“I built a house in the Caribbean for £3,000 to escape the UK winter and live mortgage-free”

A Brit has built a house in the Caribbean for £3,000 to live mortgage-free and escape the UK’s “boring” and “miserable” winter. Alex Cassidy, 22, built the one-bed house on land in Tobago owned by his stepfather Derek Sandy, 61.

After gathering materials, he spent three months building with the help of local craftsmen. Alex now lives mortgage-free and spends just £130 on electricity, water and wi-fi every three months. He spends six months a year in Tobago to escape the rainy and cold UK winters.

Alex, a musician from the Isle of Wight, said: “I have my own privacy. I bought my freedom. It’s such a price difference to the UK. I spent £3,000 building a whole house and I never pay the rent.’

Alex grew up spending time between the Isle of Wight and Tobago – where his stepfather, Derek, is also a musician, is from. Alex now spends half the year in each country, so he decided to build a house on the land Derek owns in Tobago.

He started collecting materials in January 2023 and started building the house properly with the help of local workers in January 2024. Alex finished the one-bed house in March this year and spent just £3,000 on the whole build.

He said: “It’s been hard work. My house is on a hill. But it’s been rewarding. It’s a really open space with a bed, living room, kitchen and bathroom. It’s very simple.”

Alex said the installation cost him £120 and the electricity £150.

He said: “In England it was £3,000 to £4,000 just to put electricity in a one-bed flat. Some of the material prices were very similar to the UK, but the labor is much cheaper and I’ve done a lot.”

Alex said he loved seeing his dream come true, but it didn’t hit him until he was putting the finishing touches on the house.

He said, “The realization hit me. I have a house. This is mine.”

Alex lives mortgage-free and spends £100 on electricity and water every three months and £30-40 every three on wi-fi.

He said: “It’s quite sad. A lot of my friends have had good jobs and most of the money goes on bills and rent. It’s impossible to get a deposit.”

Alex spends the summer in the Isle of Wight performing with Derek, but lives in Tobago throughout the winter.

He said: “It’s a great life. Britain in the summer is a great place. In the winter it’s very boring. It makes sense to go out. It’s cheaper. I earn a below average salary but I don’t spend a lot of money.”

Despite strangers online saying the house is a “tin shop,” Alex loves her house.

He said: “I’d rather live here than a £300,000 house that I have to pay off over 35 years on a mortgage. I own this, I don’t have to pay anyone a cent. I don’t have to work for 35 years. to live in a cold, dull and miserable country’.

Alex loves the six months he spends in Tobago.

He said: “The nightlife is brilliant. I’m always meeting new people. I’m never alone. During the day I’m relaxing at the beach. The people are really interesting. I wanted to show the natural beauty of Tobago.”