Could tiny homes solve Australia's big housing crisis?

Are you planning to head to Australia’s 2024 Tiny Home Expo? In preparation for your visit, we’re equipping you with our top 5 considerations when contemplating a tiny home as your next investment. We touch on the things you need to think about to ensure the tiny home you choose best serves your current, and future, purpose. 1. Affordability A recent article published by Victoria University highlighted how soaring rents and home prices, increasing mortgage stress, record immigration and a growing population are fuelling a housing crisis and increasing homelessness. And that in the face of this pressing need, tiny houses offer an alternative housing option. Tiny homes are indeed more affordable that your average house. But, they do range in price. As with most things we purchase, this is often a reflection of that product’s quality. Be sure that you are achieving value for money – make a long-lasting investment as opposed to rushing into the wrong decisions. Consider what you’ll be getting for your investment, now, and into the future. 2. Availability Tiny homes, even the customised type, can be readily available within just a few months. Manufactured off-site, you don’t need to worry about an on-site build causing disruption to the neighbours, and the lengthy delays that often come with this. A tip is to look for a tiny home, such as our Almighty Tiny Homes, that offer a complete plumbed and wired kitchen and laundry that are ready for immediate site connection by your qualified tradespeople. Another tip is to check that super speedy availability doesn’t have you compromising on future flexibility. 3. Flexibility Tiny home designs vary. Our advice is that you seek a home that steers away from existing structure modification and offers true flexibility. To achieve a larger, less claustrophobic, natural living space, you need features that will embrace this. For example, a modular bathroom pod, such as those offered with our homes, offer additional space-saving techniques. And, space-saving furniture that can be easily folded away will increase your general living areas when entertaining, or wanting extra room to work. You should also consider how you wish to use your Tiny Home now, and in the future. A tiny home can make the perfect granny flat or student accommodation or even a separate living space for your maturing children. And don’t forget the new rules introduced in Victoria last year, which allow you to build a small, private secondary dwelling on your existing property without a planning permit. You could also use your tiny home as a home gym, home office, or hobby workstation. For industry buyers, the right tiny homes can provide comfortable living conditions for remote workers, Airbnb enthusiasts, and, potentially, those in the market for immediate NDIS housing, with homes able to be customised with ramps and electronic furniture storage options for those living with a disability, or the elderly who have compromised strength. So many options are available. Be sure that your tiny home offers you the flexibility to change the purpose or even size of your tiny home when you need. 4. Environmental sustainability Tiny homes can come with off-grid options for your water, power, and waste. But be sure to investigate the associated costs – especially solar power systems that can cost up to a third of the home itself. At Almighty Tiny Homes, we embrace innovation, sustainability, and customisation, and would love to have a chat about your preferences to go green. 5. Quality Quality is often associated with affordability, and we understand that people may only be able to afford the basics. But tiny homes do exist that offer affordability without compromising on quality. Before buying, be sure to check out the home’s main structure, fixtures, and technological features. What materials and building techniques have been used? What are the brands, and what are their reputations like? How and where are the homes and their features manufactured? These are all key considerations when contemplating your new home. If quality really is your thing, then it’s worth noting that Almighty Tiny Homes uses new age technology that exceeds industry code, and our fiberglass-constructed bathroom pods provide sound structural performance with high-end fixtures. Almighty Tiny Homes are built in alignment with all the above key considerations. If you’re keen to talk through your options, feel free to call for a friendly chat, or to book a time to see one of our Mighty Tiny Homes. . View the Almighty Tiny Homes range here . Keen to know more? Contact us for a friendly chat, or to book a time to see our showroom.

