Tortue LodgeTiny house guide
Buying
Tiny house, chalet, container or caravan: which should you choose?
These four types of home differ first and foremost in their legal status, which determines where they can be installed. A tiny house on wheels counts as a caravan, a chalet placed on the ground is a building, as is a container, and a caravan remains a leisure vehicle. Everything else follows from that.
Buying a used tiny house: checks and pitfalls
A used tiny house is bought as a vehicle and as a house at the same time. Three checks decide the deal: the condition of the trailer and its papers, signs of damp in the walls, and the reality of the insulation. Between private individuals, only the warranty against hidden defects applies.
Insuring a tiny house: home, trailer and transport
A tiny house is insured in two stages. On the road, it must have third-party liability cover, either through the towing vehicle’s policy or through a separate trailer policy above 750 kg. Once it is set up, a comprehensive home insurance policy suited to its status and use protects the house and your liability.
Tiny house or mobile home: what are the differences?
The difference is first and foremost a legal one. A tiny house on wheels that can be driven on the road is a caravan: it can be parked on private land. A mobile home is a mobile leisure home that the French highway code prohibits from being driven on the road: it can only be installed on a campsite, in a residential leisure park or in a holiday village.
Financing a tiny house: loans, deposit and possible assistance
In France, a tiny house on wheels is not real property: it is generally financed with consumer credit (a personal loan or a linked credit agreement), with a 14-day cooling-off period. The land can be financed with a mortgage. From 20 November 2026, consumer credit rules cover loans of up to €100,000.
Moving a tiny house: licence, weight, dimensions and delivery
To tow a tiny house, the licence you need depends on the combined gross weight of the car and the trailer: a B licence up to 3,500 kg, code B96 up to 4,250 kg, a BE licence for a trailer of up to 3,500 kg. The trailer, which must be registered above 500 kg, must not be more than 2.55 m wide.
Which tiny house should you choose? Floor area, beds and use
Choose a tiny house in this order: the use, mobile or fixed status, the land, and only then the floor area and layout. Allow 15 m² for two, 20 m² with a separate bedroom, 30 m² for a family, and 35 m² or more for two proper ground-floor bedrooms.