There is a wide variety of granny flats available on the market today. There's a granny flat out there for you, whether you need a small studio or a large mansion. Granny flats can take many forms, from completely independent dwellings to attached or freestanding cottages. This guide will help you choose the best granny flat for your needs by explaining the various options and highlighting the features that set each type apart.
Different Types Of Granny Homes
Detached Granny Flat
If there is already a primary residence on the lot, you can add a detached granny flat as a secondary structure. Detached granny flats are ideal as rental units because they can be accessed independently of the main house and because a fence is usually erected to separate the two structures.
Attached Granny Flat
A granny flat that is attached to your main house is built to look like it has always been there. Depending on how we face the granny flat, we can either isolate you from the neighbours or force you to spend more time with them.
The most obvious distinction is that an attached granny flat is joined to your main house by an additional wall. First and foremost, a fireproof wall must separate the main house from the granny flat. The second most important aspect is that the granny flat and main house must be separated by an exterior door. There must be a private entrance to the granny flat.
Granny Flat With Garage
Did you know that a garage could be included in the construction of a granny flat? Indeed, you may! The State Environment Planning Policy (SEPP) allows for a granny flat to have a 60m2 floor plan. An attached garage is not considered part of the habitable area of a granny flat because of its non-residential status. A fully enclosed garage (or carport) can be added to your granny flat without reducing the overall footprint. Accessing the garage from the inside is a great option for wet days.
Two Story Granny Flat
With more and more families and investors seeing the value in having a granny flat in their backyard, two-story granny flats are becoming increasingly common.
Two-story granny flats can be any size or shape, but like their one-story counterparts, they can't exceed 60 square metres of interior living space.
It is possible to build a granny flat with a 60m2 living space above a double garage on two levels. We can easily build a wall separating the two garages and providing you with a private entrance to the main house if you need one.
We have finished several two-story granny flats, each with its own special touches like a balcony to make the most of the available indoor and outdoor space.
Detached Studio
A detached studio is a separate building that can be used for a variety of purposes other than its primary function. Even though it is physically distinct from the main house, a studio granny flat is still part of the household. This type of granny flat can also be constructed in a BAL40 or Flame Zone.
This is not a secondary residence, as it lacks both a kitchen and a laundry room. Whether it's for a home office or to accommodate visiting relatives, a studio granny flat is a practical addition to any existing home.
Benefits Of Living In Granny Flats?
Now that you have a basic understanding of what Granny Flats are, we can move on to the advantages of having one as your primary residence. In this piece, we will focus on the advantages of detached granny flats.
Get More Privacy
Is it time for your children to become young adults and head off to college? Maybe they've picked one close by, so they can just stay at home and save money. It could be intimidating to be surrounded by so many grownups all at once. After years of caring for your children, you and your partner are ready for some time apart. Having your child move in with you while they are in college is a great reason to construct a Granny Flat. This ensures that everyone's personal space is respected.
Be Closer To Your Loved Ones
The elderly members of your family are worth keeping an eye on. It's challenging to do so when they're so far away. You can provide much better care for them if you buy them a Granny Flat and move them in. And if they prefer to go it alone, that's fine, too; you're never more than a couple of seconds away to lend a hand if they get into trouble.
Reduce Your Bills
One way to reduce energy consumption is to downsize one's living quarters. If you do this, you'll notice a significant decrease in your utility bills and a corresponding reduction in the time you spend on housework.
Make Extra Income
Perhaps staying put in your current residence would be preferable to you. But you still can't seem to make ends meet, so you should look into increasing your income. Putting money into a Granny Flat is a great way to generate extra income if you own a lot of extra land. It may cost a lot of money to get started, but when you start collecting rent on a regular basis, your investment will pay for itself.
What Are The Different Uses Of A Granny Flat?
A Home For Ageing Parents
We've already covered this ground thoroughly in our recent article, Why Seniors Prefer Granny Flats to Nursing Homes, so we'll keep this brief. In a nutshell, we build a lot of individualised granny flats for the elderly, and we think this is because granny flats are so adaptable and can accommodate many different ways of living.
