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Haley Bosselman on her couch next to a picture of her tiny house
The author lives in a tiny house.

Courtesy of Haley Bosselman

  • I live alone in a tiny house, which is in a stranger's backyard.
  • The tiny house has minimal amentities and a small kitchen, but it works for me.
  • The landlord has become a close friend, and I'm so thankful to have this opportunity.

After seven years of living in Los Angeles with roommates, the wailing babies and screaming kids in my building were too much to bear anymore. I decided it was time to get my own place.

I intended to jump from LA's Pico-Robertson neighborhood to the San Fernando Valley. Just over the hill, you could find generally more affordable and safer housing. Plus, my boyfriend and another close friend lived on that side of town.

That's when I stumbled upon a tiny house in a stranger's backyard — that I now call home.

I instantly knew this pool house was the right space for me.
exterior of Haley Bosselman's tiny house
The exterior of the author's tiny house.

Courtesy of Haley Bosselman

After months of toggling around with Zillow's filters and map radius, I stumbled upon a small structure located in the backyard of a Sherman Oaks house.

The idea of living in someone's backyard felt a little strange, but knowing the owner was a woman, I felt comfortable enough to check the tiny house out.

When Kristina, the owner, showed me to her ADU (accessory dwelling unit) on a late April morning, she was still wearing her jammies, and her dogs, Oscar and Brady, trailed at her feet.

I already had a good feeling.

It's a small space without many features.
interior of Haley Bosselman's tiny house
The interior of the author's tiny house.

Courtesy of Haley Bosselman

There was no kitchen or closet, but I already felt a sense of home. Abundant sunshine lit up the studio-type space, and I could hear after-class buzz from the high school at the edge of the neighborhood.

Additionally, the ADU came equipped with a refrigerator, sink, cupboards, a brand-new air fryer oven, a bed, a gloriously well-powered shower, ample street parking, and access to a washing machine and dryer just outside my door — more than many Los Angeles apartments can say.

I asked to move in immediately.

The landlord and I became friends quickly.
Haley Bosselman's pool in the backyard
The author and her landlord share the backyard pool.

Courtesy of Haley Bosselman

My abode is next to Kristina's backyard pool, a spectacular feature of suburban bliss that has allowed me to bask in the gorgeous Valley sunshine when I need to let my brain unwind.

It's also where I often find Krisitna — whether treading in the water or sitting right next to it in a lounger. We get to catch up on life, and I can vent about all of the drama that, by the end of the chat, doesn't feel so bad.

I'm also often treated to one of Kristina's life stories, which span from how she met her lifelong best friend as kids in the 70s to the daily adventures of owning a hair salon.

I transformed the pool-house-like ADU into a home over the next seven months.
Haley Bosselman's tiny house kitchen
The kitchen in the author's tiny house.

Courtesy of Haley Bosselman

As a girl who enjoys clothes and cooking, updating the space with a closet and more counterspace was imperative. I got to those quickly with the help of TaskRabbit.

Within days, I could whip up some pasta on a hot plate I placed on top of a coffee cart.

Above my fridge, under my bed, and on top of my wardrobe became storage sectors. There is even enough room for a small Christmas tree during the holidays.

But one of my favorite places in the home is the "living room" area, featuring a gallery wall and a pink couch.

I feel safe in my new home — even though I'm living alone.
Haley Bosselman's living room in her tiny house
The living room in the author's tiny house.

Courtesy of Haley Bosselman

When the Eaton and Pacific Palisades Fires unfurled in Los Angeles — fueled by unrelenting, vicious winds — I felt safe in the abode. I'm not sure what it's exactly made of, but between the high backyard hedges and strong walls, I could hardly hear the wind; my Wi-Fi and power never went out.

The moment my air conditioning unit stopped working in the summer, Kristina hopped onto YouTube to figure out the issue. When the heat stopped working, a neighbor brought over a portable heater until a repairman made fixes. Anytime I locked my house key inside, Kristina opened my door with the reassurance that it was no big deal.

I feel lucky to have a part in this tiny house's history.
Inside Haley Bosselman's tiny house with a view of the backyard
Inside the author's tiny house.

Courtesy of Haley Bosselman

One day, Kristina told me that it was her late husband, Peter's, idea to convert the ADU into a space for a renter. It had been his office until he recently died.

I never knew him, but every day, I am grateful for Peter. He planted an idea that has allowed me to know peace and community.

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Real Estate, Essay, health-freelancer, real-estate, tiny-house, Apartment, ADU, tiny-living
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I live in a pool house in a stranger's backyard. The tiny house is perfect for …