News relaeses

2024-04-29
What NEW HOUSING visitors are looking forward to the most

Participants were asked to complete a total of five questions. The results summarise the responses from Instagram and from the newsletter sent out at the beginning of April. The percentages are rounded up or down.

1. I am interested in...

a. ...single households: 52 per cent

b. ...a shared home: 15 per cent

c. ...family in a tiny house: 37 per cent

2. I prioritise living...

a. ...in the country: 40 per cent

b. ...in the city: 15 per cent

c. ...that offers me a mixture: 45 per cent

3. My living situation can be described as follows:

a. Apartment block: 54 per cent

b. Mini house: 7 per cent

c. Single-family house: 34 per cent

d. Other: 5 per cent

4. At NEW HOUSING I am most looking forward to... (multiple answers possible)

a. ...viewing the houses: 82 per cent

b. ...the specialist presentations: 13 per cent

c. ...the workshops: 3 per cent

d. ...the exchange with the community: 24 per cent

5. Which Tiny topic are you particularly interested in? (multiple answers possible)

a. Planning a tiny house: 74 per cent

b. Financing: 37 per cent

c. Land/parking spaces: 37 per cent

d. Furniture and interior design: 37 per cent

e. Tiny house community: 11 per cent

f. Building law: 53 per cent

At NEW HOUSING, all visitors' interests are catered for. Around 50 different houses - for singles, two people or families - can be viewed, the expert forum will feature exciting presentations on all important topics relating to small-scale housing, and these topics will be explored in depth in the workshops.

All information and more can be found at www.new-housing.de.

2024-04-22
Listen up: NEW HOUSING guest on

Tiny houses, modular homes and other forms of small housing - NEW HOUSING is Europe's largest festival for these topics and will open its doors this year from 28 to 30 June.

With "tinyon", Chris&Caro have one of the most successful podcasts for all people who don't need a lot of space but still have everything they need to be happy. Now NEW HOUSING project manager Ramona Jonait and Chris&Caro met up - in the 47th edition of "tinyon".

The three of them talked about the upcoming NEW HOUSING. One of the topics was the workshops, which are back at Europe's largest tiny house festival after a break. "Sharing ideas, working on topics together, practical application - that's what the workshops are all about. I'm looking forward to seeing how they are received by our participants," says Jonait.

You can find out what other topics the three of them talked about and what else visitors can look forward to HERE.

2024-04-16
What potential do small-scale housing forms have?

Living space is scarce, property prices are rising and the dream of home ownership is becoming increasingly distant. What applies to Germany is also a reality in Switzerland. And just like in Germany, tiny houses and the like are also a possible alternative for the Swiss.

The researchers

The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts wanted to find out exactly what potential they have. An interdisciplinary research group was set up for this purpose. It consists of Stephanie Weiss, Kathrin Leitner (both from the Institute of Sociocultural Development), Yvonne Seiler Zimmermann and Ersilia Perpignano (both from the Institute of Financial Services Zug), Felix Bucher (Institute of Innovation and Technology Management) and Selina Lutz and Julian Franke (both from the Institute of Architecture). The research project was commissioned by Innosuisse - Swiss Agency for Innovation Promotion ITC "Space & Society" (HSLU).

The results

The researchers came to the conclusion that there is potential in Switzerland in terms of demand for small forms of housing. Around half of those surveyed already had experience of small-scale housing or could imagine living in one. The researchers differentiated between "experts" and "interested parties". The other half could not imagine living in a tiny house ("not interested").

Study topic in the expert forum

Researchers from Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts will be presenting why this is the case, what differences there are between different phases of life when it comes to preferences for the size of living space and other findings from the study at the NEW HOUSING expert forum from 28 to 30 June.

More information on the study can be found on the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts website. The programme of the expert forum and further information on NEW HOUSING can be found at www.new-housing.de.

2024-04-16
With this checklist for land suitability

The journey to your own tiny house, modular house or other mini home usually begins with the search for a suitable plot of land. Although the former association "einfach gemeinsam leben" from Wolfratshausen in Bavaria has disbanded, it has published a checklist for property suitability. Here it is.

