I’m 23 and couldn’t afford a house so moved into trailer – it’s bigger than a flat & is super cheap on bills
A 23-YEAR-OLD has revealed that she has moved into an RV full-time, after being unable to afford a home.
Hayley said that she never thought she would have ended up living in the spacious trailer, but is now very happy at home with her boyfriend and her dog.
The California native previously believed that she would “easily” be able to afford an apartment, but now thinks that she was being “delusional”.
Hayley said that she was at first embarrassed to be living in the trailer, as she received weird looks from people when she told them about her situation.
However, she now feels very grateful to have a tiny home of her own.
“Honestly, I’d rather be saving than be in an apartment”, she said.
She added that she was so worried that she would have to get rid of lots of her clothes when she moved into the trailer, as she didn’t think there would be much room inside.
However, her trailer is actually extremely spacious, with a large living room that has a huge sofa in it, an enormous double fridge and even a kitchen island.
Hayley said that she feels extremely safe living in the RV, which is situated on family land, meaning that she doesn’t have to pay to park it up.
Her bills are also super cheap, meaning that she has plenty of money left over to save for a house.
“I’m so grateful to be able to have this option.
To be able to save and be with my dog and my boyfriend, while also living literally right across the street from my mum and stepdad”, she said.
Hayley’s (hayleyyerin) video has likely left many people impressed, as it has racked up over 1.9 million views on the video sharing platform.
TikTok users raced to the video’s comments section to share their thoughts, with many sharing their envy at Hayley’s setup.
One person said: “Your RV is bigger than my apartment.”
The rise of tiny homes
By Jonathan Rolande
Property expert Jonathan Rolande told Fabulous: The reason we are seeing more creative ways of finding a home: super-high property prices and rents. Younger people are remaining in the family home later in life to avoid paying high prices and to save for a deposit. With increasingly busy lives, staying within a larger family group makes sense, chores such as gardening and housework can be shared.
Garages are rarely used for their intended purpose as cars are far more reliable and less prone to rust and so are perfectly happy outside. On the other hand, the amount of property space per person has been shrinking – converting a garage can make great sense.
Things to consider. (the boring stuff)
Usually easier than building from scratch but still a lot to do to turn a garage in to a habitable space.
You’ll need to check if you need planning (more likely to be required if the garage is detached).
Building Regulations stipulate many things to make homes safe and secure. Consider
Walls, are they cavity?
Roof height
Windows
How will you get plumbing, electrics and drainage connected
Insulation – it will be cold!
Fire safety
Damp proofing
Also consider if, by converting, you are adding or deducting value from the main home. Garages can add value in busy urban areas where parking is limited.
A second person said: “Your RV is nicer than my house!”
A third person said: “I’ve been thinking about living in an RV for the last few months because rent prices are just horrible.”
Living in an RV is a great way to save cash for a house, whilst still having your independence.
As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, more and more adults are struggling to get on the property ladder and are choosing to live in their family home for longer.
The 2021 census revealed that over half of people aged 23 and under still live with their parents.
The average price of a house in the UK was £285,000 as of March 2023, and this rises to a whopping £735,254, which is completely unaffordable for many.
Moreover, research from the Resolution Foundation found that the average first time buyer deposit tripled from 5 per cent of the property price in 1989 to 15 per cent in 2019.
This means that buyers have to save for far longer and use up a larger percentage of their earnings to get on the property ladder.
Recent research by property site Zoopla found that 42 per cent of adults under 40 who do not already own homes have given up, due to the astronomical cost of buying a property.
This included 38 per cent of people earning over £60,000 (almost double the average salary for the UK).
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