Are you living with a teenager that is craving their own space but isn’t old enough to move out? Perhaps your young adults are taking up space that you were hoping to make your own? If you temporarily need more space for a young family member, consider renting or purchasing a cabin for a teenage sleepout.
Renting a cabin can be a cost-effective alternative to renting or adding an extension. It also allows your teenager to develop some independence and life skills without being too far away from the family.
Things to think about before renting or purchasing a cabin for a teenage sleepout
Although renting a cabin is a cheaper option than say moving into a bigger house, it still needs some careful planning. In some cases, you might need consent for your minor dwelling from the council.
Things to think about include:
Will the cabin have toilet or kitchen facilities?
If it is a simple sleepout – just somewhere where your teen will hang out during the day and sleep overnight but they will still use the main house facilities, then it won’t require consent. This arrangement will also allow you to have more contact with your teen as they won’t be fully self-contained.
If the cabin is self-contained with its own toilet and kitchen you will require consent before you locate the dwelling.
How big should it be?
Again, under a certain size you won’t need consent. But if you choose a bigger option then council consent might be needed. The size of your cabin might also be dependent on the size of your section and how much garden space you are happy to lose.
What will you do with it afterwards?
Accommodation for your teenager is likely to be a temporary option – just needed until they head off on an OE, to university or to a place of their own. That’s why renting a cabin for a teenage sleepout can be a good option. But if your rental term still has time to run or you decide to purchase a cabin there are plenty of other things you can do with it including:
- a garden home office
- using it as a granny flat for an elderly relative
- renting it on Airbnb
- using it as a she shed for a craft room
- using a cabin as a rental
