mind the constant presence, BUT it would be the potential for them to come and go quite late / have partners over etc. With the little ones, I wouldn't want that. A young foreign student or someone might be good, though, if the lifestyle fit come to think of it....

OP posts:
Original poster
merr1goround · 01/05/2023 17:19

I haven't ever even had a cat so it wouldn't be my first thought, but it's great to think along different lines, it opens up ideas.

I imagine it does take a lot of time and energy, and I'd be learning from scratch. I already work days and evenings, as well as Saturdays so it might not fit in.

Im just looking at that space and wondering whether it can make me money!

OP posts:
Ted27 · 01/05/2023 17:26

@merr1goround

You can't 'fit in' a business with live animals around other work.
I'm not overly precious about my cats, but to be honest I wouldn't leave them with someone who had never owned a cat.

Soontobe60 · 01/05/2023 17:29

I’d rent it out as storage space.

isthewashingdryyet · 01/05/2023 17:31

What about contacting a local hospital and renting to students on placement. I think physio and OT and dietitian students do 12 week placements, so it would be a time limited time of access to your home, and they would be DBS checked and so on.
you might need to specifically ask to speak to eg the physio team lead to see if it is a goer

Seeline · 02/05/2023 09:30

The problem with renting to students would still be them needing to come through your house to access the annexe - at all times of day and night, possibly with friends.

Is there no way of creating an access at the rear of your property?

isthewashingdryyet · 02/05/2023 09:41

Students on placement tend to work normal office hours and have tons of work to do in an evening. They also tend to go home or back to Uni at weekends. And they leave at the end of the placement.

Bramshott · 02/05/2023 09:45

To be honest, I'd try the AirBnB - you don't know how much you'll hate people coming through your house until you've tried it, and it won't be every day. If it's awful you can just stop.

Original poster
merr1goround · 02/05/2023 12:38

I think the local hospital idea is really good. I have a hospital that is around 15 minute walk from me!

I really like that idea!

OP posts: