My mum converted her garage so I could live there rent-free with my kid – you’d never know it wasn’t a newbuild flat

A WOMAN has proved you can turn anything into a cosy home, including a GARAGE where she lives with her little tot.

With prices sky-rocketing, millions of people across the world are struggling to afford housing, whether that’s buying their first-ever property or renting a flat.

tiktok/@naydaniellexo

tiktok@naydaniellexo

This was also the case for one woman, Janeya, who was forced to find a new home after leaving ”a bad relationship” with her toddler daughter, Sky.

Janeya, believed to be from the USA, had to move back home – but instead of squeezing into the property with her mum, Janeya’s mother had come up with a solution, to turn her huge garage into an apartment for the duo.

I would never move out

Social media userTikTok

The conversion process, Janeya explained on TikTok, took around three months, as they needed the building inspection to approve of the framework, as well as ensure everything had been wired to standards.

In terms of expenses, the costs came to about $14,000 – or £11,000 – for the project to be completed.

”It was expensive – but it was very well worth it. It came out so beautiful and I am in love with it,” said Janeya, as she showed the Before and After snaps on her social media page, @naydaniellexo.

During the garage glow-up process, almost everything was renovated, including gorgeous grey flooring, as well as light grey walls.

The mum-daughter duo moved into their new home at the end of 2022, with Janeya sharing a special ”thank you” to her mother in a now-viral clip online.

The video, which has been viewed close to a whopping 24million times, shows what the unusual flat looked like before the transformation, as well as how Janeya had decorated it afterwards.

The living room, for instance, features a gorgeous sofa, as well as a massive TV, a stylish faux fur rug, as well as a mini drinks table.

Janeya’s daughter even has her very special playroom, filled with numerous toys, a dollhouse, a mini kitchen for pretend games, which the tot enjoys with her peers.

Although a massive chunk of the renovation project came to thousands, the cash-savvy mum has also been using bargain buys from the Dollar Tree to create a ”family wall” with photos.

”Moms are a blessing, loving this new journey & life for me and my daughter,” Janeya wrote in the caption of the clip.

The wonderful apartment has taken the internet by storm, with thousands racing to praise her selfless mother.

One kind-hearted user wrote: ”Some people really are blessed with parents who care.”

Meanwhile, another was so impressed by the makeover, they reckoned they’d want to live there forever.

”I would never move out!”

Someone else agreed, adding: ”Your mom is truly a blessing.”

”Congratulations on your new place!! I’m happy you and your baby are safe,” a fourth chimed in.

Tiny Houses In The UK: Everything You Need To Know

Are tiny houses legal in the UK?

According to the experts at The Qube, tiny houses are legal in the UK regardless of whether they are on a trailer base or not.

The legality of tiny houses is all to do with where it is and what you use it for. 

Where can I put my tiny house?

There are numerous places you can legally put your tiny house in the UK, the pros said.

However, some require planning permission and some do not – check out the full list and requirements here.

Converting a garage into a living space in the UK

Do I need building consent for the conversion work?

As explained by Refresh Renovations, it’s down to the local planning authority to determine if you need planning permission – however, in general, if you are not changing the structure of your attached garage it may fall into the category of permitted development and will not need planning permission.  

It’s worth pointing out that if it is a standalone garage, you may require “change of use” permission.

If the person lives in a listed building or Conservation area, then planning permission will be needed.