Can I Live in a Shed in My Backyard

Can I Live in My Shed, Log Cabin or Summerhouse in the UK?

Published: 31/03/2021

More and more than people in the UK are turning to garden buildings as an affordable way to own their own homes [1]. Every bit y'all're reading this, y'all could exist thinking well-nigh something similar. Or yous may exist wondering whether it'southward legal to turn your shed into a sleeping room or lodge for when friends or family unit come to stay – and that'due south a fair question. You may even want to know whether information technology'due south possible to live in a log cabin in your parents' garden, or whether you tin can live in a summerhouse in your garden during the warmer months. Or maybe y'all want to create extra space for regular guests on your holding and you'd like to know whether y'all need to worry about planning permission or building regulations. These are all questions nosotros aim to answer in this blog mail service – so go on reading!

Liveable sheds: the potential advantages

Ignoring obvious practical and legal questions for a minute, allow's take a await at why you may desire to create a shed chamber or fifty-fifty convert your existing garden building into a permanent dwelling house:

• Yous can create more privacy for yourself or loved ones
• Information technology'south less expensive than erecting even a depression-upkeep house
• At that place'due south less red tape – UK shed regulations aren't as strict
• Quango tax may be cheaper
• Sheds are quicker to build
• They're easier to transport
• They're widely available

These are simply a few reasons why y'all may think that living in a shed is a expert thought. Of all the points above, affordability is peradventure the greatest incentive for living in a shed – specially at time when the housing market continues to smash! Here's why…

You'll see the difference – and then will your bank balance!

Back in 2019, Channel 4's G Designs stated the toll of self-building a 'very small bungalow' on a budget would be around £87,500 [2]. Compare that to the price of the Aureola, one of Tiger Shed'south premium log cabins, this year equally an case. Add in the costs of adding modern conveniences (we'll talk more about these later) and you'll see your converted outhouse will fix y'all back simply a fraction of the cost of building or buying a conventional home. But despite all these advantages, in that location'southward still a lot you need to have into account earlier converting your garden edifice into a liveable space…

Is it legal to alive in a shed or even use information technology as an actress sleeping accommodation?

Surely living in a traditional garden shed is immune if it's on your own land – right? Unfortunately non. Standard garden sheds – fifty-fifty the best-fabricated ones – are not designed to meet building regulations that govern the structure of houses and other living spaces. These include rules effectually planning permission, electricity supply, plumbing, heating, floor construction and more – all of which are largely absent (or at least not as strict) in UK shed regulations. Also – tin you imagine sleeping in a traditional outhouse shed in the expressionless of winter without proper insulation, heating or plumbing? Then can we – and it doesn't sound comfy, make clean or warm! Note:By contrast, log cabins with 28mm and 44mm wood are better insulated, so you lot would certainly exist warmer in one of those! Equally a result, choosing a log cabin or summerhouse would exist a more practical starting indicate than a standard 8x6 storage shed, for instance.

And here's the really good news…

At that place are legal ways to make living in an outhouse shed a reality:

Seek planning permission

Planning permission is important to consider if you or anyone else wants to live in your shed legally in the UK (or only stay there overnight from fourth dimension to time). Here's what'due south y'all need to know…

Practise I need planning permission for my live-in shed?

Do you have a shed with a pull-out sofa bed that friends or family use one time every then ofttimes? Well, that'southward non the same as using a shed as a regular or permanent living quarters. Then, equally the Homeowner'due south Alliance states, if you or guests only wish to stay in your garden room occasionally, yous may not crave planning permission [3]. But if someone plans on sleeping in your shed regularly, or all the time, it is likely you'll need to seek planning permission. The aforementioned principle applies to garages. To be certain whether or not you need planning permission, you should contact your local authority.

Permitted developments

Buildings that do not require planning permission are known every bit 'permitted developments'. Under normal circumstances, sheds and other outbuildings are said to exist permitted developments every bit long as they meet certain criteria. In general, to avoid the need for planning permission, your garden edifice should:

• take upwardly fifty% (or less) of the property
• have eaves that are two.v metres or less in height
• use a roof that is lower than iv metres
• be one storey
• feature raised platforms that are less than 0.three metres in height
• not be physically attached to the belongings
• not be within the grounds of a listed building

So can my live-in shed be a permitted development?

You may be wondering why the garden edifice you wish to convert into a shed sleeping accommodation, granny house, annexe or invitee house can't exist considered a permitted development. Afterwards all, if your garden building meets all requirements in terms of height, size and distance from the original house, then you must exist able to escape the need to seek planning permission from your local council, right? Non exactly. As nosotros say in a previous postal service called "Do I Need Planning Permission for My Log Cabin?", the law states that all separate living areas require planning permission. You tin can find more general data on planning permission for sheds elsewhere on the Tiger Sheds website. Y'all'll also see detailed technical information on the UK government's gov.uk website [4].

The departure between planning permission & building regulations

It's important to note that in the UK, planning permission and edifice regulations are not the aforementioned. With this in heed, you demand to make sure you follow the rules governing both building regulations and planning permission.

