Northland · Mike, Kaiwaka
A budget sleeper cabin in a Kaiwaka backyard
A 9.6 m² sleeper cabin behind the main house, used as a teenager's bedroom and an occasional guest space. Schedule 1 exempt — no consent. Five weeks from order to delivery.
The story
Mike's house is a three-bedroom 1990s build with two teenagers and a third bedroom that doubles as the home office. Something had to give. A sleeper cabin in the back yard — under 10 m², no plumbing inside, no kitchen — fit Schedule 1 of the Building Act and didn't need consent.
Kaiwaka Tiny had a stock layout that fit. Five-week build, delivered on a hiab truck and craned into position over the side fence. Power was a 16-amp tail trenched from the main house, signed off by an EWRB-certified sparkie. Total cost including the power trench was just under $39k.
Mike's paperwork is a Notice of Erection lodged with Kaipara District Council and a copy of the electrical certification. No CCC, no inspections, no rates change.
Scope notes
- Schedule 1 exempt build (under 10 m², no sanitation)
- Notice of Erection lodged with Kaipara DC
- Vertical stained-ply cladding
- 16-amp electrical tail with EWRB certification
- R3.2 wall / R3.6 ceiling insulation
- Vinyl plank floor, queen platform with storage
- Crane delivery to backyard site
Spec
- Internal floor area: 9.6 m²
- External envelope: 4,200 × 2,400 mm
- Foundation: timber bearers on concrete pads
- No plumbing (uses main-house bathroom & kitchen)
- Electrical: 16A tail with four sockets
Consent path
Schedule 1 exempt; Notice of Erection lodged with Kaipara DC.