With property prices rising in the UK, particularly in cities, people are increasingly interested in non-traditional housing options. Many feel priced out of the conventional property market and seek creative, affordable alternatives. There’s a sense of urgency or concern around finding viable living solutions in a changing property market.
This blog will consider the various alternative housing options and explain how it will explore several unique possibilities. Matlock Storage is a key player in helping those embracing non-traditional homes by providing secure, flexible storage solutions. Storage can help solve the storage challenges associated with smaller or more flexible living spaces.
Houseboats, Tiny Homes, and Cargotecture
Let’s begin our journey into alternative housing with some compact dwellings – some on land and others on Derbyshire’s waterways.
Houseboats
Houseboats, more commonly referred to as narrowboats, are one unique suggestion for alternative housing. You may consider this a non-starter in Derbyshire because it is landlocked, but the county has a series of suitable canals and mooring points. People live on these beautiful narrowboats; several are listed for sale in Derbyshire, so there’s supply and demand for them.
While there is a gradually increasing interest in narrowboat life and various benefits, such as lower council tax and other rates, there are challenges to consider.
A few examples are:
- Mooring charges
- Finding available spaces
- Increased flooding in the UK.
There’s also a trade-off of convenience for things like electricity, hot water, and everyday complications. However, we think this is worth a second look, and the purchase cost of narrowboats is far cheaper than traditional houses or flats in Derbyshire.
Tiny Homes
If you’re a fan of social media, you’ll likely come across the concept of tiny home living. While compact (typically between 100-sq-ft and 400-sq-ft), the quality is surprisingly high. Tiny homes are for people seeking a minimalist lifestyle and affordable costs compared to small properties.
Here are some factors to ponder:
- Requires purchasing land.
- Planning permission is also needed.
- Less resilient to extreme weather conditions.
One final selling point for tiny homes is the cost-savings and potential for quieter surroundings, depending on where you find a parcel of land.
Cargotecture (Shipping Container Homes)
Not to be confused with tiny homes, cargotecture uses shipping containers to create eco-friendly, cost-effective homes suitable for temporary and permanent living. The model for these homes requires a plot of land and planning permission, so it’s worth checking with Derbyshire Council for more information. However, the cost savings could be drastically cheaper than a brick-and-mortar property.
Off-Grid Living and Other Creative Alternatives
Continuing our quest for bespoke and unusual housing, we move slightly more off-the-grid. Note that most of the options we discuss require planning permission, so remember to cost everything fully and discuss your plans with your local council before investing.
Vanlife & Live-in Vehicles
Another YouTube and reel favourite – vanlife is a firm favourite for alternative living spaces. Technically, no laws forbid living and sleeping in a vehicle, but local bylaws may cause issues. We suggest contacting the local authority to gauge the feasibility of doing this in Derbyshire and being mindful of changes to the law as this lifestyle option gains momentum.
The costs of converting a suitably sized van can vary, and you’ll have to consider an RV for families. Due to space issues, Vanlife is probably more suitable for single people or couples. Who knows, maybe you can start a YouTube channel to bring in some extra funds.
Shepherds Huts
Traditionally, Shepherds’ Huts were moveable structures that shepherds positioned at various points in their fields. They’re now being revamped for the 21st Century for holiday accommodation, such as glamping, but are now seen as unorthodox housing.
Off-Grid Garden Rooms
We round off our alternative living spaces with off-grid garden rooms similar in size to Shepherds Huts. The considerations include planning permission and finding a suitable parcel of land.
How Self Storage Facilitates Alternative Housing
The common thread among the alternative housing options in this list is size—they tend to be compact. That means a significant transition from a traditional house or flat regarding the number of possessions you can keep and store. Is there a way of retaining your belongings without getting rid of everything? The answer is to use self storage, and we’ll detail how several of our customers use it.
Self Storage as an Extension of Your Home
Many people use storage units that can serve as extra rooms to store belongings that don’t fit in smaller living spaces like houseboats or tiny homes. With the rise of lifestyle storage, many see a storage unit as an extension of their home.
Alternative Gyms & Creative Studios
Here are some alternative ways of using self storage. Savvy people use storage units as personal gyms, art studios, or craft spaces, allowing for hobbies and activities that may not fit into compact housing options.
No-Frills Offices & Workspaces
Additionally, there are lesser-known practical uses of storage units as low-cost office spaces. These spaces offer a no-frills solution for freelancers or entrepreneurs, making them ideal for people who are downsizing or living off-grid.
Ideal for Aspiring Alternative Homeowners
So, why do these examples matter if you’re considering alternative housing? Self storage is perfect for those transitioning to alternative housing. It provides flexibility and security for items that can’t be accommodated in their new lifestyle.
Matlock Storage – Leverage Storage for Your Ideal Alternative Home
We hope this blog provides insight into the exciting potential of alternative housing options, like houseboats, tiny homes, cargotecture, and vanlife. These unique options offer creative solutions to rising property costs but often have space limitations. Matlock Storage can assist by providing flexible storage solutions to complement these alternative lifestyles, allowing people to keep their belongings while downsizing or transitioning.
Matlock Storage provides diverse storage packages and services tailored to alternative living needs, with our affordable pricing, including seasonal discounts and promotions to cater to budget-conscious customers. This includes our new Extended Hours service, offering even greater flexibility for busy individuals who need out-of-hours access.
Click here to request an online quote, or contact us to discuss personalised storage options. Matlock Storage’s team can help find the right solution for their needs, ensuring they get the most out of their alternative housing experience.