They make it possible for seniors to keep their pets, cut costs, feel secure, have fun, and live comfortably.
A Space Of Independence For Young Adults
At some point, your kids will no longer be considered kids. Rising rents and home prices make it difficult for young adults to leave home and become financially self-sufficient. This is especially true for those who are still in school or working low-paying apprenticeships. The solution is granny flats.
In order to help young adults take that important first step towards self-sufficiency, consider constructing a granny flat in the backyard or as an addition to the main house.
Home Office
Since the Coronavirus pandemic, many people have made working from home their new normal. Strong evidence suggests that the traditional office job has evolved, and remote workers are here to stay.
All of the granny flats we construct are adaptable, so our customers can create the ideal working environment for themselves. A home office, which can be a detached structure or an addition to the main house, can help you reap the perks of telecommuting while keeping your work life distinct from your personal life.
Gym, Theatre Or Pool Room
When our customers need additional space for a hobby or passion project, we construct granny flats for them. Home gyms, theatres, and pool rooms are just a few examples of how far people have come in realising their ideal living situation.
Extra Income: Rental
Granny flats are a source of income for many people. As a result of rental inflation, landlords are collecting record amounts of rent, so adding a granny flat to your property may be a wise financial move.
You can make anywhere from $220 to $350 or more per week in rent, depending on factors like the location and size of the granny flat. Cities in Australia are getting denser, and the demand is rising steadily. Due to their small size and lower monthly costs, granny flats have become increasingly popular as the number of FIFO workers continues to rise.
Renting it out can help you recoup some of your construction expenses, and it can also increase the value of your home and give you more living space to enjoy in the future.
A red couch, red carpet, brown wooden kitchen cabinets, a black wooden dining table, and a wooden coffee table decorate the space.
Extra Income: Airbnb
Instead of renting out your granny flat for extended periods of time, you can earn extra money by listing it on short-term rental websites like Airbnb. Owners in neighbourhoods of major cities that are close to popular tourist destinations stand to make a lot of money from this business. The benefits of your granny flat, including raising your home's resale value and giving you more space to live in, can be yours with little to no extra work on your part.
A Space For Immigrating Family
We've constructed for this purpose, which is one that few people would consider. When people immigrate to Australia, they typically settle in with family or friends already there. Granny flats are a multipurpose dwelling that can serve as a temporary abode for those beginning a new chapter in their lives. This points to one of the best features of the granny flat: its adaptability.
Frequently Asked Questions About Granny Flat
A self-contained granny flat is a standalone unit that includes all the essential living spaces, such as a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living area. It is designed to function as a separate living space and often has its own entrance.
An attached granny flat is an extension or addition to an existing house. It is connected to the main house, sharing some common walls or areas, but it has its own separate entrance and amenities. It can be located on the ground floor or built as an upper-level addition.
A detached granny flat is a separate structure located on the same property as the main house but is not physically connected to it. It is typically a standalone building, offering complete privacy and independence. Detached granny flats can be designed as compact units or larger cottages.
A garage conversion granny flat involves converting an existing garage into a living space. This type of granny flat repurposes the existing structure, making it a cost-effective option. It can be ideal if you have an underutilized or unused garage space.
A modular or prefabricated granny flat is a type of granny flat that is built off-site in a factory and then transported to the desired location for installation. It is constructed in sections or modules, allowing for faster construction and cost savings.
Choosing A Reliable Granny Flat Builder
Strive For Punctuality And Reliability
The time commitment that is necessary to construct a high-quality granny flat is a major obstacle. Since you likely do not want large portions of your property to constantly serve as visual reminders of the construction that took place there, promptness is of the utmost importance right now. Enquire about previous work and look for ratings of the company you're considering for building your grandmother's dream home.
It's important to know how the company transports the individual prefab units if that's the case. To what extent the production process will be difficult or simple can be gauged from this. Find out from the contractor how he plans to use the mini crane in a way that minimises structural damage and guarantees the safe transportation of materials.
