Compact Off-Grid Homes: The Affordable, Fast, and Flexible Solution to England's Housing Crisis
The root causes of England's housing crisis have been decades in the making. A significant number of council homes were sold, and not enough were rebuilt, creating an initial shortage. As the cost of buying a home surged and rents followed suit, homelessness reached record highs. With councils bearing the direct responsibility of addressing homelessness, ensuring that everyone has a roof over their heads and with a dwindling number of homes at their disposal, local authorities, out of desperation and not deliberate neglect, have resorted to expensive measures such as placing the homeless in hotels. The result? There is now an intense amount of pressure stacking up and the fears of our local councils facing bankruptcy is a little too real.
As councils grapple with the escalating costs of housing homeless families, we’ve watched from a far and wondered how our homes could fit into the existing housing crisis. If you didn’t already know, the owners of THC started this company from a desire to create affordable housing as they themselves could not afford a property in their local area. Fast foward three years and soon to be the fourth year, the team have completed family homes for the Ukraine government, are working with councils to create homesless pods, and more importantly, are on our mission to create Eco Villages up and down the country to offer affordable housing that is healthier for the people as much as it is for the planet.
Going back to the original point, councils are in need of urgent housing due to the neverending list of homeless people and families knocking at their doors. From floods, environmental disasters to the cost of living crisis - there has never been a more urgent need for a solution - and we think we may have one!
Compact Housing Solutions
Stephen Robinson, the Liberal Democrat leader of Chelmsford city council, underscored the gravity of the situation, saying, “As a country, we’ve not built enough homes for 30 years. If the crisis in homelessness is not addressed, it could bankrupt very many district and unitary councils within two years, with those in south-east England at particular risk.”
At THC, our quick deployable units present an opportunity to reshape this dire narrative. By collaborating with other manufacturers specialising in Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) constructed homes, we believe we could substantially address the housing deficit in less than a year. There is, undeniably, a cost associated with this proactive approach, but it pales in comparison to the ongoing and exorbitant costs of securing temporary housing.
A Wallet-Friendly Alternative to Hotels: The cost of accommodating homeless families in hotel rooms is skyrocketing, with some areas seeing rates of up to £100 per night. Compact off-grid homes offer a much more affordable solution. Local authorities could significantly reduce their spending on temporary accommodation by embracing these cost-effective homes, ensuring more sustainable financial health.
Rapid Deployment to Address Immediate Needs: Traditional brick and mortar homes can take months, if not years, to construct. Compact off-grid homes, on the other hand, can be on the ground and ready for residents in as little as 5 weeks. This rapid deployment capability means that councils can swiftly address the rising homelessness rates, offering immediate relief to those in dire need.
Versatility in Location with Minimal Infrastructure: The unique off-grid ability of these homes means they can be situated in a multitude of settings. Unlike traditional homes that require extensive infrastructure, these compact dwellings only need a water connection. This flexibility allows local authorities to explore a wider range of potential housing locations, optimising land use and bringing homes closer to communities and essential services.
Supports Costly Wasteland: There are hundreds of unusable council owned land plots which cost to manage, burning a hole in their pockets. These quick deployable homes can be placed onto these plots to offer a use for the land and free to low rent for the tenants with the plots no longer being a burden to the councils.
Information taking from the recent Guardian Article - The homelessness issue in England has reached a tipping point, with councils like Basildon and Hastings witnessing exponential rises in temporary accommodation costs. The housing challenge has been exacerbated by rising rents, a scarcity of affordable properties, and a turbulent private rented housing market. Compact off-grid homes, combined with the collaborative potential of MMC, could provide a timely, efficient, and cost-effective solution to these challenges.
Local authorities, irrespective of political affiliations, concur on the urgency of the situation. As councils like Hastings spend nearly half of their core budget on temporary accommodation, innovative housing solutions like those offered by THC might just hold the key to a sustainable, affordable, and efficient housing future for England.
What are your thoughts on today’s housing crisis? Do you see a solution that we cannot see?
And if you are a local councillor, we’d equally love to know your opinion on the matter and to see what kind of solutions our homes can provide.
For more information about our Eco Village plans, please email info@thetinyhousing.co with the heading Eco Village for a copy of our info pack.
