HOUSE THAT?
I don’t pay a PENNY in rent because I turned derelict 100ft shed into tiny home – it’s amazing but I have a HUGE regret
He shared how much it cost in full to transform the shed
A HOMEOWNER turned his tiny rotting 'shed' into a dream home - but has one huge regret.
Daniel Quirke transformed the abandoned 100ft garage building in his back garden into an area he could live in after months of hard graft - all documented on his YouTube channel.
8
8
8
8
His main home was undergoing renovations at the time.
Rather than have to pay rent on top of his mortgage he could live in the revamped shed.
After securing planning permission for the project, he completed much of the shed renovation work himself.
However, being only an amateur builder and DIY enthusiast he made plenty of mistakes along the way.
Read more money news
BIGGEST REGRET
The building is uneven, and Daniel didn't bother to level the floor.
The floor boards of the garage were weak and creaky, so he decided to replace them with plywood.
He said: "If I could pick only one mistake that I regret the most during this renovation, it's not taking the time to level the floor at this point.
"The garage is on a slope, but by being in a rush and on a budget I skipped levelling it."
Most read in Money
He showed how an office chair rolls from one side of floor to the other.
Describing the project in the East of England, he explained: "I recently renovated the abandoned 100 square foot garage in my back garden in preparation for moving in.
I transformed the rotting shed in my garden into a tiny home and everything went wrong but the end result was worth it
"It has suffered a lot of neglect over the years so a lot of work was needed to get it move in ready."
Luckily, the space already had electric and water lines, but it still needed a lot of work to make it liveable.
"A lot of prep work was needed before moving in, including cleaning, sanding, painting, laying the floor, installing the kitchen and designing the interior," he said.
He started by adding in a wall for the bathroom, before adding in the toilet, which was easier than he expected it to be.
After that, it was time to clear out the main space of the tiny home in preparation for painting it.
The DIY whizz washed the walls, although noted he should've waited because he only had to wash them again after filling and sanding any holes.
As a result, not having a level floor meant installing flat-pack cupboards for the kitchen took a lot longer than expected.
But his problems didn't end there, the cupboards were also too big for the space, so he had to dismantle them all and cut them to size before putting them back together.
Do I need planning permission to convert my shed?
Converting an existing shed or outbuilding into a self-contained living space will usually require you apply for planning permission.
However, there is a "loophole" Brits can use to convert outbuildings into a tiny home without permission.
Planning expert from warned the conversion process is far easier than you may think.
Speaking to The Sun, the Chartered Town Planner of 14 years' experience explained: "An outbuilding can be built using 'permitted development rights', meaning it does not need planning permission.
"As long as you comply with the various restrictions and conditions."
One of these is that the outbuilding can only be used for something 'ancillary' to your main living accommodation - examples include storage, a gym or a pool room.
If the outbuilding is existing, converting it then into primary living accommodation IS allowed.
Martin explained: "This is because internal changes to an existing building are not considered to be development at all under the Town and Country Planning Act.
But like anything, there is one catch.
The new living accommodation must still have some connection with your use of the main house.
For instance, if your gran is living out there, she must still come into the house to eat.
Daniel used the leftover counter tops from the kitchen in the main house, but he ended up cutting it slightly too small.
"I now have this large gap at the back of the countertop, but I can at least come back later and fill that with silicone," he noted.
After a lick of paint, and another DIY mistake, Daniel's tiny home was ready for the finishing touches.
The finished pad ended up looking really posh, and you'd never know he made some mistakes in the process of transforming it.
The bathroom looked modern and stylish thanks to the bright paint and new wall.
And the extra work in the kitchen was worth it once it was all finished too - even the gap behind the countertop wasn't noticeable.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"The end result still surprises me with how comfortable and functional it is," Daniel added.
He plans to rent out his main home and go travelling once the renovations are done, so his tiny shed home will be used for storing his stuff until he returns.
8
8
8
8
Topics