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Modular homes are houses made up of modules which are constructed in a factory and then transported on trucks for assembly on a block of land. Because of this, many people assume that modular homes can be classified as "removable" homes.

We sometimes receive enquiries from people wanting a secondary dwelling like a granny flat or guest accommodation that they might want to relocate at some point in the future.

The short answer to the question is yes - modular homes can be moved again once established. However, it’s not quite as feasible to do so compared to other types of removable homes.

To start with, let’s take a quick look at how modular homes compare to other types of transportable dwellings:

Donga/demountable: The term donga (or demountable) is sometimes used interchangeably with modular. However, it’s important to be aware that dongas are usually constructed from lightweight materials for semi-permanent use, such as for classrooms or temporary offices. In contrast, modular homes are built to the same stringent requirements as on-site built houses. For example - meeting cyclone rating specifications.

Stump houses: While modular homes can be built on stumps and technically fall into the same category as stump homes, the term “stump house” is commonly used to refer to older houses that are well-suited for being relocated, such as traditional Queenslanders. There’s a whole industry dedicated to selling, moving, and relocating these kinds of stump houses. Being constructed on stumps makes the process of removing these houses fairly straightforward. Oftentimes, an entire house can be “picked up” and placed intact on transport trucks.

Kit houses: These types of houses share some similarities with modular homes in that components of the house are constructed off-site. However, kit homes usually refer to when the walls, rather than whole rooms, are made in the factory. The walls are cut to size and then transported to the site for assembly. There’s significantly more on-site labour to be completed with a kit house. Modular homes arrive with around 80% of the work already completed.

So now that we’ve clarified all that, here’s why modular homes aren’t really suited for removal in comparison to other options.

It essentially all comes down to cost. Modular homes aren’t designed or assembled with removal in mind. They are engineered to be permanent dwellings. To give you a very rough idea of the price, it can cost upwards of around $100,000 to relocate your average-sized 3-bedroom modular house. The majority of that cost isn’t taken up by the actual transportation of the modules, but by the costs of securing council approvals and connecting the home to utilities. Plus, there’s the labour of pouring a new slab and reassembling the modules.

In our experience, the cost of moving a modular home isn’t worth it for most people, especially for anyone wanting a secondary dwelling they will eventually want to remove. A more affordable and practical option would be a donga.

As for kit homes, most are not really designed for relocation due to the amount of labour required to assemble them in the first place. Although some smaller kits can be built on an elevated floor, which makes them removable.

So there you have it!

If a modular home does sound right for your needs and plans for the future, talk to the team at Westbuilt Homes. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have about modular construction.

We have been designing and building stunning modular homes since 1993 and have perfected our design and construction processes to be as streamlined as possible.

Click here to book a no-obligation consultation with one of our modular experts.