Much has been made in the press in recent weeks about some of the tiny houses and miniscule flats on the market in the capital.

Rising house prices, particularly in London, have left many people with little option but to opt for the most affordable, and sometimes smallest, home they can find.

However, extra small living spaces or ‘Micro Mansions’ are in fact highly sought after in many cities – providing they are well-designed and perfectly positioned.

In its Housing Futures report, leading national estate agents Strutt & Parker identifies the trend for this type of property as something we should expect to see a lot more of in the UK in the years to come.

Stephanie McMahon, Head of Research at Strutt & Parker, explains: “Small can be beautiful. The Micro Mansion serves as the ultimate living solution for those who prize location over space. As urbanisation gathers pace around the world, central locations in the most sought-after cities have become too expensive for the majority – enter dedicated tiny living spaces.”

“These are not oddities that can be found in every city, where broom cupboards have been converted into some semblance of accommodation – they are carefully designed and well-planned homes. The rise of the micro-flat looks set to mirror what has happened with modern technology – everything in our homes will shrink - becoming smarter and more compact.”

Whilst proper Micro Mansions are not something we have seen on any scale in the UK as yet, they are far more common in Japan and the US. A planned Micro Mansion is 100-250 square feet, compared to a typical small bedroom flat of around 750 square feet. They often have the ceiling height to accommodate mezzanine sleeping spaces and are designed to be much like a boat – with each component serving two of more uses. Typical features are under-floor storage, pull-down beds, steps that convert to chairs and sofas, and kitchen worktops that slide away after use.

Stephanie McMahon continues: “Micro Mansions have the potential to provide a viable solution to the UK’s housing crisis in crowded cities. They attract those requiring short-term space, or who work in multiple locations and simply need a place to sleep. As our cities accelerate their pull on the global workforce, they will be increasingly popular.”

Strutt & Parker’s report, ‘Housing Futures: How the market is changing’, investigates the creeping trends that are occurring in our everyday lives, which will have a significant impact on our housing requirement in 10 years’ time.

Download the full Housing Futures report.