How Are Granny Flats and Tiny Houses Different?

The tiny house movement has gained significant popularity in recent years, coinciding with the increasing popularity of granny flats. This may lead to the question: What sets a granny flat apart from a tiny house?

Tiny houses are compact, transportable dwellings that provide an affordable housing option. On the other hand, granny flats are typically larger and fully self-contained homes, offering comfort and convenience with up to three bedrooms. They remain an affordable residential choice for individuals seeking accommodation in today's competitive property market.

Granny flats are constructed following well-defined planning regulations, ensuring compliance with the applicable laws and standards. In contrast, tiny houses, often built on wheels to classify them as caravans, need a specific planning definition and are not subject to the same level of legislation. This has led to some scrutiny surrounding their legal status. While there is considerable hype surrounding tiny homes, potential buyers and renters must exercise caution to ensure these dwellings are safe and legally permissible for occupancy.

The Differences Between Granny Flats and Tiny Houses

Choosing between a tiny house and a granny flat as your new home can be difficult in the midst of the viral phenomenon that is the tiny home movement. Both offer their own distinct advantages and disadvantages.

Both of these options are different from the standard hotel rooms that have been around for decades or even centuries. Inflation, the proliferation of work-from-home options, and a growing desire to travel have all contributed to the rise in the number of people considering the construction of a granny flat or a tiny home.

After a two-year quarantine due to a pandemic, alternative housing options such as granny flats and microhomes have emerged. Both options can help people achieve the simpler life they've been seeking. It is important to consider whether or not your needs and preferences are met by constructing a granny flat or a tiny house.

Tiny Houses

In recent years, tiny houses have gained popularity among individuals seeking a sustainable lifestyle, disconnected from conventional infrastructure and surrounded by nature. These dwellings offer a small, minimalist, and cozy living space that prioritizes eco-friendliness.

The term "tiny home" encompasses a broad range of mobile dwellings that are limited in size. Typically, these homes are designed to be moveable because they are built on a vehicle chassis or can be transported by another vehicle. The mobility aspect is a key factor driving the need for homes to be compact, enabling easy transportation.

A tiny home can take various forms, including a small house with attached wheels, a dwelling towed by a trailer, or even a repurposed shipping container that can be moved using a crane or ship.

Due to the evolving nature of the off-grid tiny home movement, no rigid and universally accepted definition exists. However, the general understanding is that if a dwelling can be transported and transformed into a functional living space, it qualifies as a tiny home.

Granny Flats

On the same lot as the primary residence is where you'll find the granny flat. Once intended for retirees to have their own space while still being close to family, granny flats are now used for everything from home offices to alternative rental options.

Putting in a granny flat in your backyard can give you a new place to sleep, eat, work, and hang out, or it can be a source of income. Depending on the specifics of your situation, you may even be able to rent out either the main house or the granny flat separately, turning the property into a profitable real estate investment or an Airbnb vacation rental. There are a number of positives to investing in a granny flat.

The design of granny flats has come a long way and now includes more creative options. Customers are always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to improve their homes, whether it be the kitchen, living room, bathroom, or bedroom.

Modernised granny flats are more than just a way to save square footage; they can also be designed to seamlessly integrate with your existing home and lifestyle.

Long-term investors can find relief from Australia's pressing problem—the country's severe rental shortage—by purchasing a granny flat. Addressing the critical shortage of housing in the country, granny flats can be used as rental units or as living quarters for extended family.

Placement on Your Property

Most local councils have regulations regarding the maximum site coverage allowed on a property, which determines the proportion of land buildings, including the main house and granny flat, that can occupy. These rules also include requirements for boundary setbacks and distance from existing dwellings to ensure privacy and facilitate property maintenance.

These regulations may present logistical challenges for small blocks of the land regarding whether a granny flat can be legally accommodated and where it can be placed on the property.

On the other hand, tiny homes on trailers offer greater flexibility. They can be placed on various areas of your land as long as the ground is relatively flat and can be moved if necessary. If desired, you can position a tiny home trailer close to your main house or fence.

Regarding the number of tiny homes on trailers allowed on a property, different councils have different rules. In many cases, one tiny home is permitted without special permission. However, obtaining special permission is typically required to have more than two. It is crucial to consult your local council to understand their specific regulations before purchasing a tiny home.

