REALITY CHECKWe live in tiny home community but are facing eviction over by-laws ‘that don’t fit the reality’ – the clock is ticking

Tiny homes are taking off as a new way of creating affordable housing and sustainable living.

However, residents of the relatively new properties are regularly coming under threats of fines and eviction due to red tape surrounding property laws.

This is precisely what is happening to three residents in the Sunshine Coast, Australia.

Amid a desperate housing crisis, one elderly resident and two single parents with young children found safety and stability in their tiny homes on land owned by Jacqueline Morton.

Morton owns a 32-acre property that hosts four tiny homes.

However, she has been informed by the council that the tenants and three of the homes have until August 31 to move on.

The warning came after a complaint was made by a neighbor which launched an investigation by Sunshine Coast Council officers.

Current rules in the area dictate that the council will allow one temporary home per property and if that tiny home is to stay longer than four weeks, a permit is needed.

The permit costs $514 Australian ($340.29) but in "extraordinary circumstances," it can be waived.

These circumstances include financial struggles, a category Morton's tenants fall under.

Once a permit is granted, the tiny home or RV can be on the property for 18 months as it is still deemed "temporary."

Morton slammed the eviction threat and told ABC: "Where do they want them to go? Live in their cars or live in tents?

"I just think it's a disgusting attitude...council is quoting by-laws and regulations that just don't fit the reality of the situation we're in."

Single mom Angela Smith who lives on the property with her two young sons called the eviction notice "unbelievable."

"I don't have a backup plan. To be moving people along in a housing crisis due to red tape is just unbelievable," she said.

Smith added that the council is being "heavy-handed" with its decision and that she has been left "crushed" by it.

However, not all members of the council agree with the decision.

Councillor David Law met with Morton and her tenants and urged other landowners in the area to help them.

Directive Collective's Lead Researcher and Analyst Mel Caylet told Yahoo News that the council is "entirely unprepared" amid a housing crisis that has displaced approximately 15,000 people.

He said of tiny home residents: "People have jobs here, people live here and they can't get homes here, so they're looking at whatever they can do to stay in the community.

"This is a crisis. This is the greatest crisis we're facing but because it's almost glacial in how it's got here, and it is 'too hard' from a political point of view, no one is treating it like a crisis."

He slammed the council's actions toward Morton and her tenants, saying: "It is disgraceful that they would be exercising a law like that, that is taking someone from a point of security and safety and putting them at risk.

"Keep in mind all laws can be changed — it's not constitutional, it's not big issue stuff, they can vote to change that."

In a statement, the Sunshine Coast Council said: "The current nationwide housing crisis is a complex, multi-faceted, and evolving issue.

"Council appreciates the cost of owning or renting a home on the Sunshine Coast has been causing some people to consider moving into temporary accommodation.

"Our first priority is to ensure everyone – including our most vulnerable people – is safe."

The statement continued: "Council works with affected parties to support them to find suitable and safe accommodation; however, in this instance, we have no option but to require them to comply with Council’s Planning Scheme.

"Council has investigated and taken reasonable development compliance actions in relation to the use of this property for multiple tiny homes."