Can You Rent a Tiny House?

Tiny houses are sweeping the nation, but actually taking the leap and living in one is a huge step. How are you supposed to know if you want to commit without trying it out first? Fortunately, there are plenty of options that allow you to give tiny homes a trial run.

Yes, you can rent a tiny house through online listings or by contacting tiny house rental companies. Renting a tiny home prior to making a purchase will allow you to figure out what you do and don’t want in your future residence.

Throughout this article, you’ll also learn the following information:

Where can you rent a tiny home?
How much do they cost?
Can you use Airbnb?
What should you look for in a tiny house rental?

Where to Find Tiny Houses to Rent?

Tiny houses are popular, but they’re harder to find when you’re only looking to rent. After all, most people commit to these low-cost houses after they’ve acquired the land already. However, you can rent a tiny house on numerous websites, including Tiny House Listings, to find the best option for you and your family.

Another great website to look through is Tiny House Marketplace. They allow you to sort your searches by rentals, purchases, and locations. You can find lenders, rent or buy houses with or without wheels, and more. It’s the ultimate customized tiny house experience for those who are new to the tiny house lifestyle.

Before you commit to a specific tiny house rental for a week, month, or year, you should do local research to find out if it’s legal in your area. Some places don’t allow you to go out of state tiny house rentals if you don’t have the required permits. You should also try to view the home in person to get a fair look at it before you commit to anything.

Most cities have a tiny house size limit, especially if you’re trying to fit it in your backyard. You will want to do your research to make sure your city will allow the tiny house that you desire to rent. By researching laws regarding tiny houses in your city first, you will then be able to narrow the search results to whatever it is that you’re allowed to use in your city.

It would be a shame to do tons of research and commit to a tiny house that you are unable to use in your city.

Finally, you can rent tiny houses on Airbnb. The website allows you to rent all sorts of tiny homes to get a look at new cities and regions, but you can also try out the tiny house lifestyle without committing to anything long term. All you have to do is search by your desired area code and look for tiny homes. For more information about renting tiny houses on Airbnb, read the section designated for the site below.

Cost to Rent a Tiny House

Tiny houses can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $200,000 or even more depending on how you want to design your home. The square footage also increases the price, as does the building company that you choose as well as the location that you choose to build your tiny house. You can avoid these costs by renting one to see if it’s really meant for you before you dive in.

The price of renting will vary drastically depending on things like location, size and other amenities. For example, you can rent a low-quality tiny house in the middle of nowhere for as low as $120 per month. On the other hand, a high-quality tiny home near a big city or with awesome natural scenery nearby can run up to $1,500 per month. The average price tends to hang around $500 per month though.

There’s a handful of factors that determine the price of a tiny house rental. Let’s review them below:

Location is a huge factor. If you’re trying to rent a tiny house near San Francisco, Los Angeles, or New York City, you’ll probably have to spend more money than you would have to if you were to stay in a small town somewhere. You can save money by renting a house about 30 minutes or more away from big cities, or by renting a house on wheels and moving it elsewhere.
The size of the tiny house is also important. If you rent a home that’s only 170 sq. ft., you might not have to spend more than $400 a month. However, tiny homes that get up to 400 and 500 sq. ft. tend to be more expensive to rent. However, the extra money is definitely worth it if there are multiple people living with you.
Amenities will add quite a bit of money onto the rental costs. If you have a simple house with a bed, a bathroom, and a small couch, you won’t have to spend much. Those who prefer lofts, TVs, full-sized kitchens, and luxurious floor-to-ceiling windows will have to fork up more money.

Renting Tiny Houses on Airbnb

As stated earlier in the article, Airbnb is an excellent website for renting tiny houses. You can limit your search terms, look through countless tiny houses, and set the dates of your arrival and departure.

Here’s the step-by-step process of renting a tiny house on Airbnb:

Enter the location that you want to stay at. You can enter a city, state, address, zip code, or even a landmark.
Add the dates that you want to arrive and leave.
Enter the number of guests that will be staying with you.
Look through the results to find a tiny house. Some areas will have many more than others, so you might have to broaden your search terms to find more options.

That’s all there is to it! Finding a tiny house on Airbnb or any of the other websites from the rental section will let you have a blast in a new location while enjoying the low-key lifestyle.

What to Look For?

Tiny houses might have a name that implies their lack of amenities, but you’d be surprised to see all that they can offer. Everything from sliding tables that convert into beds to rooftop balconies with lawn chairs can be added to these relaxed, luxurious homes.

When you’re ready to start looking to rent or buy a tiny house, here’s what you should look for:

The most important thing to look for is the size. If you’re staying with several people, you need to make sure that there’s enough room for everyone. Since most houses have 1,000 to 2,000 sq. ft., you might want to consider something that’s at least 300 to 400 sq. ft. for your first experience.
Next, check out the amenities that you can enjoy. Do you want to cook like a chef? Would you prefer to sleep on a queen-sized bed, or climb a ladder to look through a sky light? All of these possibilities are worth thinking about when you’re ready to book your vacation.
Another consideration is where the house is located and whether or not you’re allowed to move it. Some people don’t have the ability to tow a tiny house, while many renters won’t let you move it even if you wanted to. Make sure you come to terms with the location and possibility of moving it prior to signing a contract.

Conclusion

Renting a tiny house will let you know if you’re ready for the real deal. It’s the best route to take for those who don’t want to spend tens of thousands of dollars investing in a new lifestyle without testing it out first.

You can spend between $120 to more than $1,000 per month by renting a tiny house. The nightly prices tend to be a bit higher since you’re not committing to a long-term agreement, but the experience is more than worth it.

When you’re ready to rent a tiny house, check out Airbnb, Tiny House Listings, or Tiny House Marketplace.

Sources

Go Banking Rates – The Cost of Renting vs. Buying a Tiny Home

Nolo – FAQs About Building, Using, or Renting Out a Tiny House