Advantages of Granny Flats vs Tiny Homes

• Lenders will finance Granny Flats but won't finance structures that can be moved, like tiny houses, because they are not fixed assets.
• Modern granny flats are more comfortable than they used to be. They have better insulation, cooling and heating systems, and large indoor and outdoor living areas.
• You don't have to settle for just one standard design; you can choose from several options and even make the interior design your own.
• Granny Flats can often be made to look like the rest of the house.
• Most of the time, a well-thought-out design will raise the value of your home.

Disadvantages of Tiny Homes vs Granny Flats

There aren't many bad things about Granny Flats.

Tiny houses have some pros, like being easy to move and having lower heating and cooling bills because there is less space, but they also have some cons.

• Size-wise, they're not much larger than a caravan, with a living area down the stairs and a bedroom in a loft upstairs. Having friends or family over is almost impossible because there's just no room.
• Moving is great, but parking can be hard because of the size and mobility of the car with a house on it.
• Living there may not be practical if you have to deal with composting toilets, can't store much water, or don't have basic things like a laundry room.
• Living in a tiny house is hard because many cities must let people live in them permanently.

Granny Flats vs. Tiny Homes: Which Is Cheaper?

• On average, Granny Flats costs between $145k and $200k, depending on the materials, builder, and style you want. On average, building a granny flat takes roughly a quarter of the time and costs of building a regular-sized house.
• A tiny house costs between $111k and $185k, depending on your needs and wants. On average, they are built in about 5-7 weeks, which is very fast for a new home.

These two inexpensive options are excellent ways to create a new small living space on a tight budget.

A Granny Flat or Tiny House in Your Backyard?

If you can deal with a tiny house's limited space, it's easy to forget one thing: where do you put it? "Secondary dwellings" are a common way to add a small house to an existing home, like a granny flat.

Local council rules in Australia vary, but many still treat tiny houses like caravans, meaning you can only live in them part-time or temporarily. Whether or not a tiny house can stay in a backyard is mostly up to the local council.

Sometimes, all you have to do is ask your local council for a break. In exchange, you may sometimes have to get permits. A planning permit is usually needed for a building seen as a second home on the property. This could be because the building has a kitchen with a stove and oven.

Even if a new building doesn't have a kitchen, it may still need a planning permit if there is an overlay like heritage, bushfire, or flooding or if the site is smaller than the planning scheme says it should be.

Also, a building permit will be needed for any structure that stays in one place, whether it is already built or is built there. The approval process usually takes between 3 and 6 weeks, but it can take longer depending on the site's conditions and other things that need approval.

How to Decide Between a Tiny House and a Granny Flat

Housing options that are both small and inexpensive include tiny houses and granny flats. Your personal goals, priorities, and preferences should guide your choice.

Tiny homes are:

• a great option for those looking for a caravan substitute.
• adopting a simple way of life.
• eco-friendliness is given priority.

They're perfect for those who like to take things easy and travel slowly. Granny flats, on the other hand, can increase your home's resale value, give you more room to spread out, and solve your storage problems.

A tiny house could be the perfect short-term solution for those seeking a more minimalistic or eco-friendly way of life. But if you're looking for a place to settle down for the long haul, a granny flat could be your ticket.

Conclusion

The tiny house movement has gained significant popularity in recent years, with granny flats emerging as a popular alternative housing option. Tiny houses are compact, transportable dwellings that provide affordable housing options, while granny flats are larger, self-contained homes with up to three bedrooms. Both options offer distinct advantages and disadvantages, with the latter being more adaptable and requiring specific planning regulations.

Tiny houses are designed to be compact and easily transportable, often built on a vehicle chassis or trailer. They can take various forms, such as small houses with attached wheels, trailers, or repurposed shipping containers. The term "tiny home" encompasses a broad range of mobile dwellings that are limited in size, enabling easy transportation.

Granny flats are now used for various purposes, including home offices, rental options, and long-term investments. They offer creative design options, can seamlessly integrate with existing homes and lifestyles, and can be used as rental units or living quarters for extended families.

Local councils have regulations regarding maximum site coverage on a property, determining the proportion of land buildings, including the main house and granny flat, that can occupy. This includes requirements for boundary setbacks and distance from existing dwellings to ensure privacy and property maintenance. The regulations surrounding granny flats and tiny homes on trailers can present logistical challenges for small blocks of land. Granny flats offer greater flexibility and can be placed on various areas of land, as long as the ground is relatively flat and can be moved if necessary. Different councils have different rules regarding the number of tiny homes on trailers allowed on a property. Lenders will finance granny flats but won't finance structures that can be moved, like tiny houses, because they are not fixed assets.

