"I was hoping the cost of doing a shipping container would be relatively cheap, but the answer was not that interesting," he said. "They think, 'if I can stack a few containers and build up a home, it would be very affordable'."īut Dr Potdar does not live in a shipping container, which provides some insight into what he found. "It's 6 metres by 2.5 metres, so more than 12 square metres of covered space for less than $2,500," he said. Dr Potdar crunched the numbers in Perth to find out how much money could be saved opting for a container home compared with a traditional stud-frame house. "It's a health and safety risk to enter a container which you don't know what it carried in the past." At least it's cheap, right? "If a container was used to carry some kind of harmful chemical or something that is unhealthy for humans, we actually cannot see it or smell it when we enter a container it is there, it is hidden. (Photographer: Stephen Burstow)ĭr Potdar said while some might be structurally perfect, others could have been dropped from a great height. Second-hand shipping containers can make for a risky home or shed, because you don't know what damage it has suffered before it made it to your property. Used containers may not have a detailed history, so buyers do not necessarily know what potentially deadly materials have been inside for long periods of time.įor instance, a container could have been used to carry fertiliser, poisons, food or stuffed toys. The issue with shipping containers is that you usually have no idea where they have been. Is my shipping container trying to kill me? The common theme here is that neighbours complain and councils respond, not just for aesthetic reasons but because containers are also potentially dangerous.
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In north Queensland, Mackay Regional Council has threatened people with fines over unapproved containers in a rural area.
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In New South Wales, Wollondilly Council went to the Land and Environment Court in 2016 after someone refused to move an "unauthorised" container from their front yard.
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In Victoria, Cardinia Council requires a permit if you put a container on your own property, while South Gippsland Council does not allow them in any residential area. Queensland's Sunshine Coast Council just reinforced its own rules around containers, meaning no approval is needed for 30 days' use in an urban area and up to 90 days in more rural areas.Īn exception is made for construction workers using a container as storage, but once construction is completed the container has to go. That might be allowed, but temporary use generally means for a few months, not years. ( ABC News: Laura Beavis) What if I just want one for a little while? "And the moment you switch from used to a new container, the price blows away - it becomes very expensive that way."įor a new container, expect to pay at least $5,000.Ī shipping container converted into a tiny home.
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"They don't know what it has experienced in the past - maybe it was dented or hit. "Engineers are cautious when issuing structural certificates for reused containers," he said. What's more, you will have to modify your container in order to live in it - because you probably want actual doors, windows, fixtures and plumbing.Įverything you change about the container brings a risk that you're making it weaker, which means it may need reinforcing.ĭr Vidy Potdar from Curtin University in WA explored all of these options as part of a project to find out what it takes to build a container home in Perth. That is the same deal for the container you want as a backyard shed. That means you will need all the proper approvals, engineering, plans, and inspections just as you would for a granny flat or similar building. There is plenty to love about a shipping container home, but what are the dangers and what does it cost? ( ABC News: Andree Withey)Īlmost all councils treat a permanent shipping container almost exactly like they would any other building on your property.