9 types of atypical accommodation, how do you choose?

Responding to a more ecological, minimalist and thrifty lifestyle choice, the various alternative housing concepts are aimed at everyone.

Whether you’re a single person or a couple, with or without children, there’s bound to be one of the cheap accommodation solutions mentioned in this article that suits your needs, your budget and the level of comfort you require.

Each alternative home has its own characteristics, of course, but there is one thing they all have in common: their small size.

No more excess! We’re aiming to get back to basics, to lead a simple life and devote ourselves to what’s really essential to us. All that’s left for you to do is to choose your future atypical home to bring this wonderful project to fruition.

1. Alternative housing: Tiny house

The concept of the Tiny House was born in the United States in the wake of the 2008 property crisis, making it possible to become a homeowner at a lower cost and take your little home with you wherever you go. Less polluting and more robust than camper vans, this little house on wheels has developed rapidly over the last 10 years thanks to the rise of a greener, anti-materialistic lifestyle.

Renowned for its mobility, sturdiness and economy, the Tiny House is now aimed at a wider audience. Fully customisable, they are the ideal solution for a wide range of needs: minimalist housing, an extra room, a professional office, a mobile business, camping accommodation, etc.

With dimensions ranging from 8 to 30 m², the design of the Tiny House gives it thermal characteristics closer to a standard house than to a type of mobile home (caravan, motor home or mobile home).

It’s certainly more comfortable than a caravan or a simple hut, but you still need to think carefully about the interior layout to make the most of this small space for everyday life. So don’t hesitate to get help from professional designers! (Casakub plans are available here for designing and fitting out your mini-home)

You should also bear in mind your Tiny House’s trailer and its insurance. You must hold a BE licence (7 hours’ training in addition to a B licence) for a total permissible laden weight (PTAC) of between 3.5 and 4.25 tonnes.

That’s why it’s so important to think carefully about the materials you use to build your Tiny House.

If your little house on wheels weighs 3.5 tonnes or more, you will need a BE licence to tow it! It’s hard for a car weighing less than 700 kg to tow that much…

In terms of insurance, “|…] When it’s on the road, this Tiny House is covered by the car insurance of the vehicle towing it. When it is installed, it becomes a dwelling, and home insurance may be appropriate. Be careful, however, to insure this trailer for all damage and not just that caused to third parties. It is advisable to contact your insurance company to find the most comprehensive cover to protect this mobile home“, according to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) website.

As far as the legislation is concerned, here is what the law specifies for an individual wishing to set up an alternative habitat on land with or without planning permission.

It must :

• You must have planning permission or a prior declaration (unless the floor area exceeds 20m2, in which case you will need planning permission).
• Land that meets the same requirements as conventional housing: public water, electricity and sewerage networks.
• Must be located in a buildable area with limited capacity, as defined by the local town planning scheme.
• The dwelling must also be capable of being dismantled or moved, as well as all external installations and equipment.
• Be subject to an environmental impact assessment if you are not connecting it to the public network (e.g. mobile septic tank or dry toilet).
• Be occupied as your main residence, i.e. for at least 8 months of the year.
• No foundations and autonomous.

Finally, this type of property is not subject to local taxes or council tax. However, if you use it as your main residence, you will have to pay an annual tax of 150 euros (or 100 euros if it is more than 10 years old, unless you are exempt).

2. Alternative housing: Container houses

This is certainly the most symbolic alternative habitat in terms of construction using recycled materials.

Originally designed for maritime transport, containers are particularly robust and watertight. Many of them have been converted into homes.

Lightweight, these types of sheet metal dwellings need to be firmly fixed to the ground. Beware, they have little resistance to extreme temperatures and suffer from humidity. Good ventilation is therefore essential to prevent infiltration and mould.

This style of architecture based on containers (known as Cargotecture or Arkitainer) is particularly popular in contemporary, very cubic construction.

As far as legislation is concerned, the first thing to think about is the servicing of your plot. You will then need planning permission and a declaration of completion and conformity of works (DAACT). This last document, issued by a professional, contains a summary of the thermal study, the list of insulation materials used and the air permeability test.

3. Atypical accommodation: Hobbit house

Halfway between real life and Middle-earth, the Hobbit House (or semi-buried house) is the emblem of unusual accommodation for nature lovers.

It can be used as a main residence or rented out as holiday accommodation, and its green surface blends in well with its surroundings. As with all building work, check with your local council to find out about the necessary formalities.

4. Alternative housing: Yurt

When we think of alternative housing, we often think of the yurt. Traditionally used by the Mongolian people, this atypical housing solution is a genuine lifestyle choice.

Originally designed to be mobile, this type of home is now inspiring many architects to come up with a more contemporary design, using new materials such as wood and new configurations: mezzanine floors, windows, double glazing, etc…

The legislation governing the installation of a yurt is also the law, mentioned above in the description of Tiny Houses.

So check the regulations carefully, depending on how long you plan to be on the site (plus at least 8 months) and its surface area.

5. Atypical accommodation: Geo-dome (Earthship)

This type of housing is built with curved lines, often using self-build methods, and is unique in that it is designed using mainly renewable or recycled materials.

In this style of green architecture, the priority is not aesthetics but the use of local materials provided by nature.

The construction of this passive house is based on the principle of bioclimatism, with objectives to be achieved: naturally efficient thermal and energy performance, use of waste (tyres, cans, bottles, etc.) and natural materials, and total autonomy.

It often takes a long time to build, so it’s important to look at the French thermal regulations when designing this type of passive house.

6. Atypical housing: Eco-dome (Earthbag)

This type of alternative housing is built using sandbags or earthbags. Known to be resistant to fire and earthquakes, the eco-dome is both ecological and economical, and is mainly aimed at self-builders.

7. Alternative housing: Straw houses

Straw bale houses are actually built with a wooden structure and insulated with straw bales. It is only since 2012 that their construction has been standardized by the Professional Rules for Straw Bale Construction. Different techniques of use exist depending on the professionals.

This material, classified A +, is an insulator with a VOC toxicity level well below the limit standards. However, it is important to remember that the straw is mainly harvested in fields that are not certified organic.

8. Alternative housing: Floating house

Originally designed for wetlands, the floating house is becoming increasingly fashionable in large cities to expand housing areas.

Unrecognized, these constructions are currently considered as “boats” and must therefore comply with certain rules: authorization of occupation, approval and registration of the DDTM, safety standards, fee according to its location.

9. Alternative housing: Log house (fuste)

Robust, the log house is particularly suited to northern climates. Indeed, the horizontal assembly of thick trunks allows for better insulation.

Some species such as Huon pine, eucalyptus, some cypresses and redwoods do not rot and other species secrete waterproofing resins that keep insects away. It is therefore essential to choose your wood carefully!