I was homeless for 3 years & now live in a shed – people expect it to be full of spiders but I have plumbing & electrics

The Irish Sun

2 days ago

A MAN has revealed that he was homeless for three years, but is now living in a shed.
Matt, a 34-year-old welder, has managed to get himself off the streets and now sleeps in a tiny home in the middle of the
2
A man has candidly revealed that he was once homeless, but is now living in a shed in the middle of the woods
Credit: tiktok/@mattg326
2
The 34-year-old gave his followers a tour of his tiny home, but his viral clip has left many "sad"
Credit: tiktok/@mattg326
Not only did he build the
In fact, Matt's home has proper plumbing and electrics.
And while he may not have an oven, he does have a shower and toilet.
Posting on social media, the content creator gave his followers a close-up look inside his one-bedroom shed, as he wrote: 'People see the outside and assume it's rough in here - here's what surprises them.'
Read more real life stories
Giving a tour of his
Not only this, but he's also got a composting toilet with a fan-powered vent system.
Additionally, Matt's shed is home to a full
In the
Most read in Fabulous
The home even has full insulation too.
Keen to set the record straight on his shed home, Matt explained: 'People think I'm roasting in here but it stays cool.'
I was sick of paying rent so moved into a shed at the bottom of my garden
Not only this, but he then continued: 'People expect this to be a shed with tools and spiders…It's actually my peaceful home.'
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @
It's a nice setup but the fact that people accept this as normal now is scary. Successful and competent people live in homes, not sheds
TikTok user
Not only this, but it's also amassed 45,900 likes, 546 comments and 2,324 saves.
But while many social media users described the tiny home as 'cute and cosy', others were 'sad' that a shed is all many can afford in the current economy.
One person said: 'That is the future for all of us. A shed is about all we can afford these days.'
Do I need planning permission to convert my shed?
CONVERTING an existing shed or outbuilding into a self-contained living space will usually require you apply for planning permission.
However, there is a "loophole" Brits can use to convert outbuildings into a tiny home without permission.
Planning expert
Speaking to The Sun, the Chartered Town Planner of 14 years' experience explained: "An outbuilding can be built using 'permitted development rights', meaning it does not need planning permission.
"As long as you comply with the various restrictions and conditions."
One of these is that the outbuilding can only be used for something 'ancillary' to your main living accommodation - examples include storage, a gym or a pool room.
If the outbuilding is existing, converting it then into primary living accommodation IS allowed.
Martin explained: "This is because internal changes to an existing building are not considered to be development at all under the Town and Country Planning Act.
But like anything, there is one catch.
The new living accommodation must still have some connection with your use of the main house.
For instance, if your gran is living out there, she must still come into the house to eat.
Another added: 'It's a nice setup but the fact that people accept this as normal now is scary. Successful and competent people live in homes, not sheds.'
A third commented: 'That's super cool, sad we all have to result to this!'
Despite this, someone else chimed in and claimed: 'Better than some people's houses.'
But at the same time, one user questioned: 'No oven?'
In response, Matt replied and confirmed: 'Working towards a small table top oven.'
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme -
Sun Club