Going to and via the building authority is also essential when buying a mini house. (Image: Jürgen Rösner/Messe Karlsruhe)

These questions need to be clarified:

  • Is the plot big enough? There should be at least 150 square metres per tiny house plus possible communal areas.
  • Is the plot developed or developable? If not, possibilities can be discussed with the Environmental Agency. If necessary, the owner can be found out. The official way to answer this question is usually via the land registry.
  • The following questions should be clarified with the building authority:
    > How is the area designated in the municipality's land use plan?
    > Is there a development plan for the planned area? If so, what does it say?
    > Is there a local design boundary?
    > Is there a building window within which construction must take place?

TIP: Nothing works without a building authority when it comes to land suitability!

What happens next?

  • Once all the requirements have been met, you can get started - first by submitting a preliminary building enquiry. This is best done in collaboration with an expert, such as an architect.
  • This is followed by the building application with development plan. Attention: The access routes for the fire brigade must be taken into account. It is best for builders to speak directly with the fire brigade on site.

TIP: It pays off if car sharing, cargo bikes and other sustainable mobility concepts are included in the planning.

What should be considered when buying?

  • It is worth looking at the standard land value. This may be available online from the respective municipality.
  • Approximately 20 to 30 per cent of the standard land value can be assumed as the purchase price for undeveloped plots.

TIP: The standard land value is determined annually by the municipality for the various types of land (building land, arable land, grassland, etc.).

What should I bear in mind when renting?

  • When renting, the tenant has the right to use the rented property. Please note: The rent only includes the use, but not the rights to the rented property.
  • Example: If a property with fruit trees is rented, the tenant may enter the property and stay there. However, he may not harvest the fruit!
  • The landlord must keep the rented property in a usable condition and is responsible for all maintenance costs, property tax, development costs and similar costs incurred.

TIP: The landlord can pass on the maintenance costs to the tenant on a pro rata basis in the service charges. This also includes costs for rubbish collection, street cleaning, waste water, heating costs and building cleaning.

What needs to be considered when leasing?

  • In the case of a lease, the leaseholder also receives the added value of the leased property.
  • Example: When leasing a plot of land with fruit trees, the tenant may enter the plot, stay there and also harvest the fruit. Even selling the fruit for a profit is permitted.

TIP: The lease is subject to tenancy law.

What is a leasehold?

  • With a leasehold, the tenant becomes a temporary owner. He therefore has all the rights and obligations of an owner.
  • If the leaseholder no longer wants the property after some time, he or she cannot simply cancel the contract. The property must be sold by the end of the contract period.

TIP: At the end of the contract period, the land is transferred back to the lessor, i.e. the owner.

How high is the rent or lease price?

  • Whether rent, leasehold or ground rent - the monthly amount to be paid is always a matter of negotiation between the owner and tenant or leaseholder.
  • The price depends on various factors. These include the geographical location, the condition, the question of whether a property is developed or not, the utilisation and so on.

Visitors to NEW HOUSING from 28 to 30 June at the Karlsruhe Trade Fair Centre can obtain in-depth information on the subject of land. Further information on NEW HOUSING can be found at www.new-housing.de.

2024-04-03
NEW HOUSING now also on LinkedIn

With more than 800 million users in over 200 countries, LinkedIn claims to be the largest professional network in the world. NEW HOUSING is now also represented there.

"After the successful growth on Instagram and the steadily increasing number of new manufacturers and suppliers, LinkedIn was the next logical step to reach both visitors and potential exhibitors and to have a target group-specific effect on the industry. The NEW HOUSING - Tiny House Festival has seen itself as a community event right from the start, which is why we can be found wherever the community is," says Ramona Jonait, Project Manager of NEW HOUSING.

NEW HOUSING has been active on Facebook and Instagram for some time. More information about Europe's largest Tiny House Festival can be found at www.new-housing.de.

2024-03-08
Tiny house settlements - opportunities, hurdles and paths to the village of small houses

Mühlacker wants it, Ettlingen and Unterammergau already have it and in Florida residents have been living in them since the 1960s - we are talking about tiny house settlements. These communities, in which people live only in mini houses of various kinds, are increasingly becoming a real alternative to the classic single-family home.

