Could Tiny Homes Be The Solution To Tampa’s Housing Crisis?
You may have seen tiny homes on social media. The city of Tampa recently surveyed home owners on the affects of easing regulations for tiny homes. Currently, the only code that allows for these living spaces to be constructed is in Seminole Heights. Everywhere else in Tampa, tiny homes may only be created for a family member and the main residence. While tiny homes could be used in the fight against Tampa’s housing crisis, local homeowners say that they would mainly use them for Airbnb rentals.
Tiny homes or Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are usually smaller than one bedroom apartments. The size of the unit is what makes them relatively affordable compared to most modest apartments in Tampa. It is estimated that rent for one of these tiny living spaces could be about $900. The problem is that most Tampa homeowners would build these “garage apartments” and use them as Airbnb rentals and “landlord income.”
According to Creative Loafing, the City of Tampa surveyed about ADUs and received about 1,000 responses. The overall response was if they could have an ADU on their property, it would be used as an Airbnb. Only about 1% of respondents said that affordable housing mattered the most. However that’s not stopping Tampa’s City Planning Director, Stephen Benson. He told CL in an email that “The city is exploring every option to increase affordable housing, and many cities are seeking ways to increase the availability of ADUs as part of a broader housing strategy.”
The City of Tampa has scheduled a workshop on October 27 at 9a.m. at city hall. This workshop include council, city staff, and people from the community discussing options for ADUs.
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