Little Latitude Homes

08/06/2026

OPINION: WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY

(References below)

The Tasmanian Government will admirably jump through many time-consuming legislative hurdles, like public consultations and passing laws through both the lower and upper houses of Parliament in order to encourage affordable housing, for example:

📑 guarantee bank construction loans for off-site modular home builders under a new scheme to ‘accelerate housing supply, lower upfront costs, and improve access for first-home buyers’
(STATUS - just announced)
FYI these modular homes can still cost half a million dollars with land & approvals costs; not affordable for many Tasmanians.

📑 increase the size of secondary dwellings (‘granny flats’) from 60sq metres to 90sq metres
(STATUS - recently consulted & underway)

📑 allow permits for up to three years for the use and development for temporary housing of eligible persons within demountable, relocatable, or other forms of non-permanent buildings, through certain housing providers. (STATUS - in effect since 2020)

📑 defer (postone) new updates to the Australian National Construction Code until May 1st 2027
(STATUS: in effect: Tas continues with NCC 2022 version).
The NCC sets the minimum standards for safety, health, amenity, accessibility and sustainability: those basic things that critics say tiny homes on wheels can’t meet. They can, although often by expensive alternative methods called ‘Performance Solutions’, rather than ‘Deemed to Satisfy’ methods, since tiny homes on wheels are usually built to caravan road limitations on weight & dimensions, unlike fixed-to-the-ground or prefab/modular buildings (which are shifted with cranes & oversize trailers).

⁉️ However, the State Government, despite providing technical information in 2024 through its Building & Planning Departments, will not consult with and make any concessions for the existing community of tiny homes on wheels (estimates of 300 to 500 households in Tasmania) - who are not asking for financial help, nor for reduced housing standards.
Many simply want:

- for those who wish to keep moveable vehicle status; a statewide permit allowing medium term tenure (even if parked medium-term on a land-host’s property), IF ABLE to meet a checklist of basic requirements (e.g. health, safety, access to services- fresh water/ power/ waste water, sustainability & emergency access), and not have to live in fear of complaints or time limited Caravan By-Laws.
This differs from applying for Building Approval, since building surveyors cannot certify that a vehicle meets NCC 2022, let alone future versions of the NCC.

Whilst it’s not a perfect solution, the Tasmanian State Government could look to Western Australia’s precedent in this matter.

LINKS TO REFERENCES:

https://pulsetasmania.com.au/news/tasmania-to-guarantee-bank-loans-for-modular-home-builders-in-bid-to-speed-up-housing/

https://www.premier.tas.gov.au/latest-news/2026/june/tasmania-unlocks-faster,-cheaper-housing-with-modular-finance-guarantee

https://www.premier.tas.gov.au/latest-news/2026/march/granny-flats-to-expand

https://www.planning.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/588051/Draft-Planning-Directive-No.-7-Permits-for-Temporary-Housing-effective-16-September-2020.PDF

https://www.cbos.tas.gov.au/topics/technical-regulation/building-standards/national-construction-code-ncc-2025/national-construction-code-ncc-2026 -arrangements-and-exemptions

**In their wisdom they have postponed statewide improvements to condensation management (which reduces mould issues particularly in cooler, wetter climate zones).

https://thefifthestate.com.au/innovation/building-construction/the-ncc-pushback-is-the-kind-of-regeneration-we-dont-want/

• Western Australia’s precedent
https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/department/publications/publication/temporary-accommodation-and-camping-outside-of-caravan-parks

• The Tasmanian State department CBOS (Consumer Building and Occupational Services) in 2024 issued this building & plumbing notice for tiny houses:
https://cbos.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/748574/CBOS-Regulatory-Note-Tiny-Houses.pdf

• The Tasmanian State planning department’s 2024 fact sheet for tiny houses (which does allow tiny homes on wheels in many residential zones - but it would be good for them to expand to ‘rural’ & ‘agricultural’ zoning to provide more flexible housing options):
https://www.stateplanning.tas.gov.au/news-and-events/2024/tiny_fact_sheet

• The PlanBuild website allows you to check ANY property’s zoning/overlays and more, and can give you a list of what you need to do to put a caravan or tiny house on any particular property.