In a panel discussion on June 27, experts will discuss the hurdles on the way to a tiny house settlement, how this can be achieved, but also the opportunities associated with it. The panel discussion will take place as part of the fifth NEW HOUSING at Messe Karlsruhe. Europe's largest Tiny House Festival takes place from June 28 to 30 and offers around 50 different houses and more than 70 exhibitors in one place.

Christian Klener and his partner Caro Werner recorded an episode for their podcast "tinyon" on stage in front of an audience at NEW HOUSING 2023. Now Klerner will host the first NH Press Talk. (Image: Jürgen Rösner/Messe Karlsruhe)

The moderator

The talk will be hosted by Chris Klerner. Together with his partner Caro Werner, he has been running the podcast "tinyon" since mid-2022, where the two of them shed light on all aspects of minimalist living. At NEW HOUSING 2023, the two recorded a podcast episode (german) live in the Tiny House Festival expert forum.

The discussants

Klerner, who will also be discussing the topic as an inhabitant of a tiny house, will be joined by Regina Schleyer. She is the chairwoman of the association, which was founded at the end of 2019 and last year published the industry standard for small buildings for the first time, a collective work designed to make it easier to successfully obtain small building permits.

Fabian Müller will also be part of the panel. The founder and managing director of Vilcomo works in the field of building land development and municipal consulting. He is well connected and knows how to reconcile the interests of all parties involved.

Nadine Nebel will also contribute her expertise. She is a research officer and designer at the Institute for Liveable and Environmentally Friendly Urban Development at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences (In-Lust) and wants to use her latest study to investigate whether there is a connection between living space and housing satisfaction. One of the ways she is doing this is by using a real-life laboratory in which people live and in which the living space is gradually increased. She is bringing the initial results to NEW HOUSING.

The panel will be completed by Ramona Jonait. As project manager of Europe's largest Tiny House Festival and a member of the association's board, she knows the players in the industry and is very well connected.

Livestream

The discussion will begin at around 10 a.m. on June 27 and will be streamed live on the NEW HOUSING website and on the festival's YouTube channel. Afterwards, the video will also be available to watch on both platforms.

2024-02-07
Full program: Exciting presentations at the NEW HOUSING expert forum

At NEW HOUSING - Europe's largest Tiny House Festival, visitors can view around 50 tiny houses of all kinds. In addition, more than 70 exhibitors will provide information on topics such as accessories, equipment and more.

Since its first edition in 2018, NEW HOUSING has also been a meeting place for the tiny house community. At the 2024 edition, experts will also be giving talks in the forum every day from morning to evening on topics of interest to mini-home enthusiasts.

The Green Deal

A presentation by Dutch company Ralston, for example, will focus on the Green Deal for the European paint market and what solutions are planned. According to the Association of the German Paint and Printing Ink Industry, the Green Deal is intended to "lay the foundations for a sustainable European Union and promises nothing less than a comprehensive transformation of the European economy". The aim of the Green Deal is for the European economy to grow and at the same time be modern, resource-conserving and circular. Ralston will also report on the topic of "Recognizing inspection errors on wood, identifying causes and learning about solutions."

Finance ethicly correct

Another topic in the expert forum is an essential one: financing a mini house - and doing so ethically. Ethik Bank shows how this can work. After the financial company exhibited at NEW HOUSING for the first time in 2023, the bank is also part of the Expert Forum this year.

The special thing about Ethik Bank is that it claims to be an ethical-ecological direct bank. This means that customers' money is not invested in companies that are active in the fields of armaments and nuclear power or that permit child labor. Companies in which the Ethikbank invests must also be actively committed to sustainable business practices.

The entire forum program can be found on the NEW HOUSING website.

The presentations of the past NEW HOUSING were all recorded (in german). They can be watched on the Tiny YouTube channel HERE.

2024-01-30
How many square meters does happiness need?
Nadine Nebel is a scientist and researches the topic of living space and housing satisfaction at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences. (Image: Nebel)

150-square-meter house, 75-square-meter apartment or 30-square-meter tiny house? How much living space does a person need to be satisfied and happy? Is there a limit at which satisfaction does not increase any further? Is there a lower limit that is needed for satisfaction? This is one of the things Nadine Nebel wants to find out.