Top 5 reasons mining companies should consider Almighty Tiny Homes The safety and comfort of your workers is a high priority. Not just when working in the mines, but also when living and reenergising in the camp environment. With mining projects located in remote areas with adverse environmental conditions, the industry requires specialised accommodation solutions and services for its workers. Almighty Tiny Homes has introduced an innovative, cost-effective solution to the tiny homes market – one that addresses the key needs of workers, and the companies who employ them. Here are five reasons mining managers and executives should consider this new revolutionary housing solution for your workforce. 1.Staff attraction and retention In a 2022 McKinsey survey of mining executives, 86% said it was harder to recruit and retain the talent they needed compared with two years earlier; and 71% said the talent shortage was holding them back from delivering on production targets and strategic objectives. To help attract staff, being able to offer great living conditions will help. The key difference with Almighty Tiny Homes, compared to the Dongas with their single beds, small bathrooms, little fridges, and tea/coffee-making facilities, is that they are purpose-designed and built, optimising living space and using modern technology that exceeds Industry code. These homes offer a larger and less claustrophobic natural living space where workers can live, work, and relax very comfortably. These homes away from home enable workers to experience real home comforts, even in the remotest of locations, making on-site living more attractive. 2.Greater productivity Working in the mining industry is both physically and mentally challenging. In addition, and as reported by thousands of researchers around the world, sleep deprivation can leave people feeling lethargic, less creative, and make it more difficult to stay focused on important projects. Being alert and focused on a mine site is crucial to maintaining the high level of safety mandatory for workers wellbeing. Almighty Tiny Homes offer a foldaway murphy double bed with a high quality foam mattress. This provides great comfort and promotes good sleep. When not in use, the bed can be neatly and quickly stored, creating additional space, and helping to eliminate the claustrophobic feeling some mining accommodation can impose. This is such an important consideration for someone who has worked long shift hours, generally within a confined operating space of equipment. 3.Multi-purpose functionality A worker’s home isn’t just about a place to sleep. With Almighty Tiny Homes, our modular design makes it possible to turn a home into a practical workspace too. The innovative space-saving furniture, including bed, dining table and chairs, can be safely stowed, creating more space to welcome colleagues and visitors. The dining table can also serve as a workstation or workbench, with the adjacent spacious kitchen perfectly equipped for catering. 4.Portable modular design Workers can have low maintenance yet highly durable accommodation, which also offers an element of flexibility and comfort. Built with high quality materials, Almighty Tiny Homes deliver a better quality modular design complete with space saving initiatives – such as full sized fully appointed fibreglass bathroom pods, which are cladded with Colorbond to perfectly match the external aesthetics of the home. Furthermore, the efficient build, transfer, and portable set-up makes these homes ideal for the mining industry, where good accommodation is often needed quickly and can be easily relocated if and when needed around different Corporate sites. 5.We know mining Almighty Tiny Homes has a great understanding of the mining sector, with Sean Haviland, its founder; also being the Managing Direct of Magnum Australia – a company that’s supplied the mining sector with innovative 100% Australian designed and manufactured products globally for over 50 years.al, and cost-effective high-pressure water dispersal products globally for more than 20 years. “I’ve been travelling to and collaborating with mining companies for over three decades on 5 continents, and have a good acknowledgement of the industry and the workers accommodation throughout the Industry sector,” said Sean. “In designing specific modules within the Almighty range, we identified with key considerations within the mining sector environment from the materials used to the way in which they have been constructed. The Almighty Tiny Home tiny houses really do create a comfortable and usable home away from home that is extremely cost effective” Sean said. “Almighty Tiny Homes come ready to connect to all services by your regular tradespeople,” Sean continued. “This means you can get the air-con on straight away to conquer the intense heat, or switch on the fridge to chill that well-deserved end-of-day beverage. We’re providing all the comforts of a modern home, and delivering it direct to your doorstep. Options to setup as totally “off grid” solar powered with generator backup is also in the design options”. The Magnum Australia manufacturing and head office facility opened in 2022 is a 100% off grid facility powered by a 90 kilowatt lithium battery system energised from 55 kilowatts of solar panels in the latest of modern factory environments. Offering this technology in a smaller and environmentally friendly format is “21st Century responsible living”. If you’re keen to talk through your options, feel free to call for a friendly chat, or to book a time to see one of our Mighty Tiny Homes. . View the Almighty Tiny Homes range here . Keen to know more? Contact us for a friendly chat, or to book a time to see our Almighty Tiny Homes.

