Granny flats are versatile additions to any property, offering a range of benefits beyond just extra space. From providing accommodation for elderly family members to creating a potential income stream, these self-contained units are a practical and cost-effective way to enhance your home.
In this blog, we’ll explore how you can use a granny flat, highlighting how this multi-purpose space can add value and flexibility to your lifestyle. Whether you’re considering building a granny flat or looking to maximise an existing one, you’ll find plenty of inspiration and practical tips to make the most of this unique living space.
Let’s get straight to the point.
Granny flats are adaptable areas with multiple uses, such as housing elderly family members, generating rental income, or being used as a home office or teenage retreat. They offer a balance of privacy and closeness, ideal for multigenerational living or a quiet work area.
Granny flats can also be used as guest houses, hobby rooms for empty nesters, or starter homes for young adults. Beyond their practical uses, they are a profitable investment, increasing property value and offering rental potential. Local regulations and costs vary, but they remain a cost-effective way to add living space.
Keep Your Family Close
Granny flats offer the perfect solution for keeping loved ones close without sacrificing privacy. Whether you need space for elderly parents, extended family, or even teenagers, a granny flat provides flexible accommodation that meets a family’s diverse needs.
- Allows older family members to maintain independence while staying nearby.
- Offers a solution for young adults who may need a stepping stone before moving out on their own.
- It can be a retreat for teenagers, giving them space to grow without leaving the family home.
Key Points:
- Provides a balance between independence and closeness.
- Flexible designs can accommodate varying family needs.
- Offers cost-effective housing options for young adults and elderly family members.
Create A Home Office
With the rise of remote working, many people are looking for ways to create a distraction-free workspace at home. A granny flat can be transformed into the perfect home office, offering a quiet, separate space to focus on work.
- Tailored lighting, wiring, and workspaces can enhance productivity.
- Provides a professional environment for client meetings.
- Ensures peace from household distractions, which is particularly beneficial for families with young children.
Key Points:
- A dedicated workspace promotes productivity.
- Flexible layout options allow customisation based on work needs.
- Enhances work-life balance by separating work from home life.
Generate Rental Income
One of the most popular uses for a granny flat is as a rental space. Whether renting it out long-term or offering it as short-term accommodation to tourists, it can be a reliable income stream.
- Short-term rentals: Ideal for tourists or visitors who need temporary accommodation.
- Long-term rentals: Renting to tenants who require more permanent housing solutions can provide a steady income.
Key Points:
- Provides an excellent return on investment for property owners.
- Rental income helps cover the cost of building and maintaining the flat.
- Screening tenants ensures long-term value and fewer property management issues.
Guest Suite For Visitors
A granny flat can be a comfortable and private guest suite when family and friends visit. It’s an ideal setup for those with frequent visitors who don’t want them to feel cramped in the main house.
- Offers a self-contained space for guests, ensuring privacy.
- Can accommodate guests for long stays without disrupting the household.
Key Points:
- Perfect for accommodating guests without disturbing household routines.
- Self-contained space allows for independent living during visits.
- Adds value to the home by offering versatile living arrangements.
Teenage Retreat
As children grow into teenagers, they often crave their own space. A granny flat offers a perfect teenage retreat, allowing them to hang out with friends, study, or engage in pastimes away from the rest of the house.
- Provides a safe space for teenagers to enjoy privacy and independence.
- Allows teens to engage in hobbies, such as playing music, without disturbing the main house.
Key Points:
- Gives teenagers their own space, reducing household tension.
- Helps teenagers transition into adulthood by giving them more responsibility.
- Reduces mess and noise in the main house.
Starter Home For Young Adults
Granny flats can also be ideal starter homes for young adults who have recently graduated or started working but are not yet ready to move out independently.
- Provides a cost-effective living solution for young adults just starting.
- Offers an opportunity to save money while gaining independence.
- Prepares young adults for future independent living by allowing them to manage household responsibilities.
Key Points:
- A temporary housing solution for young adults transitioning to independence.
- Helps young adults save money on rent and bills while getting established.
- Provides a secure and familiar environment close to family.
Hobby Room For Empty Nesters
When children move out, parents often find themselves with extra space. Empty nesters can use the granny flat as a hobby room or studio to focus on activities they enjoy, such as art, crafts, or carpentry.
- Offers a separate space to pursue hobbies without taking up room in the main house.
- Provides a quiet retreat where empty nesters can spend time on personal interests.
Key Points:
- A perfect space for creative or practical hobbies.
- Adds value to life post-retirement by offering a space dedicated to relaxation and creativity.
- It can easily be repurposed later if needed.
A Profitable Investment
Building a granny flat is often seen as a profitable investment that significantly increases a property’s value. Depending on the size and design, a granny flat can become a highly sought-after feature in the real estate market.
- Rental potential: Renting out the flat can provide additional income.
- Increased property value: Having a granny flat on your property can make it more attractive to buyers.
Key Points:
- Enhances the resale value of the property.
- Offers long-term financial returns through rental income.
- A relatively low-cost way to add living space to a home.
Conclusion
Granny flats offer an incredibly versatile solution for homeowners looking to create additional space, accommodate family members, or generate rental income. These compact living spaces are adaptable to various needs, whether housing elderly relatives, creating a teenage retreat, or offering a quiet home office.
By carefully considering design, local regulations, and long-term goals, homeowners can ensure that their granny flat meets their needs while enhancing the value of their property. Whether you plan to use the granny flat as a guest suite, a rental property, or a private retreat, it’s an investment that offers financial and personal rewards.
Frequently Asked Questions About Granny Flat
What Can You Use A Granny Flat For?
Tiny houses and granny flats are now used as homes, offices, music studios, pool houses, and holiday homes. A good tiny house has everything a normal home has, but in smaller proportions:
- A great kitchen
- A full bathroom with laundry space
- A living room
- A loft or ground-level bedroom
What Are The Sizes Of Granny Flats?
A granny flat is a self-contained small home of 60m² built in the backyard of an already-existing house. The main council requirements for granny flats: Property must be a minimum of 450m2 in size (different rules apply for larger block sizes; go to the section: Granny flat setback requirements).
How Do You Style A Small Granny Flat?
- Be creative with storage space. There’s a reason they’re known as small homes.
- Use a single colour palette.
- Stick with one style for your furniture.
- Capitalise on natural sunlight.
- Decorate with lots of green plants.
- Don’t assume you need to use small furniture.
What Makes A Good Granny Flat?
A granny flat doesn’t have to feel small inside. It’s all about using the space well. Think big rooms and minimal corridors, high ceilings, clever storage spaces, and good use of glass to bring the outside work in. Decks make all the difference: Guess what?
What Does A Granny Flat Look Like?
Designed for one or two persons, a granny flat is a separate dwelling space typically found on a single-family home’s property. It may be affixed or removed from the other dwelling. Granny flats are sometimes dubbed “granny flats” due to their widespread use by families as an accommodating option for elderly parents.