Can I lease my land? How Landowners Can Create Income, Community, and Housing Solutions with Tiny Homes
At Ruru Tiny Homes, we talk a lot about tiny homes — but one of the most powerful parts of the tiny home ecosystem isn’t the home at all.
It’s the land.
Across New Zealand, we’re seeing a growing number of landowners come forward with the same thought:
“We have space… could a tiny home work here?”
The answer, more often than not, is yes — and sometimes far more easily than people expect.
This blog is for landowners who are curious about leasing land to a tiny home tenant, and for anyone interested in understanding how this can create a safe, respectful housing solution for tiny home owners while opening up a steady income stream for landowners.
Why Land Leasing for Tiny Homes Makes Sense
Tiny homes are a unique housing model. Most tiny home owners can comfortably afford the home itself — but purchasing land in today’s market is often the biggest barrier.
Land leasing bridges that gap.
For landowners, this can mean:
A reliable weekly income from underutilised land
No need to subdivide or sell
Retaining full ownership of your property
A low-impact dwelling with minimal site disruption
The opportunity to support ethical, sustainable housing
For tiny home owners, land leasing offers:
Long-term stability without massive debt
A respectful, private place to live
The ability to remain mobile if life changes
A genuine sense of community
When done correctly, land leasing isn’t a compromise — it’s a win-win.
The Big Question: Do I Need Resource Consent?
This is where many landowners stop before they start.
There’s a common assumption that adding a tiny home automatically means:
complex applications
high costs
months of council stress
In reality, that’s often not the case.
In many districts, adding a second minor dwelling is already anticipated in the planning rules.
Depending on:
zoning
size of the dwelling
servicing (water, wastewater, power)
site coverage and setbacks
…a tiny home on wheels may already be a permitted activity, or only require confirmation rather than a full consent application.
Every property is different — and that’s exactly why a site-specific check matters.
What Ruru Does for Landowners (Free of Charge)
This is where we step in.
At Ruru Tiny Homes, we always do a quick, high-level land check for landowners who are considering leasing space to a tiny home.
This includes:
Reviewing zoning and planning rules
Identifying whether a second minor dwelling is already permitted
Flagging whether additional consent may be required
Being honest about limitations and red flags
Importantly:
👉 There is no cost for this initial check.
👉 There is no obligation.
👉 It’s done nationwide.
Our goal is clarity — quickly and realistically.
Why This Matters (A Lot)
We see the consequences when land leasing is done without checking first:
arrangements that fall apart later
stress for landowners
displacement for tiny home owners
That’s not good for anyone.
A quick check upfront:
protects landowners
protects tenants
creates stability
builds trust on both sides
And when a site is suitable?
That’s where the magic happens.
From Eligible Land to Matching the Right Tenant
If your land is suitable for a tiny home lease, we can go one step further.
For eligible sites, Ruru can advertise your land to our tiny home clients — free of charge.
That means:
no listing fees
no online marketplace chaos
tenants who already understand tiny home living
people actively looking for long-term, respectful arrangements
We’ve helped facilitate many successful land lease matches, and the strongest ones always start with the same thing:
clarity and communication upfront.
A Quiet but Powerful Housing Solution
Land leasing for tiny homes isn’t about squeezing extra dwellings onto land.
It’s about:
using space thoughtfully
offering housing without speculation
supporting people who want to live simply and responsibly
creating income without overdevelopment
In a time where housing pressure is real and affordability matters, this model quietly delivers something powerful: dignified housing and mutual benefit.
Curious If Your Land Could Work?
If you’re a landowner anywhere in New Zealand and you’re wondering:
Could a tiny home work on my land?
Do I already meet the requirements?
Would this need consent — or not?
👉 Get in touch with Ruru Tiny Homes.
We’ll do a quick, honest check and talk you through what’s possible — no cost, no pressure.
Sometimes the opportunity is already there — it just needs someone to connect the dots.
Warmly,
Fran