Homes Off Grid

Homes Off Grid EXPLORE OUR DEDICATED OFF GRID PLATFORM, WHERE YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT SUSTAINABLE LIVING AND CONNECT WITH LIKE-MINDED BUYERS AND SELLERS OF ALTERNATIVES HOMES.

Wales' One Planet Development Policy 🏴󠁧󠁒󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Living off-grid on a piece of land can be pretty complicated in the UK, but...
12/09/2026

Wales' One Planet Development Policy 🏴󠁧󠁒󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Living off-grid on a piece of land can be pretty complicated in the UK, but Wales has an interesting option which could be perfect for you.  🀩

Wales' One Planet Development policy is a genuinely interesting approach to low-impact living. 🌱

However it's important to know from the beginning, that it's not a loophole to get permission to build a house in the countryside. 🏑

There's a lot more to it, which is why I've been looking into how OPD works, what you'd need to demonstrate and the commitments involved. πŸ“‘

I've gone into the details in the full article in the Homes Off Grid Reading Room. πŸ“–

If you're considering an off-grid life in Wales, it's well worth a read before you start looking at land. πŸ‘€

11/09/2026

If you’re building an off-grid house in the UK, wet weather has to be something you consider during the planning phase. 🌧️

It’s not just about choosing materials that can cope with rain either, you've got to think about the way the whole building is put together too. βš’οΈ

Good drainage, ventilation, roof overhangs, cavities and detailing can all help prevent water becoming a problem, and you need to give trapped moisture somewhere to go. πŸ’§

We've looked at some of the materials and construction choices worth considering in the full guide over in the Homes Off Grid Reading Room.

If you were to choose a slightly moreΒ  unusual off-grid home, ignoring the picturesque cabins, cosy canal boats and quir...
10/09/2026

If you were to choose a slightly moreΒ  unusual off-grid home, ignoring the picturesque cabins, cosy canal boats and quirky campers for a moment, which type would you choose? πŸ€”

A yurt? πŸ•οΈ
A shepherd's hut?πŸ‘
Or a shipping container?πŸ—οΈ

They can all be used to create an alternative home, but they're pretty different in terms of space, construction, insulation, flexibility and how they'll cope with the UK weather. βš–οΈ

It's not all about which one looks nicest, although that definitely can be a factor! 🀩

We've compared these three options in more detail in the Reading Room if you're considering one of these options for yourself.

Which would you choose? πŸ‘‡

09/09/2026

When you don't have mains power you have to be a bit more inventive when it comes to heating up your water. 🌑️

Luckily there are a few different options out there, you just need to decide which one works best for you. πŸ€”

You could go for a traditional log burner with a back boiler, a modern diesel liquid heater, or something different. πŸ”₯

Your choice is going to depend on how much solar you have, how big your home is, plus a few other factors.βš–οΈ

There's no right or wrong answer, but if you need help deciding you can check out our article "How Do I Get Hot Water Off-Grid?" to help you figure it out. πŸ“–

02/09/2026

One of the least glamorous, but most important parts of off-grid living is keeping the water tank full! πŸ’§

When you're not connected to mains water, you need to think about where your water comes from, how much you use and how much you can store. 🍢

For us, that means regularly finding somewhere we can fill the freshwater tank in our camper, and in the meantime we're always sensible with our water use. 🚚

Whether you're living in a truck, boat, or off-grid property, water is a resource worth planning carefully. πŸ›₯️

How you manage it will depend on your setup, but having enough storage and knowing where your next supply is coming from can save a lot of hassle. 🌟

πŸ‘‡ How do you get your water when you're off-grid?

If you want to learn more about off-grid living visit the Reading Room on the Homes Off Grid website for lots of helpful articles. πŸ“š

Starting a smallholding is exciting, but with so many ideas you can easily make life much harder than it needs to be! 🌱...
29/08/2026

Starting a smallholding is exciting, but with so many ideas you can easily make life much harder than it needs to be! 🌱

From underestimating water and energy needs to taking on animals too soon, some of the most common mistakes are surprisingly easy to avoid. πŸ’§

Start small, learn each step as you go and build from there. πŸ‘£

I've gone into more detail on these common beginner mistakes, plus how to avoid them, in the latest Reading Room article. πŸ“

πŸ“– Read the full article via the Reading Room link in my bio.

