– I love it. I have done that from day one. That’s what Maren Oftebro (30) says. She lives in a mini house on wheels, a stone’s throw from NTNU in Trondheim. People visiting are often surprised. Oftebro lives in the small house with a husky and two cats. She also has space for a bathtub, equipment for brewing beer and a large kitchen bench for baking. Oftebro’s mini house is 15 square meters in size, but contains everything she needs. Photo: Marthe Svendsen / news – This is how I will live as long as I manage to get up the stairs, says Oftebro. She points to a steep staircase up to the bed loft. The solution to the mini-house dream was to get a professional company to build the house. The building requirements seemed too complicated, Oftebro thinks. – That stopped me a bit. I thought that if I get some professionals who can do it, then I won’t have to read all these rules, says the 30-year-old. Now the regulations are being softened. More people will live as an alternative. The aim is to make it easier and cheaper to build mini houses. Then more people will also be able to live alternatively. – It is becoming more and more attractive to have other types of housing than those we are used to. Micro houses are one such type. That’s what Per-Arne Horne says. He is a director at the Directorate for Building Quality. How big a house do you need? 0-20 square meters ? 20-60 square meters ? 60-120 square meters ? 120 square meters or larger ? Show result Many people think the current rules for building mini houses are too difficult, according to Horne. Those who build mini houses must now follow the same rules as those who build a normal detached house. This applies, among other things, to detailed requirements on floor plans, outdoor areas and ventilation. Today’s building regulations for mini houses are perceived as cumbersome and difficult, says the director. Photo: Alexander Brown / DiBK The new rules come into force on 1 July. Mini houses then follow the same requirements as holiday homes, which are less strict than the housing requirements. Then it is no longer required that a company is responsible for the construction of the house. This opens the door for more people to build their own mini houses. – But the basic requirement for safety will be maintained, says Horne. You can read more about the rules here and here. Encouraged by new rules Celina Årrevik Magnussen (21) is moving to Trondheim in the autumn. Due to the high prices of apartments, she would rather build mini houses. The plan is to build the house myself, together with father and brother. She is very positive about the new rules. – They ensure that we are able to build the house ourselves, and that it might be a little cheaper, she says. Celina Årrevik Magnussen (21) plans to build mini houses when the new rules come into force. Photo: Private The 21-year-old has no doubt that it is important that the rules for building mini houses be simplified. – It is, after all, a more environmentally friendly way of living. There are probably many people who are more and more interested in switching to something that requires less energy, she says. The municipality approves the location But even if the mini house meets building regulations, the location must also be approved by the municipality. For Maren Oftebro, this became a complicated affair. – I spent over half a year finding a place and interpreting the municipality’s rules. This became my hobby throughout the autumn of 2021, she says. With a mini house on wheels, it became difficult to find out whether the house should be sought as a residence, a cabin, a mobile home or a temporary residence. Oftebro often found himself having to find out how to apply to place a mini house. – I called around and asked questions, but I guess I never got any clear answers, she says. Maren Oftebro found it difficult to understand the application process to get the placement of the mini house approved. Photo: Marthe Svendsen / news A yes law Even if the regulations for construction become simpler, the construction of a mini house must still be approved by the municipality. So says Per-Arne Horne in the Directorate for Building Quality. But with the new building regulations, it should also be easier to get the municipality’s blessing. – The Planning and Building Act is a yes law. If you meet the regulatory requirements, the municipality cannot say no to living in the house, says Horne. But the municipality must assess whether the mini house is in line with the municipality’s spatial planning, concludes the director.
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Now it will be easier to build your own micro house – news Trøndelag
