Life inside a tiny home... purgatory or the final destination? | Short Documentary | SBS The Feed

Tiny houses have become a popular weekend retreat for people to spend some time living with just the basics, but for Rochelle Ryan and Angela Smith, the rental crisis has forced them into living in them full time.

The rental properties both women were living in were sold but the sky-high cost of renting in southeast Queensland forced them to look into alternative options.

Producer: Ilias Bakalla
Shooter/Editor: Gavin Blyth
Graphics: Synthura Sandrasegaran

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[georgekrpan]

I view the tiny house movement as a symptom of the disappearance of the middle class.

[oldgloryhillfarmturtlewoma]

He said less than $400.00 A WEEK? $1, 720.00 per month for rent? Sorry, that’s outrageous. It’s even more outrageous that this lady has put $40, 000 into an 8x10 box with no bathroom facilities. Society is regressing so quickly, we’ll be back in the dark ages before you can say Jack Robinson.

[litigrtor]

This is my young family. We have a tiny transportable dwelling on our own property. The council said they will demolish it and fine us if we don't remove it, but where will we go? There are no rentals and we can't get finance for a builder right now. I'm due to give birth soon. There's too much red tape in this country. Houses are HOMES not INVESTMENTS.

[romysv]

I'm not australian and I can tell you this a global crisis. Rent has gone up astronomical as well as lot prices. Bulding materials. Owning a house for most people is nearly impossible. Renting, when possible, means not being able to save. The rich get richer and middle and lower class get poorer.
Can't count the number of nights I've spent awake worrying about my future.

[nicholasaird]

I have no problem with some form of rules regarding tiny homes but why hit those with limited resources to pay for permits to live on land that the owner already pays council rates on ? Government at all levels have slowly got out of control and it’s time people pushed back

[lzrd]

Do Australians really rent by the week? My god, the cheapest rental is A$ 400 PER WEEK? How can pensioners afford to rent? This woman works full time & can’t afford to rent. I’m shocked by the problem in Australia.

[jazziered]

Here in America, we're pricing people out of housing, and the government is trying to criminalize homelessness on top of it. It's disgusting.

[jennpul]

$514 for a home pemit for 18 months? How can this make sense. These people just keep squeezing money out of people who already don't have money. Its like taking human rights away.

[lindae]

Affordable housing is a worldwide problem. It needs to be addressed quickly before everyone is homeless and living on the streets

[catiapb]

Housing problem is all over the world, no one talks about the real problem, investement funds are manipulating the housing market.

[Pabz]

Imagine if governments actually helped people instead of helping themselves and their mates to people's wealth.

[Peta]

It's gross that state governments and local councils make ridiculous rules that make it very hard to have tiny homes in aus.

[Patrick.Weightman]

My favorite thing about tiny homes is how they're already skyrocketing in price because they're trendy.

[CplusO]

As someone who lives in a tiny house made of wood in Gippsland I disagree with the assertion that my home will just burn or be flooded. I have the option of moving my tiny house if the river floods, every other home on the river flat is vulnerable.

[vv]

Disgusting that council claims right to what people do on their own land .

[LISA_]

The guy saying they could burn in a fire, wouldn't a normal house burn also, same with the flood idea, the difference is a tiny house has wheels and can be moved if there is a chance of fire or flood, can't do that with a normal house.

[louiseyvette]

"You will own nothing and you will be happy"

[petermcgreevy]

A million Airbnb's there lies your problem with no in else where...who is making the big

[loriebolduc]

These "councils" don't seem to have to have much empathy for those families hanging on by a thread. They lack vision and problem solving skills. They only are interested in collecting permit and fine monies. Pathetic.

[cherylcampbell]

I downsized to 909 sq. Ft from 2180 sq ft. Glad I did because everything has quadrupled. No yard to do in 105 plus degree heat in Arizona. Miss my home, my yard with pool. I’m blessed. I feel everyone’s pain. I’m 74 and work 12 hours a week just to eat. Groceries are ridiculous.