If you're already running a smallholding/homestead, what's one thing you wish you'd known before you started? πŸ’¬β¬‡οΈ

🌱 If you've found an affordable piece of land and are already imagining your off-grid set-up, you might want to read thi...
26/08/2026

🌱 If you've found an affordable piece of land and are already imagining your off-grid set-up, you might want to read this first. πŸ‘€

⚠️ Before you get too carried away, there's something fairly fundamental worth checking:

❓ What is the land actually designated for❓

In England, land and buildings fall into different use classes, and the current use of a plot can have a big impact on what you are legally allowed to do with it. ❇️

A field might look like the perfect place for a cabin. An old agricultural building might seem like an obvious conversion project. But neither automatically means you can turn it into a home. 🏑

And this is one of those things that's much easier to investigate before you've bought the land rather than afterwards. πŸ’Έ

I've already covered the basics of planning permission for off-grid homes in another Reading Room article, but this one addresses the question of what the land is actually being used for, and why that matters when you're looking for an off-grid home site. 🌳🚜

πŸ“– Read the full article: Understanding Land Use Classes Before Buying Land for an Off-Grid Home: link to the Reading Room in bio.

And if you're currently looking at land, save this post. There are quite a few things worth checking before you commit to a purchase. πŸ’Ύ

23/08/2026

One of my favourite things about this time of year is how much free food is suddenly everywhere. 🌿🍎

The hedgerows are full of blackberries, while the trees are busy producing apples, plums, greengages and pears. 🍐

Obviously, not everything is ready at exactly the same time, but once you start looking there's a surprising amount of fruit growing around us. 🌳

Over the last month we've picked loads of blackberries, and plums, plus a fair few apples. I could have picked buckets of sloes too but I don't really have a use for them! 🫐

It's one of those little things I really enjoy about living and travelling this way, making use of what's growing nearby and discovering what grows best in different areas. 🧭

What fruit are you finding ready to pick where you are right now? 🌟

🌟 Renault Master Campervan for Sale – Β£44,000 🚐Claude is a 2021 Renault Master Long Wheelbase with a 2.3L diesel engine,...
19/08/2026

🌟 Renault Master Campervan for Sale – Β£44,000 🚐

Claude is a 2021 Renault Master Long Wheelbase with a 2.3L diesel engine, in great mechanical condition and with a comfortable driving environment. 🧭

He has already travelled from the Arctic Circle in winter to the South of France in summer, including temperatures down to -30Β°C and up to 40Β°C. β„οΈπŸŒ‘οΈ

The big selling point is the 15.5kWh Fogstar battery and 640W solar system, giving this van a huge amount of electrical capacity without relying on LPG or campsite hookups. πŸ”‹

Inside you'll find:

πŸ›οΈ Full-size fixed double bed

πŸ”₯ Truma D4e heating & hot water

πŸ’§ 100L fresh water + 100L wastewater

🚿 Full-height wet room

🚽 Simploo separating toilet

🧊 158L Thetford fridge/freezer

🍳 Two induction hobs

πŸ“¦ Plenty of storage

πŸš΄β€β™€οΈ Spacious garage for bikes, paddleboards and outdoor equipment

The fixed bed means there's no need to turn the living space into a bedroom every night, while the corner seating area provides a comfortable place to eat, work or relax. πŸ›‹οΈ

There’s also a 4m Thule awning, outside shower point, external power outlet and awning lighting, making it just as practical outside the van as it is inside. 🌞

Claude has been built around genuine off-grid travel rather than occasional weekends away, with enough electrical and water capacity for extended stays away from campsites. 🏞️

πŸ’· Β£44,000

For the full specification, photos and seller contact details, head to the Homes Off Grid Listings via the link below. πŸ”—

Would you choose a huge battery system like this for your own campervan? πŸ‘‡

Address

Aberdeenshire

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Homes Off Grid posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category