** NOTE: tiny house enquiries on PlanBuild currently state that a Temporary Occupancy Permit from a building surveyor is required for stays longer than one month, BUT according to CBOS staff, and the Director’s Determination for Temporary Occupancy Permits, a registrable caravan DOES NOT NEED ONE.

https://www.planbuild.tas.gov.au

https://www.cbos.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/449491/Directors-Temporary-Occupancy-Permit-Determination.pdf

07/06/2026

The updated Tasmanian Planning Policies highlight some housing sectors in which affordable & moveable accommodation (eg tiny houses on wheels) might excel:

• changing household size and composition; (smaller households with fewer children, single or couples, retirees)

• well-designed social and affordable housing;
(tiny houses on wheels can be built to suit any budget, including under $100,000)

• solar access and quality private open space relative to the density and location;
(in a registrable tiny house, the 4.3m maximum height prevents excess shading of neighbours & a maximum width of 2.5m allows excellent natural light to all spaces)

• catering for the ageing population, including facilitating ageing in place and providing for
different levels of dependency and transitioning between them;
(Australia’s aging households could benefit by adding tiny houses on wheels for their changing needs of family members or carers)

• catering for people requiring crisis accommodation;
(tiny houses on wheels can be rapidly built off-site in controlled build environments, towed to site and set up in a day, they can also be removed just as quickly when no longer needed)

• considering the needs of people living with disability, including the level of support and
care required for different levels of dependent and independent living options;
(tiny houses on wheels can be fully customised to suit the needs of occupants)

• supporting co-living scenarios to help address housing availability and affordability;
(the most crucial affordability aspect is that having wheels means a tiny house owner can rent an affordable parking spot, rather than need to own expensive land themselves)

• residential use where it is part of, or supports, an agricultural use, such as workers’ accommodation, where it does not unreasonably fetter, fragment or convert agricultural land uses;
(tiny houses on wheels can be removed with ease, leaving no permanent foundations, when no longer required)

• manage visitor accommodation so it does not significantly impact the supply of housing for local communities;
(tiny houses on wheels merely add to, rather than compete with existing housing stock)

• facilitate the provision of housing, including temporary housing, required to accommodate
resource workers, particularly during the construction phase, to support the development of renewable generation sources within regional areas;
(again, tiny houses on wheels can be removed with ease, leaving no permanent foundations, when no longer required).

06/06/2026

Fascinated to read the housing statistics that will emerge from the Australian Census later this year.

05/06/2026

5 June 2026
Tasmanian Government’s PlanBuild website causes confusion about tiny houses on wheels (registerable, custom caravans)

The PlanBuild website allows any user to check a property’s zoning, overlays and more, and can give users a list of what is required to put a caravan or registrable tiny house on any particular property.

‼️ For several months, tiny house-specific enquiries on the PlanBuild website have shown that a ‘Temporary Occupancy Permit’ from a building surveyor is required for stays longer than one month.

However, according to an email from a senior building advisor at Tasmania’s state building department, CBOS, yesterday, a registrable caravan DOES NOT NEED ONE, and the Director’s Determination for Temporary Occupancy Permits is the ‘source of truth on this matter’.

• PlanBuild website: https://www.planbuild.tas.gov.au

• Director’s Determination - Temporary Occupancy Permit:https://www.cbos.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/449491/Directors-Temporary-Occupancy-Permit-Determination.pdf

Sharing this information & screenshots from the CBOS email for anyone else who has been similarly confused, or misled, or unfortunately been made to pay for a Temporary Occupancy Permit by their Tasmanian Council.

Please get in touch if you have been affected.

04/06/2026

An observation:

After three, soon to be four, Tasmanian winters in our double glazed, insulated, 2.5m wide, owner-built tiny house on wheels we can confidently say it’s warmer, drier and has more natural light than most of the 3 to 4 bedroom homes I house-mind for owners who leave Tasmania for warmer climates when winter arrives!

The main challenge remains drying laundry without cluttering the small interior space. Or without a power-hungry dryer! Our small, off-grid solar system wouldn’t cope 😬

📷 pictured - huge & cosy wood stove in one of mentioned large cold homes.

04/06/2026

Tiny homes have recently been touted as the ultimate solution to the housing crisis, however they may not be a viable option for everyone. Here are some of the most important things to consider if you are thinking about building or buying a tiny home.

26/05/2026

Terrific initiative!

Another incredible Tiny Home project completed! 🏡

With the support of Dean, Scott, Brett and Shane, alongside local industry professionals, the students of Lismore High School have once again achieved something truly special. Through hard work, teamwork and hands-on learning, students have developed valuable skills while bringing this amazing project to life.

The Tiny Home will be auctioned at Primex on Friday 22 May at 4:30pm.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in supporting our students and this project. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue sharing the journey from the workshop floor to the auction stage!
https://www.realestate.com.au/property-villa-nsw-east+lismore-151147788

26/05/2026

Wonderful initiative at NSW high school, teaching students to construct a tiny home on wheels.

It sold at auction for $79,000 on May 22nd.
The school’s first tiny home on wheels sold for $65,000 in 2025 and helped fund this year’s student build.

The Rivers Secondary College Lismore High Campus 👏🏽 Love your work!

Lismore High Campus say that twelve of their students have worked alongside teachers, local tradespeople and industry professionals one day a week for three school terms to design and build a tiny home.