Could you live in one of these tiny houses?

There's a lot to be said for a small house - less cleaning, cheaper heating and lower maintenance costs.

In the US, the 'tiny house' concept has grown into a big movement, with people throwing out almost all they own to move into a miniature log cabin or gypsy-style caravan.

But you don't need to go to quite those lengths to find a cosy retreat where you won't be rattling around.

Here are seven tiny detached houses that are perfect for just one or two.

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Stanton Drew, near Bristol

The Round House was built in the 18th century as a toll house, where the tollkeeper would collect money from travellers. Grade II listed, it has a thatched roof and its own quirky style. The layout couldn't be simpler: a circular kitchen measuring 11 feet across on the ground floor, with a tiny shower room leading off; and a high-ceilinged circular bedroom above. There's storage under the stairs and enough space for a small kitchen table. Outside, the cottage comes with the small patch of grass on which it sits. It's up for sale through agent Killens for offers over £110,000.

Portloe, Cornwall

This tiny retreat has out-of-scale gardens of nearly a fifth of an acre - and a ruined piggery, in case you want to expand on the one-bedroom, one-reception room cottage. With glorious sea and country views, the stone and cob home has plenty of original features including old beams, wood panelling and wood panelled latched and braced doors. It's been brought up to date with the addition of double glazing and underfloor heating in the kitchen and bathroom, and is lighter than you'd expect for a period cottage. It costs £325,000 through agents Miller Countrywide.


Littlehampton, West Sussex

It simply wouldn't be possible to pack any more period features into this tiny nineteenth-century home. Its living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and study boast original fireplaces, stained glass windows, sash cord windows, beamed ceilings and walls with carvings attached. Outside, a small courtyard garden is enclosed by pretty flint walls, and the cottage is within a few hundred metres of the beach front and inside the Beach Town conservation area. Chain-free, it's on the market for £205,000 through agent Glyn Jones.

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Newlyn, Cornwall

It's cash buyers only for this former water pumping station, and you'll need to turn it into a home yourself - planning permission for residential occupancy has already been granted. Right now, it's just a shell, with a 20-by-14-foot room on the ground floor with stairs leading up to a similarly-sized room with a round window, vaulted ceiling and wooden floor. But there's great potential, with lovely granite walls, beautiful views and a stone-walled garden with trees and parking for two cars. It's up for sale for offers over £165,000 through agents Millerson.

Carluke, Lanarkshire

There's a little more space in this Victorian Gothic cottage, with two reception rooms and a small conservatory along with its one bedroom and bath. There's also a loft room accessed by a pull down ladder. Steeped in history, the house features wooden floors, leaded windows, fireplaces and vaulted ceilings. There's a garden outside, along with a large garage. If it's not big enough, there are lapsed plans available that would add another three bedrooms and bathroom. Agents Location are looking for offers over £255,995.

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Wandsworth

This newly-converted freehold detached house is being touted as being near good schools - but you might struggle to fit a family in. The immaculate property consists of an 18 by 15-foot kitchen/living room with underfloor heating, and a bedroom and bathroom above. To help you avoid tripping over all your stuff, there's a good-sized basement store accessed by a trap-door and plenty of built-in cupboards. It's up for sale for £499,999 through agent Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward.

Achmore, Isle of Lewis

For a tiny price as well as a tiny property, buyers couldn't do better than this. It's not much more than a shack, and 'in need of extensive renovation', say the agents, but has tons of potential thanks to good sized gardens and spectacular views over lochs and towards the Harris Hills. It's got a fixed price of just £35,000 and is available through the Hebridean Estate Agency.