Could the micro-home be the newest property craze to hit London?

A portable, compact micro-home that is 60 times cheaper than the price of an average starter home in London could be just what the rental generation are looking for. The homes are compact, coming in at 130 square feet. That is just a third of a typical carriage on a Tube train, but it still manages to pack in a combined sleeping and living space, a bathroom and a kitchenette. The designer, Ecodom, designed the micro-house because of the rising popularity of modular housing solutions. This market has risen because many people find it difficult to get onto the property ladder and more and more young people are looking for their own affordable living space.The Ecodom micro-houses are built to order off-site. It takes two months from ordering for them to be made and delivered. Once in place, it is a simply case of connecting utilities and the home is ready to live in. One thing to note is that the electrical systems of the original model are under EU regulations so they need to be converted to British. It is not certain whether new models will be EU or British.The prototype home is three metres tall and is set to be auctioned off with a guide price of £8,000. New models will be priced at £16,000 and differ slightly from the original. They are shorter at 2.5 metres instead of 3 metres, but this provides various benefits rather than simply shrinking the space. With the original design, planning permission may be required due to the height. The newer models are less likely to need permission because they won't interfere with neighbouring properties.The new models are also more eco-friendly than the original. They will be made from energy efficient timbers rather than solid wood panels. This will make them lighter and more insulated, reducing heating costs and the carbon footprint of the home. Micro-homes like these could soon start appearing in gardens and other spaces across the capital, representing a new development in the world of residential architecture in London. We will be watching this development with interest to see how it impacts on the overall architectural scene of the city.