Home Warrant Insurance
Construction on your granny flat cannot begin until the contractors have insurance. You and the owner of a neighbouring apartment share a common need, and there is a solution. A current certificate of registration for home owner's insurance is required as proof of registration. Conditions can also be included in other types of certificates. Knowing the paper inside and out will help your cause immensely.
Do You Have Qualified And Reliable Suppliers?
The building company you hired has its own supply chain. These builders' honesty is just as crucial as the supplier's in this situation. Reduced manufacturing costs could indicate either reliable suppliers or the use of cheap, low-quality components. The quality of the building materials and the finish on items like cornices and tiles may suffer as a result.
Large Selection Of Design Options
You should be wary of any contractor who only provides one or two layout options. This usually means that they are only willing to provide you with generic, low-cost solutions, regardless of your specific landscape's needs. Enquire about the design options available, and look into the various floor plans for each apartment.
Transparency And Communication
Open communication about your needs and expectations is a hallmark of a reliable independent builder. It also becomes obvious when you see how easily certain aspects of their design can be customised in your own apartment. Careful selection of a builder can ease project management, but that doesn't mean the communication can stop there.
Conclusion
Granny flats can take many forms, from detached dwellings to attached or freestanding cottages. Detached granny flats are ideal for rental units and can be accessed independently of the main house. Attached granny flats are joined to the main house by an additional wall and must have a private entrance. Attached granny flats can have a 60m2 floor plan and can include a garage. Two-story granny flats are becoming increasingly common and can be any size or shape, but must not exceed 60 square metres of interior living space.
Granny Flats can be built with a 60m2 living space above a double garage on two levels, with a wall separating the two garages and providing a private entrance to the main house. Detached studios are separate buildings that can be used for a variety of purposes other than its primary function, such as a home office or to accommodate visiting relatives. Advantages of living in granny flats include getting more privacy, being closer to loved ones, and being able to provide better care for them. Granny flats are a great way to reduce energy consumption and generate extra income. They can be used as a home for ageing parents, a space of independence for young adults, or as an addition to the main house.
They are adaptable and can accommodate many different ways of living, making them ideal for seniors, young adults, and remote workers. Additionally, they can be used as a home office, which can help people telecommute while keeping their work life distinct from their personal life. Granny flats are becoming increasingly popular due to their small size and lower monthly costs, making them a source of income for many people. Renting out granny flats can help recoup some of the construction expenses and increase the value of the home, while listing it on short-term rental websites like Airbnb can make extra money. Granny flats can also serve as a temporary abode for those beginning a new chapter in their lives, demonstrating their adaptability.
The most important details in choosing a reliable granny flat builder are punctuality and reliability. It is important to know how the company transports the individual prefab units, have home warrant insurance, have qualified and reliable suppliers, have a large selection of design options, and be open to communication about your needs and expectations. It is also important to have a current certificate of registration for home owner's insurance as proof of registration.
Content Summary
- Wide variety of granny flats available on the market
- Granny flats can be small studios or large mansions
- Different types of granny flats: detached, attached, with garage, two-story, detached studio
- Detached granny flats are ideal as rental units
- Attached granny flats are joined to the main house by an additional wall
- Granny flats with garages can have a 60m2 floor plan
- Two-story granny flats are becoming increasingly common
- Two-story granny flats can't exceed 60 square meters of interior living space
- Detached studio granny flats can be used for various purposes
- Studio granny flats can be constructed in a BAL40 or Flame Zone
- Granny flats provide privacy and personal space
- Granny flats allow you to be closer to your loved ones
- Downsizing to a granny flat can reduce utility bills
- Granny flats can be a source of extra income through renting or Airbnb
- Granny flats can serve as a home for aging parents
- Granny flats provide independence for young adults
- Granny flats can be used as home offices for remote work
- Granny flats can be customized as gyms, theaters, or pool rooms
- Choosing a reliable granny flat builder is important
- Punctuality and reliability are crucial in construction projects
- Insurance is required before starting construction on a granny flat
- Reliable suppliers and quality building materials are essential
- Look for builders with a large selection of design options
- Transparency and communication are key in working with a builder.
