Why buy a tiny house? | The Journal of Montreal

The tiny house concept is relatively new in Quebec. We knew the mobile home and the house on wheels, but the tiny house… what exactly is it?

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This is a dwelling whose area generally varies between 300 and 800 sq.²which does not rest on foundations, but rather on pilings or concrete blocks.

How are they used?

1. As a main place of residence all year round or as a cottage on weekends and during holidays.
2. As main place of residence for part of the year only. The many retirees who spend the winter months in the South do not want to worry about a large house that they do not regularly live in.
3. As a means of investment by transforming them into rental chalets in order to derive a source of income.

How much does it cost?

The price of a tiny house varies between $45,000 and $250,000. Generally, they are connected to public services, otherwise there are the costs of installing an artesian well as well as the installation of a septic tank, a purification field, and the connection to the electricity networks. . Expenses over $30,000.

Advantages

• Affordable price
• Low maintenance costs
• Little cleaning to do
• Ecological: uses little energy, requires less deforestation, project often located near a green space
• Quick build
• Self-construction permitted in certain projects
• Some companies sell kits that the customer can assemble themselves

The inconvenients

• Tiny houses are not accepted in all municipalities in Quebec. They are often located outside urban areas.
• Little storage. All available space should be rationalized.
• New residents may feel cramped and experience a loss of privacy.
• Many verifications concerning regulations and financing to be carried out.

Are there any everywhere in Quebec?

“It’s a question of zoning, launches Anthony Gibault, promoter. The municipalities designate the territory allocated to the tiny houses, as well as the surface area of ​​these and of the land. You can’t buy land anywhere to build a tiny house on, that’s not how it works.”

Some examples

Here is a non-exhaustive list of municipalities that have allowed the implementation of housing projects specifically intended for tiny houses on their territory.

• Dixville
  Number: 20
  Unit area: 365 to 750 sq.ft.²
• Farnham
  Number:54
  Unit area: 576 sq.ft.² minimum
• Granby
  Number:15
  Area: 800 ft² minimum
• Saint-Andre-Avellin
  Number: 45
  Unit area: 650 sq.ft.² minimum
• Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval
  Number: 36
  Unit area: 511 to 1380 sq.ft.²
• Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson
  Number: 200
  Area: 300 to 800 ft²
• Sainte-Anne-de-la-Rochelle
  Number: 73 From 700 to 1000 ft²

Source: www.la-mini-maison.com

Are you in love with a tiny house?

Here is how to do it:

1. Identify the region that interests you and check the projects available there by consulting the interactive map of the MQMM (Mouvement Québécois des Mini-Maisons), a non-profit organization founded in 2018 whose mission is to promote and encourage the establishment of mini-houses.

1. Once you have made your choice, check the regulations concerning the project with the town planning department.
2. Check if the services offered in the region meet your needs: transport, internet, school, grocery stores, restaurants…
3. Start the financing process with your financial institution

Advice

• Consult a promoter specialized in the field of tiny houses who will guide you in your steps.
• Ask for a cadastral number when reserving land.
• If the street is not built, is there a risk that the street will not be built due to a lack of money from the promoter?