It offers people the chance to live simply, sustainably, and affordably. But, for many, this dream is being derailed by landowners who view tiny house owners not as tenants or partners, but as easy targets for exploitation. Consider a recent listing in rural Kaitaia as an example. The landowner sought $250 per week for a small patch of land, on top of that, they demanded five hours of weekly labor, equivalent to $115.75 at minimum wage. Altogether, this added up to over $365 per week just for the privilege of parking a tiny house in a remote area of Kaitaia (with no power access). The indignity didn’t end there: the tenant was banned from having domestic pets but was still expected to care for the landowner’s pets and farm animals during their absences.
This isn’t an isolated case; it’s part of a troubling trend of unreasonable demands. Some landowners charge $300 per week for nothing more than a strip of grass the size of a parking space, often located between a driveway and their home, offering no privacy or peace. Others enforce oppressive rules, such as requiring the tenants to seek written approval for every single visitor, creating a stifling and dehumanizing environment. In some cases, tiny house owners are asked to invest thousands of dollars to establish infrastructure, like foundations, water systems, and electrical hookups, only to be given a three-month trial lease. These practices are blatantly exploitative.
At its core, the tiny house movement is about redefining the concept of home. It embodies freedom, sustainability, and community. But when landowners impose unreasonable costs and draconian rules, they stifle the movement's potential. These exploitative practices not only harm individuals but also undermine the credibility of tiny house living as a viable alternative to traditional housing. Why would anyone invest in a tiny home when finding fair, reasonable land to lease feels almost impossible?
Landowners offering property for tiny houses need to step up. Leasing land shouldn’t be about exploiting people for profit; it’s an opportunity to support a movement that can genuinely transform lives and communities. By charging fair rates for land that might otherwise go unused, landowners can create a win-win situation, earning a reasonable income while contributing to a more sustainable and inclusive housing solution.
To create a fair and thriving tiny house ecosystem:
-
Rural land is not luxury real estate. Price your listings fairly and reasonably.
-
Micromanaging tenants’ lives, from restricting visitors to banning pets while demanding care for your animals, is hypocritical and dehumanizing.
-
Short-term leases with high upfront costs foster distrust. If you want tenants to invest in your property, show them you’re willing to invest in them.
-
Tenants deserve space to feel at home. Don’t create a situation where they feel constantly surveilled.
The tiny house movement stands at a critical juncture. One path leads to innovation, sustainability, and community, while the other is a descent into greed and exploitation. Landowners have the power to decide which direction the movement takes.
It’s time for landowners to stop treating tiny house owners as cash cows or unpaid labor and start recognising them as pioneers of a better, more sustainable way of living. Anything less betrays the movement and its values.
