What they are Micro Homes?
Very small spaces in converted buildings often old redundant office buildings. They have been called "Ridiculous" – "immoral" – "dog kennels" – "shoe boxes" and "rabbit hutches" as they are often as small as 14sq m in floor area – smaller than a Travelodge hotel room! The government backs these homes as it said in its Housing White Paper: "We also want to make sure the standards do not rule out new approaches to meeting demand, building on the high quality compact living model of developers such as Pocket Homes"
At least the Pocket homes are larger, coming in at a 'huge' 38sq m - a full one square metre larger than the government's minimum space standard for a one person, one bedroom new home.
These potential slums of tomorrow have been allowed since 2013, under 'permitted development rights' meaning office blocks can be converted for new homes without the need to go through the full planning process.
For:
- Cheap and quick to build - for developers
- Makes good use of otherwise unused redundant buildings
- A possible solution for temporary housing the homeless
- A way to make government new housing figures to look better than they are – with 12,824 new 'homes' provided from office block conversions in 2015/16
Against:
- These so-called new homes are little more than bedsits or very small studios at best. Tiny and cramped, "inspired by yacht design", often as small as bedroom in a ‘normal’ new house – 4.2m x 3.87m (16sq m).
- The chief executive of Shelter said these are being: "used by developers as a way of cashing in on people’s desperation by building unaffordable, rabbit-hutch homes."
- Expensive. Even in Barnet a small micro home could cost up to £180,000 for a 28sq m floor area 'home'. Brixton has one-bedroom 'apartments' from £248,500 and boasting communal gardens and cycle storage! Pocket’s "high quality compact living model" flats of around 37sq m - around double the size of the smallest sell for an average price of £255,000, with a one-bedroom flat in Lambeth costing £332,000. (May 2017)
- More difficult to obtain a mortgage on
- Micro homes in office block conversions could death traps in the event of a fire. Building Regulations in England do not require sprinkler systems in residential buildings.
- The partitions are likely to be lightweight, cheap and quick timber stud partitions, which have less fire and sound resistance than masonry walls.
- Micro homes may well be virtually impossible to sell on for anything other than a loss in years to come.
Size and value for money
Micro homes vary in size from a miniscule 13sq m to around 37sq m. They offer very poor value for money, even in the London market. They are sold on a leasehold basis with all the disadvantages this tenure has.
Who are they for:
Allegedly, for first-time buyers as a way of getting on the housing ladder.
Those looking to avoid the daily commute to the City.
Those who might find them a less expensive prospect than a weekly regular hotel room in the City.
Buy to Let - looking for long term income.
Who are they not suitable for:
Practically everyone! Especially couples, families and those with pets!
Our advice
Avoid at all costs! Unless you can buy outright and intend to let the property, even then there are better, safer places to invest for a return.
Note: Floor plans are illustrative examples only. Any similarity between
actual designs, layouts and/or specifications is purely coincidental.
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