FAQs
I'd like to see a tiny house in person, do you have any you can show me?
Yes, we always have several under construction at the Factory. We love to show clients through current projects then sit down in our Showroom to discuss their own ideas. We can also show you all our different plans. Normal viewing times are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11-11.30am. Please contact us at least one day in advance if you want to come for a viewing.
What is the difference between a cabin and a Tiny House?
Not much at first view, but the differences are important to understand what you are paying for:
A Tiny House is built with the same materials as a house. Well insulated, sturdy, and should comply with the building code for residential dwellings. Mostly on wheels but can be built on skids as a relocatable building. Many have two storey-designs to maximise inside space.
A cabin can be cheaper as it is not classified as a residential dwelling in some instances, and may have less insulation, lighter walls, windows etc. They are typically of single storey design and can be larger than Tiny Homes on Wheels that need to remain moveable. Cabins have been around for a long time. Some cabin manufacturers now offer wheels and call them Tiny Houses.
We build single storey and double storey Tiny Houses to a high standard of aesthetics, structural integrity and insulation. They meet the Building Code for residential dwellings where applicable.
Will I need to obtain council consent?
Building Consent
There is an ongoing debate among councils as to whether or not a Tiny House is a caravan (being exempt from the Building Act) or a permanent structure which means the Building Act would apply. We build our Tiny House to the NZ Building Code, with two notable exemptions: the height of the rooms, and the steepness (gradient) of stairs. The Building Code is currently under review to include Tiny Homes (but an amendment may be a while, as of August 2021).
Plumbing Consent
An easier way to get consent for a Tiny House may be the provision of a Plumbing Consent for a relocatable building. This still requires you to apply for the consent, to show a site , foundation, and plumbing plan, but no Code Compliance Certificate for the Tiny House. Your local Council has more information about that.
Resource Consent
The purpose of your Tiny House will decide on whether or not you need to obtain resource consent. There are a number of questions that the councils will want to know so we recommend you get in touch with your local council directly to find out exactly what you can and can't do.
Generally speaking, each council has a differing opinion on Tiny Houses so we recommend that you check directly with your local council whether it be for building or resource consents.
Can You supply a CCC with my Tiny House?
If you have heard that a Tiny House can come with CCC, read on…
A Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) is issued by a certifying authority (typically a local Council) to the owner of a building. This happens after the Council is satisfied that the building, once located in its permanent position, meets all the Council requirements and complies with all relevant rules (Building Code, foundations, plumbing etc). You can appoint us as the agent to deal with Council on your behalf. You can get a CCC for your Tiny House before it leaves our factory. If your Tiny House goes into a different Council area, you will still have to apply for a building consent and separate CCC for the proposed location, and provide all the documentation for foundations, plumbing etc. If the Tiny House remains in Queenstown Lakes District Council, we can act as your agent for the whole process.
You may be better off asking your Council about a Plumbing Consent, which does not require a separate CCC for your Tiny House.
How much does a tiny house weigh?
Most of our Tiny Houses are at the large end of the scale and can weigh anywhere from around 3.5 tonnes for up to 2.4 x 7.8m size, and up to about 5 tonnes for larger ones. The weight changes depending on the size of the house, materials used for construction, and the amount of built-in cabinetry.
Do I have to have wheels on my Tiny House?
No you don’t. We can supply a re-locatable Tiny House or cabin on skids. People have various reasons to have wheels. Smaller Tinies can be easily towed, larger ones may be classed as a caravan and not require building consent if they have wheels.
Can I tow the house with my own vehicle?
If the house is under 3.5 tonnes, yes. This is the maximum allowed weight to be able to tow on New Zealand roads. Anything above this will need to be hauled by the professionals.
how can i move my large tiny home?
For large Tiny Homes such as Shaye’s Hazel, Britt, Sophie, we recommend a loader, which means the house gets taken off the trailer onto a loading truck by a crane, then back onto the trailer (or prepared foundations) when it arrives at your site. The trailer travels separately. This is highly recommended especially if your house has glass or tiled features which may otherwise crack during transport.
How do I connect to water and electricity?
We use a caravan connection for electricity which can plug into a normal plug point. It is best to be within 100m of the house.
Off-grid solar connections are available upon request and start from around $15,000. We have specialist partners in some areas, please inquire if you are interested.
Water simply connects to a tap on the property and water tanks with a pump can also be installed if you prefer.
Do you use sustainable products?
Where possible, we use sustainably-sourced materials native to New Zealand. We also have some knowledge about healthy building products. Due to the weight and scale of a Tiny Home, you may have to make some compromises. Please talk to us if you’d like to know more.
I'm not familiar with composting toilets, how do they work?
There are a number of different options – it would be best to do your own research on this. However, we have one in our workshop. Feel free to try it out during a visit!
Can I have a plumbed-in toilet instead?
Yes in accordance with local building rules.
What if I wanted to add-on to my house in the future?
We can build a pod for you to attach to your Tiny House. A number of our designs are specially designed so that modules can be added over time. This will need to be discussed when designing your home.
The location I want to put my tiny house has limited/difficult access. What options do I have?
It is best to discuss access with us or a towing company. Steep hills, sharp corners narrow access, low power lines, trees, etc. can all cause problems.
In extreme cases, a crane or even a helicopter can get houses into position. Best to plan this when designing your Tiny Home, as weight and size limits apply
Do I need to place the house on foundations?
No, you just need a flat, level surface. A professionally compacted space the size of your house is the best option if possible but we have had many houses simply park in a nice flat area. Our Tiny Homes come with brackets where you can fix caravan stabilizers or piles. Some form of tie-down is a good idea in windy areas.
The houses seem to be quite high off the ground, how do I get into it?
That’s because of the wheels! Due to the fact the ground levels may vary from site to site, we do not provide stairs. However, if you know your site is level you can request some to be made for your house. Most people have decks made and stairs up onto the deck. Temporary steps can be supplied as well upon request.
Will my house have a warranty?
Yes. All warranties for products used in the build of your Tiny House will be passed onto the new owner. We also provide a Build Warranty of 12 months whereby any issues will be corrected if they arise as a result of incorrect workmanship. It will not cover any damage that may result during transportation.
Electrical, plumbing, & gasfitting work is carried out by our licensed professionals and compliance certificates will be issued upon completion.