Advantages: Saving time and more

The research officer and designer at the Institute for Liveable and Environmentally Friendly Urban Development at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences (In-LUST) lives in a 34-square-metre apartment herself and "wouldn't want to swap it for more living space, even if the rent were the same". For Nebel, the advantages of small living outweigh the disadvantages: "Saving time when cleaning, saving money on rent and ancillary costs", as she writes in an article for the magazine "Kleiner Wohnen".

For the scientist, living in a small space also means a better quality of life. Conscious consumption and appreciation of the things that surround them instead of superfluous consumption are reasons for this.

But what about other people? Is it possible to draw a more general picture of satisfaction and living space? That's what Nebel wants to find out.

Single-family home most popular

According to the figures provided by the scientist, the classic detached house is currently the most popular form of housing in Germany. Due to climate change, a rethink is also becoming increasingly urgent in the housing sector, Nebel writes in her "Smaller homes" article. According to a study by the Federal Environment Agency, the 1.5-degree target can only be achieved by reducing per capita living space to 41.2 square meters by 2050. In 2021, the average living space per capita in Germany was still 47.7 square meters - and rising.

Nebel recently began her research on the topic. The results of the project will also be presented at NEW HOUSING 2024 and published on the Tiny House Festival website.

Residents live in a real laboratory

Part of the project is also a real-life laboratory in Jülich, North Rhine-Westphalia. This is gradually growing, while the residents are repeatedly questioned and interviewed. The focus here is on the question of the extent to which well-being changes - or not - with increasing living space.

Nebel part of the discussion on June 27

By the way: Nadine Nebel will also be taking part in the NEW HOUSING panel discussion on June 27, the day before the festival opens. The discussion will be streamed live and the video will also be available afterwards on the NH website.

2023-12-14
Ministry of the Interior and Housing presents study on tiny houses

Inflation and rising costs are increasingly presenting house builders with major challenges - and decisions. The question of whether to build a home is increasingly being answered in the negative. Tiny houses offer an alternative. Although they are smaller at around 40 square meters, they cost only a fraction of a conventional house at around 80,000 euros.

More than just a trend

The tiny house trend has therefore become a real alternative in the meantime. Lübeck University of Applied Sciences and the State Ministry of the Interior, Municipal Affairs, Housing and Sport of Schleswig-Holstein have commissioned a study on tiny houses - and have now published the results.

The study focused on the question of whether tiny houses can provide affordable housing on a mass scale. It also investigated which expectations tiny houses can and cannot meet.

The results

According to the ministry, one result is that there is no universally valid assessment. Expectations and fulfillment are as varied as tiny houses themselves.

According to the study, people don't just live in a tiny house for economic reasons. According to the ministry, the decision to choose a tiny house lifestyle is a conscious one. In addition to the costs, aspects such as the reduction in effort and responsibility, which are seen as liberating, play a decisive role. The study concludes that tiny house dwellers often lead a particularly reduced and sustainable lifestyle.

The whole study

According to the study, municipalities and investors see opportunities to use sealed areas or small spaces for building purposes. You can read the whole study HERE.(german version)

Further information on NEW HOUSING is available at:

www.new-housing.de

New: Always well informed with the live blog

NEW HOUSING is the most important meeting place for the tiny house community and fans of small living spaces throughout Europe. In addition to the more than 70 exhibitors and around 50 houses, visitors can expect numerous lectures, workshops and much more.

To ensure that visitors on site, as well as those interested or undecided at home, are always up to date on what is on offer, a live blog will provide information on everything important for the first time during the fifth edition of NEW HOUSING.

When is the next presentation in the expert forum? What does the Tiny Giants Area look like? What's happening in the Social Media Corner? These and other questions will be answered in the live blog, which can be found on the NEW HOUSING homepage.

Visitors also have the opportunity to ask their specific and very individual questions via the live blog - and receive answers. Visitors will also have the opportunity to take part in small surveys or keep up to date with how NEW HOUSING is being received on social media.

The live blog will go online on 17 June.