In December 2023, new rules were introduced in Victoria that allow you to build a small, private secondary dwelling or 'granny flat' on your property without a planning permit. This decision has been warmly welcomed by the community, as interest rates surge, house prices creep back up, and the state experiences a rental crisis. But, before you get too excited, here are four key things to consider when contemplating the construction of a secondary dwelling – and the key reasons Almighty Tiny Homes would be the perfect fit. 1. The size A ‘small second home’ is defined as a dwelling that is 60 square meters or less, on a lot of 300sqm or more, where there is no flooding, environmental, or other special planning controls. The dwelling must also be under five metres in height. More information can be found on the Victorian State Government website . Almighty Tiny Homes offers various sizes of homes , all of which fall well within the secondary dwelling size guidelines. Our largest home covers an area of 36 square metres and includes space-saving furniture such as two 2-seater dining room chairs with table, and a foldaway double bed. The homes also feature a kitchen, shelving, storage, and a modular bathroom , which can be attached externally to create extra space, and cladded with Colorbond to perfectly match the external aesthetics of your Almighty Tiny Home. Although smaller than a traditional granny flat, these cost-effective Almighty Tiny Homes have all the space, comfort, and facilities needed to live well and feel truly at home. 2. The purpose The additional dwelling must not be commercial in nature. However, anyone is allowed to live in the building. Families may want to rent it out to their children as a first step to independence or use it to accommodate an elderly relative who may need their loved ones nearby. The home can also be rented out to friends or even students – a great scheme for any first home buyer wanting to pay off their mortgage quicker. Almighty Tiny Homes are suitable for anyone seeking an affordable or practical accommodation solution. Our homes can also be custom-built for people living with a disability – for example, we can install ramp access for people who use wheelchairs and apply electronic controls to help with the safe manoeuvring of our space-saving furniture in and out of storage. Furthermore, our homes are portable – they come ready built, so you don’t need to worry about construction complaints coming from the neighbours! And with their modular functionality, you have the flexibility to expand, providing total size does not exceed 60 square metres. If you do not require extra accommodation on your property, then why not plan a second building for your home office, a hobby workstation, or even a home gym? So long as its use is not commercial, there are many ways you can utilise your Almighty Tiny Home. 3. The permissions Under the new rules, you can now avoid liaisons with local Council, with planning permits no longer required. However, if you do want a second dwelling on your land, then you will still need to acquire a building permit to meet siting, amenity, design, and safety requirements. For this, you’ll need to firstly appoint a registered building surveyor, through whom you can then apply for your permit. More information can be found on the Victorian Building Authority website. 4.The small print In addition to the requirements mentioned above, any secondary building must be self-contained, requiring some kind of kitchen and bathroom. And there can only be one secondary home on a lot. All Almighty Tiny Homes come equipped with a kitchen and bathroom, whereby the latter can be attached externally, creating an additional 1.2 metres of space inside your home. And although you will not be able to place a second dwelling on your property, if you do need more space, you’ll be able to expand your Almighty Tiny Home thanks to its modular design – providing you remain within the 60 square metre size limits. All Almighty Tiny Homes are built using high-quality materials, and are trade constructed to the highest building code. They also come with certified plumbing and electricity ready for on-site connection to your water and electricity supplies, by your qualified tradespeople– noting that the Victorian Government does not permit any secondary home to be connected to a reticulated natural gas supply, in line with its plans to phase out new residential gas connections. If you’re keen to talk through your options, feel free to call for a friendly chat, or to book a time to see one of our Mighty Tiny Homes. . View the Almighty Tiny Homes range here . Keen to know more? Contact us for a friendly chat, or to book a time to see our showroom.