Modern granny flats are more comfortable and have better insulation, cooling, and heating systems. They can be made to look like the rest of the house, and a well-thought-out design can raise the value of your home. However, they have some disadvantages, such as being smaller than a caravan, making it difficult to have friends or family over, and having to deal with composting toilets, water storage, and basic living needs.

Granny flats and tiny houses are both affordable options for creating a new small living space on a tight budget. They can be added to an existing home as secondary dwellings, but local council rules in Australia vary, and they can only be lived in part-time or temporarily. Planning permits may be needed for structures that stay in one place, and the approval process usually takes between 3 and 6 weeks.

Choosing between a tiny house and a granny flat depends on personal goals, priorities, and preferences. Tiny homes are ideal for those seeking a caravan substitute, adopting a simple way of life, and prioritizing eco-friendliness. Granny flats can increase a home's resale value, provide more room to spread out, and solve storage problems.

Content Summary

• Granny flats and tiny houses have gained significant popularity in recent years.
• Granny flats are typically larger and fully self-contained homes with up to three bedrooms.
• Tiny houses are compact, transportable dwellings that provide an affordable housing option.
• Granny flats are constructed following well-defined planning regulations.
• Tiny houses often need a specific planning definition and face scrutiny regarding their legal status.
• Both granny flats and tiny houses offer affordable residential choices in a competitive property market.
• The tiny house movement and the popularity of granny flats are driven by factors like inflation, remote work options, and a desire to travel.
• Granny flats and microhomes have emerged as alternative housing options after a pandemic-induced quarantine.
• Granny flats and tiny houses can help people achieve a simpler life and meet their housing needs.
• Tiny houses are popular among individuals seeking a sustainable lifestyle and connection with nature.
• Tiny homes are limited in size and designed to be moveable, often built on a vehicle chassis or trailer.
• Tiny homes can take various forms, including houses with attached wheels or repurposed shipping containers.
• Granny flats are often located on the same lot as the primary residence.
• Granny flats can serve multiple purposes, from home offices to rental options or accommodations for extended family.
• Granny flats can be a source of income or a real estate investment opportunity.
• Modernized granny flats offer improved insulation, cooling and heating systems, and spacious living areas.
• Granny flats can be designed to seamlessly integrate with the existing home and lifestyle.
• Granny flats can help address the housing shortage by providing additional rental units.
• Local council regulations dictate the placement and construction of granny flats.
• Tiny homes on trailers offer greater flexibility in terms of placement on the property.
• Tiny homes can be positioned close to the main house or fence, depending on local regulations.
• Financing options are available for granny flats but not for movable structures like tiny houses.
• Granny flats can be designed to match the aesthetics of the main house.
• Well-designed granny flats can increase the value of the property.
• Tiny houses have limited space, making it challenging to accommodate visitors or guests.
• Mobility can be an advantage for tiny houses, but parking can be challenging.
• Living in a tiny house may not be practical for those dealing with composting toilets or limited water storage.
• Some cities have restrictions on permanent living in tiny houses.
• Granny flats are generally more expensive to build than tiny houses.
• Granny flats take less time to build compared to regular-sized houses.
• Tiny houses offer a faster construction timeline, usually completed in 5-7 weeks.
• Both granny flats and tiny houses provide cost-effective small living spaces.
• Deciding between a tiny house and a granny flat depends on personal goals, priorities, and preferences.
• Tiny houses are suitable for those seeking a caravan substitute or a simple way of life.
• Eco-friendliness is prioritized in tiny houses.
• Granny flats can increase the resale value of a home and provide more living space.
• Granny flats can solve storage problems and offer room for spreading out.
• Tiny houses are ideal for those who prefer a minimalist or eco-friendly lifestyle.
• Granny flats are a better long-term solution for those looking to settle down.
• Tiny houses may require special permits and approval from local councils.
• Planning permits are necessary for building a granny flat or a second home on the property.
• Building permits are required for any structure that remains in one place.
• The approval process for permits can take several weeks or longer.
• Tiny houses and granny flats offer small and inexpensive housing options.