A Room in the Garden is leading the way in creating contemporary, mobile homes in the garden. In this article, they explain the benefits of this type of building and share examples of different size garden homes they have created:
The last few years had a significant effect on our economy and have changed the way we live quite a lot. It is harder and harder for young people to buy a property, and more and more people want to move closer to their loved ones. This brought an increase in demand for livable spaces in the garden.
The traditional way to go about it would be building an annexe, but there is another option that gives more flexibility and can be more cost-effective: the mobile home. I am sure many of you are now tweaking your nose, thinking about the traditional mobile homes you see in the summer caravan park.
Well, not anymore! A Room in the Garden has given a new meaning to the word mobile home, creating incredible, stylish spaces with all the comforts you would expect from a home, if not more!
Large garden mobile home example:
Large liveable space built as a mobile home for a couple who sold their own house to their children and decided to live in their garden. The home has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a walk-in wardrobe, a utility room and a large living room with an open plan kitchen. Read more about this garden home.
Each of their mobile homes is designed individually to match the needs of the person (or people) who will be living there and to use the available space better and complement the main house. When designing a mobile home Lukas, co-owner and head designer at A Room in the Garden, takes into consideration how the light travels through the garden during the day, how the presence of a mobile home will affect the garden, how the residents of the mobile home will use the space. For instance, do they need a ramp for easy access? Larger doors for a wheelchair to go through?
Explore their portfolio, and you will quickly see that no two mobile homes they have designed look the same!
Medium-sized garden mobile home example:
Medium-size garden home, designed to match a modern and contemporary house. The accommodation comprises of one bedroom with a bathroom and a large living area with an open plan kitchen. The exterior photo shows the building before the fully installed stone facade, but you can see it coming.
Why a mobile home?
There are a number of reasons to do it, from not requiring planning permission and the 0% VAT rate. To the freedom that designers have in creating a unique and architecturally pleasing structure. Just have a look at some of the main points:
1. No need to apply for planning permission
A mobile home can be built under the Caravan Act Law and follows different rules than traditional outdoor buildings. Under the Caravan Act Law, planning permission is not required. Saying that, it is advisable to apply for the Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) just for a piece of mind.
2. Mobile homes have VAT 0%
Mobile homes that include a bathroom and a kitchenette are classified as VAT rate 0%, which will save you quite a bit of money, considering the kind of investment we are talking about.
3. Up to 136sqm of internal space
The maximum size for a mobile home is 20m wide by 6.8m deep - this gives you more space than many of the 3 bedroom houses currently on the market. If you have a space in your garden, you can fit 4 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and large reception rooms with an open plan kitchen into this footprint. The estimated price for this type of structure might start from around £250,000, so in many cases, it is cheaper than the equivalent sized house.
4. Up to 3m internal height
Height restrictions in mobile home design work differently than in Permitted Development. You can have a room with up to 3.05m internal high, which feels really spacious.
5. No building control certificate
This does not mean that mobile homes built by A Room in the Garden are not safe. They are built with Building Regulations in mind, but do not require certification at the end of the project. This lets you position your new home in very tight spaces without the need of leaving a large gap around it.
One bedroom garden mobile home example:
Medium-size mobile home for a mum. One bedroom, one bathroom and living area with a clearly defined kitchen and dining space. The external design was inspired by the house and garden where the structure is situated.
In the last few years, A Room in the Garden has grown into a specialist in building liveable garden rooms and mobile homes, completely challenging the industry's standards. You can see it in some of the examples shown in this article, varying from a large mobile home to a small one, using various materials and internal finishes. Behind each of these projects lies a story of a family and their relatives, all with different needs, gardens and houses.
Long, narrow mobile home example:
A long, narrow mobile home designed to maximise available space in the front of the house and designed for a gentleman using a mobility scooter to move around with a specially designated area to charge it.
Although the company is based in Brighton, they offer their service all over the UK. You can engage A Room in the Garden for a full turn-key service, from the design to the full installation, including all the groundwork, water and electrical connection.
Thanks to their knowledge and expertise, they will be able to take on every single aspect of the design and build of your new mobile home. They even offer interior design services for those who would like to have their space even more personalised.
If you are in the market for one of those, either for yourself or for your family members, get in touch with A Room in the Garden. They have a very non-sales approach to their business and will be very happy to advise what might work best for you.
New York loft style mobile home example:
A Room in the Garden has just completed a square shape garden accommodation designed in the style of New York industrial lofts, where the lady who will be living here spent many years. It is an open plan layout with only one dividing wall.
Want to learn more? Chat with the A Room in the Garden team by calling 01273 80 70 77 or send them an email: hello@aroominthegarden.co.uk. Complete this Getting Started form if you would like the A Room in the Garden team to contact you.
