Tiny Homes Expo

The fascination for “Tiny houses” has seen a huge surge in demand with builder Michael Duffy pivoting away from project homes to build Tiny houses exclusively under the brand, Highlands Tiny Homes

He said 20 years ago he was building 2 Tiny houses a year alongside his building business, by 2015 Tiny houses made up half his usual business.

“I could see that this was no short term fad as the more house and land prices increased the more enquiries we got about Tiny houses,” said Michael.

“We are now doing Tiny houses full time and as a small family business aim for between 20 to 30 a year depending on the size of the house.”

He says they can build Tiny houses to suit most budgets from basic cabins to the latest design which has three bedrooms, a good sized kitchen and living area, a bathroom and ensuite for under $200,000.

He told the Hills to Hawkesbury Community News that clients include people setting up BnBs and others in their 20s with parents with big enough backyards for a Tiny Home.

“I have three boys aged 17 , 20 and 23 and they can see that they will probably never afford to enter the housing market … so Tinys are the perfect entry level for a generation of children,” he said.

The company has also built Tiny houses for people in the South Coast affected by the fires and in the Lismore and Ballina area for people affected by floods.

Tiny Homes Expo organiser, Phae Barrett says Individual councils in NSW are “the only thing” holding up the idea of people living in a tiny house.

“There is more support towards using them as ‘temporary homes’, which is actually unhelpful as it aligns with AirBNB and short stays – which doesn’t help with the housing crisis.”

She said while NSW State government legislation enables people directly affected by “disasters” such as floods and bushfires to live in tiny homes currently for two years it did not cover the housing crisis stress caused by rental shortages, interest rates increases, and the rising cost of living.

The upcoming Tiny Homes Expo will be the 9th Tiny Home event she has organised. She says in the past 5 years the number of businesses involved in Tiny Homes has grown from 30 to over 500.

There will be 40 exhibitors at the Tony Homes Expo at Hawkesbury Showgrounds from May 12th to May 14th. Michael Duffy’s Highlands Tiny Homes will be showcasing four designs including the two-bedroom Brooklyn which is pictured.

Due to the Expo’s popularity it will be a ticketed event with tickets ranging in price from $20 to $30 and staggered entry times. For details visit www.tinyhomesexpo.com.au