‘Skip life’: How this man beat the housing crisis by living in a skip bin

Jarrod Brown
By Jarrod Brown
5 Min Read

In an ingenious solution to sky-high rents plaguing the UK, 30-year-old Harrison Marshall has been saving an impressive £1,500 ($A3,000) each month by calling a converted skip bin his home. 

The artist turned heads and made headlines two years ago when he transformed the industrial waste container into a fully functional living space, now famously known as the “Skip House.”

The bright yellow skip was donated to Harrison in early 2023, marking the start of a project that would challenge traditional notions of housing.

“I was told I had to paint the skip black as it’s not really part of their brand anymore,” he told The Sun. “It’s a shame because I quite liked it—it had more of that ‘skip feel.’”

Since January of the same year, the Skip House has been parked in Bermondsey, London, providing Harrison with an unconventional yet surprisingly comfortable place to live.

How “skip life” became a long-term solution

What began as a short-term fix while Harrison searched for affordable rental housing has now become his two-year lifestyle. 

“I’ve been in the skip nearly two years now—time flies,” Harrison told the publication. 

With the UK battling skyrocketing living costs and a severe housing crisis rivalling our own, Harrison’s minimalist approach has proven practical.

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The tiny home includes a snug kitchenette and a loft-style bedroom accessible by a wooden ladder. Harrison uses a donated dunny stationed outside for his bathroom needs, while gym facilities handle his showering routine—a part of skip living he describes as the “trickiest bit.”

“Even for two people, it does get cosy,” he admitted. “It’s a little bit of squeezing past each other, going around in circles. But no negative reviews yet—or at least they’ve not told me to my face.”

Turning a skip into a home

Thanks to his background in construction and a little help from friends and family, Harrison completed the Skip House in just four weeks, with the total fitout cost including timber, insulation, furnishings, and decorations, only clocking in at an impressive £5,000 ($A10,000). 

His efforts even attracted global attention, with media outlets and production companies from countries like Germany and Japan documenting his journey.

Harrison’s unique living arrangement has also gained traction on social media, with the Skip House now amassing thousands of followers on TikTok and Instagram. 

Despite the compact space, Harrison has made it work. “Standard skip-dinner is definitely pasta pesto—I’m an expert now,” he joked. Washing up, however, remains a hassle. “It’s kind of like camping; I just try to avoid using too many utensils.”

“I managed to fit seven people in here once. Although that was pretty uncomfortable—we were packed like sardines.”

He’s even somehow fit in a few climbing holds for a home workout.

But the biggest surprise? The skip stays warm, even during London’s chilly winters. 

“I’m lucky enough to be connected to power, and that makes a big difference,” Harrison explained to The Sun. 

“Once the heater is on, it doesn’t take long to warm up—it’s pretty good going.” 

The well-insulated home, paired with energy-efficient heating, keeps his energy bills at just £30 ($A60) a month.

Small home with big benefits

Living rent-free on land owned by an arts organisation has allowed Harrison to enjoy life in ways he previously couldn’t. 

“Because I know I’m saving on rent, I buy a bit of extra nice food somewhere else or go abroad—whereas otherwise, I might exclude that from my spending,” he said.

Harrison acknowledges the downsides, such as limited space and the inconvenience of gym showers, but believes the trade-offs are worth it. 

“A lot of my friends are still struggling to find places—it’s still very competitive,” he shared.

As the Skip House approaches its second anniversary, Harrison said he’s happy to stick with “skip life” for a little while longer if it means not paying £1,000 ($A1,966) a month in rent for a share house down the road. 

“I’m just going month by month until something better comes up,” he explained. 

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Jarrod Brown combines his background in journalism, copywriting and digital marketing with a lifelong passion for storytelling. He has a strong passion for new and emerging consumer technology within the building sector. He lives on the Sunshine Coast - usually found glued to the deck of a surfboard.