Follow building regulations

To plow your outbuilding into a shed bedroom or general living space, you must obtain blessing under Uk building regulations [5]. Equally nosotros alluded to earlier, there are many facets to these rules. These include the following (in no detail guild) [6]:

• Electricity
• H2o supply, plumbing and drainage
• Ventilation and damp proofing
• Heating, insulation and glazing (energy efficiency)
• Foundations and flooring
• Structural stability
• Accessibility
• Burn proofing
• Building materials
• The construction work itself

As you tin can encounter from the list higher up, there's a lot more to creating a liveable garden space than erecting a garden toilet shed, for example. You need to think about plumbing – plus a whole lot more than. When you complete the work to the correct standard, you must obtain a Document of Lawful Employ (sometimes besides chosen a Lawful Development Certificate [7]) for your alive-in outhouse shed, log cabin or summerhouse. Yous'll need to apply for Edifice Regulations approval if [8]:

• the flooring is 30m² or more than in volume
• yous wish to install a toilet, sink or shower to the mains sewer
• the edifice is cocky-independent living accommodation

Adding mod conveniences to your liveable shed

The electrics, plumbing, insulation and other modern conveniences will either take you lot time to install, or add together to the overall costs if you hire professionals to do this work for you. For more on the costs involved, visit the Checkatrade website [9].

Much more than just a garden toilet shed

In terms of adding plumbing to your garden edifice, it'southward more than complicated than adding waterworks to outdoor toilet sheds. Why? Because you may wish to add a shower or bath, for example. This, in plow, requires more space and a supply of hot water (unless of course you enjoy freezing cold showers every morning – brr!).

What it takes to become your shed prepare to live in

If you put in a shower, you lot'll too need a good extractor fan to expel wet and avert damp (not so of import if yous put in a bath). We show you how to ventilate your shed or log cabin elsewhere on the Tiger Sheds web log. With regard to insulation, our 44mm log cabins come with under-floor and nether-roof options to help you stay cooler in summer and warmer in winter. For more than information, have a look at our advice on how to insulate a shed. The Trusted Traders department of the Which? website is a great source of information on what it takes to install utilities in your shed, log cabin or summerhouse [10]. Of class, you'll besides demand electricity. For help with this, check out our tips on running power to a shed in the U.k..

What about security?

While not vital in terms of your legal right to create beds in sheds, yous'll no dubiousness desire to keep your shed secure to protect yourself (or your guests) and your possessions. For help achieving this, read our pace-past-stride guide to shed security.

Remember council tax!

In improver to the rules and regulations mentioned above, you must also be enlightened that you may need to pay what some refer to as 'granny annexe council tax' [eleven]. Traditionally, a granny annexe was said to be a building associated with the master domicile – and they were meant to help older relatives stay close to family while also allowing them to live independently. If the granny flat is in utilize, the occupier must pay fifty% of the toll of council taxation for the main house. Get in touch with the relevant department at your local council for more data.

I'chiliad not elderly – does the granny flat tax affect me?

Probably. If you ain the main home or you're related to the owner, yous may also exist entitled to a fifty% discount on your quango revenue enhancement [12].

What size garden building is best to plow into a shed bedroom?

In theory, in that location are no size restrictions on your alive-in shed. Just in exercise? That's a different story. Allow's face information technology – you'll need enough space for a bed and perhaps a toilet, shower, storage space and more than. We'd recommend something like the Sigma – an attractive, natural-finished log motel. With a range of sizes up to 20x20 feet, it features high 44mm interlocking planed and finished logs, as well as a veranda where you can remainder afterward a difficult 24-hour interval at work or in the garden during summer. It too boasts high-form, pressure-treated floor joists to avoid damp, and heavy-duty mineral roofing felt as standard. In improver, toughened double glazing and 18ft guttering are optional extras. In improver, the Tiger Delta is bachelor in sizes of up to 20x18 anxiety, while the Omega offers a whopping 30x18 anxiety of space. And like much of our range, you tin can customise your log cabin to make converting it into a liveable shed as hurting-gratis as possible. As part of this bespoke shed design service, we can add internal walls and even an exterior door to requite you the best starting point for your live-in garden building. We offering a wide range of log cabins, summerhouses and sheds that may be a suitable base of operations for your live-in garden retreat. Explore our website tofind out more.

References

[ane] https://inews.co.britain/opinion/comment/i-couldnt-afford-rent-or-a-mortgage-so-im-living-in-a-converted-shed-268757

[2] https://www.granddesignsmagazine.com/self-builds/461-cocky-build-price?fbclid=IwAR3pmDpDO5hZ9_IFT5YEV0BucrJPuqprWFCtxLegiGVUm66Rh4iPtI355Ts

[3] https://hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-improving/garden-rooms/?fbclid=IwAR2ge_YGK7SxG9xairYXcLLKf554R9zhxESBe0oBCcblI_KS3woQZMC6uoI

[4]https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/organisation/uploads/attachment_data/file/830643/190910_Tech_Guide_for_publishing.pdf

[5] https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/43/outbuildings

[six] https://www.legislation.gov.great britain/uksi/2010/2214/made

[7] https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/residents/environment-planning-and-building/planning/do-i-demand-planning-permission-and-will-i-get-it

[8] https://www.labc.co.united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland/homeowners/practise-i-need-building-regulations-application-specific-projects/outbuilding?fbclid=IwAR1Efqb0ipvlkFhK0sQWZ_IzhwQypYthbvZEEs7O7AQkqoeB6TvCY-Z3RoA

[9] https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/shed-conversion-price/?fbclid=IwAR388K7o9kj3wz9looPUJuTn1NXAZfNJP6C_CGTxkMTGR0d7eLRfFSCdoZA

[10] https://trustedtraders.which.co.uk/articles/installing-utilities-into-your-shed-garage-or-outhouse-what-you-demand-to-know

[11] https://hoa.org.u.k./got-a-granny-flat/

[12] https://world wide web.dover.gov.great britain/CouncilTax/Discounts-and-exemptions/Annexes-and-Council-Taxation.aspx#:~:text=If%20you%20live%20in%20an,of%20a%20single%20property%3B%20and

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Source: https://www.tigersheds.com/blog/can-i-live-in-my-shed-log-cabin-or-summerhouse-in-the-uk/

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