Are you a future Tiny House owner who wants to settle on a plot of land for more than three months a year? Finding a plot of land is an essential part of your Tiny House project, but it can sometimes prove complex. On the one hand, it's not always easy to get approval from the local council. On the other hand, we often ask ourselves this question: should I become the owner or the tenant of a plot of land? Today, we're here to help you get to the bottom of it!
1. Finding a commune that accepts Tiny Houses
The first and most important step, whether you want to own or rent a plot of land, is to find out about the Local Urban Planning Scheme (PLU) of the commune in which you want to settle. The PLU is the reference document for urban planning, housing and urban transport in the commune. Each commune therefore has its own rules and policy in terms of Tiny Houses. It can therefore accept or reject your project. You can consult a map of communes that welcome this new type of housing by clicking here.
In some cases, for aesthetic reasons and to comply with town planning regulations, the town may accept your project, but only under certain conditions. For example, some towns may require your wheeled house to have a red or green roof color to be accepted.
If your project is accepted, and your mobile home does not exceed a floor area of 20m², and if the installation on the site exceeds 3 months per year, you will need to apply for a CERFA13404 preliminary declaration of works.
2. Becoming a plot owner
Have you found a commune that accepts Tiny Houses and would like to become a landowner? You're ready to start looking. It's up to you to decide what type of plot will suit you best, and it's not just a question of budget. Are you looking for a serviced plot where you can easily connect to the electricity and water networks, or an undeveloped plot in an agricultural, natural or forestry setting where you can't connect to the grid? In the second case, you don't have to be afraid of living in total autonomy and independence. In fact, thanks to the research carried out by our design office, we can offer our customers a wide range of autonomous solutions, enabling them to live a nomadic, independent life, and above all, without connections! To find out more, click here to read our article on autonomy options.
3. You don't own a plot of land: what are the options?
Renting land
Calling on a relative or friend who owns a plot of land and can rent it to you is a perfect solution!
If you don't, you can easily find land rental ads on numerous platforms such as Le Bon Coin or the Facebook Market Place.
You can also post an ad on Tinystes groups on Facebook! These very popular groups allow you to exchange ideas on land search and other topics. More than just a place to exchange ideas about this new way of life, it's a place where people can help each other! The Ma Tiny House group and Les Tinystes du Sud will probably be able to help you in your search!
As for the administrative formalities involved in renting a plot of land, it's pretty straightforward: the owner and tenant work together to define the terms of the lease, its duration and the amount of rent.
Shared plot
Another solution: set up your trailer house on a shared plot!
Some campsites are open all year round, and are willing to rent a pitch on their land. If your Tiny House isn't self-contained, you don't need to worry about connections. What's more, campsites are often very secure, so you can live in peace of mind.
Increasingly popular, the Tiny House village concept is a kind of paradise for people who want to be surrounded by Tiny neighbors! What a pleasure it is to live in a place focused solely on this alternative lifestyle, ecology and respect for the environment! Connections are often possible on the plot, and you'll be asked to pay a small rent for the site. The first Tiny House village was built in Rezé, Loire-Atlantique. Many new projects are underway in France, so perhaps there's one near you?
