Shed sales boom as homeowners can't afford to move

Sales of posh sheds have rocketed, as homeowners try to avoid moving house because of record property prices and crippling stamp duty.

According to online shed and garden storage website Shedstore.co.uk, Brits bought more than twice as many sheds, cabins and outbuildings costing £2,000 or more in the last year than they did the year before.

Indeed, demand for one of the company's most high-end cabins - the 26-by-16-foot Palmako Penelope - is up by over a third, despite the £13,000 price tag.

Tracey Hartwell, sales manager of Shedstore, believes the reason is a set of financial pressures that makes upsizing an impossible dream for many.

"With stamp duty, house prices and the cost of living so high, more and more people are turning to high-end sheds, cabins and outbuildings as a more affordable way to create extra space in their homes," she says.

"A shed can be so much more than simply a place to store garden tools. The more luxury products on the market can easily be turned into an office, workshop or occasional room for guests kitted out with electricity, heating and even water."

Such buildings have the advantage that they can generally be put up without planning permission - and, usually, without disrupting life in the house too much.

However, there are other ways to make more room at home without breaking the bank: here are four more.

See also: Families living in squalid garden sheds for £80 a week

See also: Eight houses with fabulous sheds

Build a conservatory
A conservatory has a lot of the same benefits as a garden studio - but still gives access from the house. It's easier to install utilities too. They come in a wide range of styles and prices, from elegant orangeries down to off-the-shelf PVC models.

Convert your loft
A full loft conversion with a bathroom can cost around £50,000. However, you can get away at a fraction of the price if, for example, you do away with the bathroom and have Velux windows instead of dormers. Even just boarding the loft and adding a sturdy drop-down ladder can give lots of useful storage - although you won't be able to use a loft conversion as a bedroom unless you satisfy fire regulations.

Rent a self-storage unit
This won't actually make your house bigger - but it'll probably feel that way. The costs of self-storage vary around the country, but can be as little as a couple of pounds a week. And moving out all your little-used stuff may allow you to get rid of a cupboard or two.

Convert your garage
Few people keep a car in their garage these days, and it often ends up being a repository for junk. Converting one into a living space can be much cheaper than building from scratch, and generally comes in at under £10,000.