As homeownership becomes harder to achieve and local renters face 'Severely to Extremely Unaffordable' rental rates, a retired Australian Naval Commander has transformed his passion project into a potential lifeline for the city's growing housing crisis.
After retiring from the Navy, Geoff McGinley initially built the first Adapt Homes as an alternative living option for himself - before realising this could be an option for others struggling to buy a home. Adapt Homes are extra-large tiny homes on wheels (THOW), built to the National Construction Code, with 2.4m high ceilings, 7-star insulation and bushfire protections, situated on a commercial truck trailer - meaning it can be easily transported and avoid planning delays.
"I was going through a big life change, and as I embarked on a new career, I needed to find an affordable living option that didn't trap me with a mortgage," he says.
He said he initially considered a traditional tiny house but found nothing offered the spacious, safe, long-term living option he sought.
"I wanted to build something that would last but still offer the freedoms that come with tiny living. It's not a tiny house; it's a complete home that happens to be on wheels. Tiny houses with a loft bedroom might be fine for a weekend away, but it's hard to live comfortably in them long-term," he says.
McGinley says that as the property is on wheels, it's considered a caravan and typically doesn't require traditional planning permissions. It can also be converted to an approved "moveable dwelling" and even placed on permanent foundations.
Last year, the ACT Government allocated an additional $285 million to address the growing housing crisis, but many still struggle to find suitable homes. According to a Rental Affordability Index released by SGS Economics and Planning, National Shelter and Beyond Bank in November last year, despite an improvement in rental affordability in 2024, rents in the ACT have increased by 43.4 per cent since 2014. It says, "For pensioners, both singles and couples, the entire territory is Severely to Extremely Unaffordable".
In creating Adapt, McGinley wants to offer an alternative, safe housing option for people who want greater flexibility in their home choices and those wanting affordable housing security, especially later in life.
He sees Canberra as the perfect place for this way of living, with many rural areas just 30 minutes from the CBD. McGinley first came to Canberra in 1996 for naval training before returning and settling in 2015.
"It's possible to find land and live in your own home with commutes shorter than many of the main suburbs - all while freeing up capital.
