Bega Valley residents facing fines of $10 000 daily, are one in a string of tiny homeowners across the country stuck in a battle against councils, facing eviction, demolition and homelessness.

Australia’s housing crisis continues to worsen, with vulnerable groups seeing the greatest impact. And for many, tiny houses are an affordable living alternative. But, regulatory hurdles remain an increasing challenge.

In Victoria’s Yarra Ranges residents have been served a building order to demolish or comply with Building Codes. In QLD’s Sunshine Coast four tiny homeowners are up against council evictions. In April, Bega Valley’s Manu Bohn, and Joshua Heins, were issued a letter to demolish the tiny home they have lived in for two years.

The couple took their fight to change.org urging council to “enact a moratorium on tiny house evictions whilst working with the NSW Government on a pathway to tiny homeownership”. Their online petition backed by 27 000 signatures was rejected on a technicality, with the couple garnering a new petition to fit council format as they continue calls for reform.

Bega Valley Shire Council provided this response

Image: Image: Shutterstock – St. John Imagery

Produced By: Emma Wotzke

Featured In Story: Joshua Heins -Tiny House Owner, Emeritus Professor Paul Burton – School of Planning and Environment Griffith University, and Rochelle Ryan – Volunteer National President for Australian Tiny house Association

First aired on The Wire, Thursday 7 August 2025