Courtesy of Elizabeth Illing.
- Elizabeth Illing moved into a tiny home believing it was a long-term solution to Austin's high rent.
- Illing said her rent and utility bills went up during the two years she's lived in the tiny home.
- She feels disillusioned by the tiny-home experience and is moving to an apartment in April.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Elizabeth Illing, a 37-year-old general manager for a catering company in Austin who moved into a tiny home with her daughter in 2022 but is planning to move out this spring. Her rent increased after the first year in the 600-square-foot one-bedroom tiny home, and her current 15-month lease is up in April. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.