‘I live in a shepherd's hut, waking to bird song and country views’
#RealRenters
Photographed, Tara in her home
Tara, 40, rents a shepherd’s hut in a small village in West Sussex and wakes up surrounded by bird song and countryside views. But, after being diagnosed with a chronic illness, she found herself without a job or a home. Three years on, Tara is the owner of a thriving pet-sitting business and her flatmates are canine or feline! This is her story, in her words…
For the past two-and-a-half years, I’ve lived in a shepherd’s hut in a beautiful village in West Sussex. Monthly, I pay £500 including wifi and it costs somewhere between £30-£50 for electricity and logs for the burner.
Until 2022, I rented a one-bedroom flat in Portsmouth initially with my partner but, after we broke up in 2016, I continued to rent the flat on my own, paying £850 per month on rent alone. As a single female on a basic income, this became extremely hard to afford, especially when I was diagnosed with a chronic illness.
I was working in events and hospitality at the time and was really passionate about my career, but my illness left me bedridden and unable to work from an office. Working from home wasn’t an option before the pandemic so eventually I was forced to resign. Things got worse when the heating and energy crisis sent my bills through the roof and left me unable to afford to heat my flat. So, by the time it came to renew my tenancy agreement, I found I couldn’t financially commit to another 12 months and was handed my notice.
“After renting for most of my adult life, I suddenly found myself homeless and sleeping in my Fiat 500.”
After renting for most of my adult life, I suddenly found myself homeless and sleeping in my Fiat 500. I lost everything. But, despite this being an incredibly tough time, this was also the point at which everything started to change for the better. I started pet sitting – initially, it was voluntary – but I was soon being asked to work for people privately who were willing to pay. So, I set up my own pet-sitting business and three years later, I’m busier than ever. I love making new animal friends and waking up somewhere different. But more importantly, I can afford to rent alone and work around my health condition which is amazing.
My pet-sitting work is residential and takes me all over the UK. The job is so rewarding and every day is different. The longest time I've spent away from home was three weeks on the Isle of Wight. I’m only in my shepherd’s hut between jobs. I’ve never been a fan of routine, so work definitely satisfies my inner nomad. Spending more than £1,000 per month on rent and bills for a one-bed flat like I used to wouldn't make sense for my lifestyle nowadays. It’s lovely to have my own space again. A shepherd’s hut would be too small for many people, but I’m only five foot three and I don’t have many possessions, so it’s perfect for me.
In the past I struggled to manage debts and navigate the cost of living on a single income, but now I’m much more savvy with money and find ways to have joyful moments for free. Mentally, I’m also happier and less stressed now I no longer have to worry about how to afford my rent and bills.
“I wake up to bird song with a coffee, look out across the fields and appreciate how blessed I am.”
Losing everything taught me how little I really need, so I keep it minimalist these days. I wake up to bird song with a coffee, look out across the fields and appreciate how blessed I am. I even have a tawny owl who likes to sit on the tree outside the hut at night. I feel like I’m in the middle of nowhere but, in reality, it’s only 10 minutes to the nearest town. Living alone is liberating because I have nobody to answer to or tidy up after, and no one to tell me off for spending too long in the bathroom! I’m able to relax and handle the complexity of living with a chronic illness in my own little space.
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