Can you insure a tiny home?
Tiny homes
Tiny homes, as the name suggests, are smaller and more affordable houses, typically less than 15 metres long. They are becoming increasingly popular in New Zealand.
Portable tiny homes
If your tiny home or similar portable house is on a trailer or wheels, we can’t cover it under our initio house insurance policies. If the home can be moved, even if you don’t intend to move it, it is considered closer to a caravan than a permanent dwelling. In this case, we recommend speaking with an insurance provider that offers caravan insurance products.
Permanently situated tiny homes
We can consider cover for a tiny home if it is permanently fixed to the land, connected to local services, and fully self-contained.
It will also need either a Code of Compliance or a Certificate of Acceptance. In simple terms, the home must meet the definition of a compliant residential dwelling to be covered under our policy.
More recently, we can also consider tiny homes that have only received a Code Compliance Certificate at the manufacturer’s site, provided they have since been permanently sited with minimal site works.
Homes under 70 m² that no longer require council consent (as at January 2026)
Under new government regulations, some new homes under 70 m² no longer require building consent. If the home meets all council conditions for this exemption, it can still be considered for cover with initio.
Key conditions include (this list is not exhaustive):
- the home is a single-storey, standalone dwelling
- the net floor area is 70 m² or less
- the design is simple and complies with the Building Code
- the work is carried out or supervised by licensed building professionals
- the local council is notified before construction starts and once it is complete
- the home meets Building Code performance requirements, including structure, fire safety, durability, and moisture control
Not sure if your tiny home qualifies?
If you’re unsure, email us at [email protected] with a few details about the home, or apply online.
When applying, answer “yes” to the question “is there any further information likely to affect the acceptance of the insurance?” and include details about the home, along with any other relevant disclosures.