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Are you in search of an option to generate income from a property or provide accommodation to elderly or adult children in the family? Hopefully, you aren’t thinking of building a new house or renting one when rents and housing construction costs are on the rise. Building a granny flat is an attractive alternative. We at 5 Star Granny Flats are experts in this field and provide start-to-end granny flat design and build solutions. Here are some things you should consider before starting on the construction.

Detached Or Attached Granny Flat?

You can think of a freestanding granny flat or even add it as an extension to your existing house. Your preference is dependent on the extra space available in the present lot as well as the structure of your current home.

When you have a freestanding granny flat, it is a separate structure with a separate entrance and disconnected from the main house. Its main advantages are privacy, and an opportunity to rent it out as separate premises. However, it does not allow extension of the indoor areas of your house.

An attached granny flat is an annex to the existing house with a linked door. When you open the door, you add space to your house with an additional bedroom/en suite, etc.  Alternatively, you can use it to serve various purposes like a guest, children’s play/hobby or study room. If you want to rent it out, close the linking door, and it becomes a separate living space. 

Check Your local Council’s Rules and Regulations

Always keep the requirements of authorities in view. Find out dos and don’ts with the local Council. It is necessary to understand all the rules and regulations, changes, and modifications. These mainly revolve around health and safety or taxable income derived from the property. 

For example, if your property is under a single title, you are entitled to only one meter. If you decide to rent out the granny flat, you will receive all utility bills like electricity, water, internet, etc. in your name and would have to pay them.

Get Expert Financial Advice

Any property matter and financial aspect related to it go hand-in-hand. Try to know the estimate of the present value of your property. For example, if your budget for the addition of a granny flat is $100000, your property value will increase to that extent. Do you think such addition is worth the money and effort? In the short run, it may not, but if you start renting it out, you are adding to your regular income flow. It may suddenly look like a profitable earning proposition.

In the longer run, the value of the entire property may become multi-fold. A regular addition to your income is liable to be taxed. You need to understand and get clarification about these financial and taxation matters from your accountant and keep the local Council in the loop to ensure that your dealings are correct. For more information on our granny flat builder services, you can get in touch with us at 5 Star Granny Flats today! Just give us a call on 1300 843 921 or fill in this contact us form. You can also use this form to get a quick online quote.

A granny flat is a small addition in the outdoor space of an existing property. Designed as a self-contained structure to accommodate one or two people, it provides independence and privacy. Some owners prefer to build it as an extension of the family home while some others prefer it as an independent structure.

Aspects To Consider Before Building A Granny Flat

We at 5 Star Granny Flats are one of the most sought-after granny flats’ builders. Our company offers excellent granny flat design, and we customize our services to suit our clients’ requirements.

As an addition to the existing property, granny flats are cheaper to build. However, the actual building cost depends upon several factors that builders consider. Look at these factors.

1. Standard Or Customised Flat

Depending on individual preferences, granny flats builders offer both standard and customized designs. Prefabricated kits available for easy installation of one or two bed-room flats are budget-friendly and make the granny flat building process quick. But custom-designed granny flats are popular because they give the homeowner the option to include the features they want; however, they are a little more expensive to build.

2. A Small Or A Big Flat?

People build granny flats depending on the availability of space on their property. They can construct three or four bedroom flats on a bigger property. It means that such a flat would require more material and labour to build and will be costlier than a standard small one.

3. Pre-Construction Work

The cost of building a granny flat increases if some preparatory work like earthwork is necessary before the actual building or installation work starts. In addition to excavation, some obstructions like trees, large stones need clearing, and the work adds to the cost. That is why granny flats builders inspect the area carefully where site clearance work is involved.

4. Requirements For Constructing Granny Flats

You need to understand the rules and regulations of building a granny flat before you hire a builder. While small differences in regulation from one state to another may exist, these are the general guidelines:

• The minimum area of the property – 450m2
• Zoning of property as residential

• A minimum boundary of 3m at the rear and 0.9m from the side for any property

• A maximum external area of 60m2 for a property

The Parameters of floor space requirement as follows:

• 330m2 for 450 – 600m2 area
• 380m2 for 600 – 900m2 area
• 430m2 for 900m2 or more area

When you think of making some major changes to your home, building a granny flat is an attractive proposition to create an independent and private space.  If you are not inclined to subdivide the large space you own, building a granny flat at a small investment is advantageous. It creates an additional source of income and gives you a great space that you and your family can use as required.

For more information on our granny flat builders’ services, you can get in touch with us at 5 Star Granny Flats today! Just give us a call on 1300 843 921 or fill in this contact us form. You can also use this form to get a quick online quote.

Today, most states experience an increasing demand for granny flats. The relaxation and modifications in rules by some states and local governments have contributed to changing the face of granny flats. We at 5 Star Granny Flats have seen that people want their granny flats to have comfortable features and a more attractive look. However, there are still states and local councils that do not permit granny flat renting to other than family members.

Differences Between A Granny Flat And An Apartment

Let us understand the fundamental difference between a granny flat and an apartment. A granny flat is a self-contained place, mostly detached from the main building on the property. An apartment too is self-contained but is always part of a building.

One or two people can occupy a granny flat because it is essentially a separate small living place, generally built behind the bigger house. If the main house has a backyard, the granny flatshares it. Apartments and granny flats may not differ from each other in terms of the available space, but the state and local regulations decide the size of the granny flat.

Pros And Cons Of Living In A Granny Flat 

There are various pros and cons to living in granny flats, based on each individual’s needs.

Pros

• A detached granny flat with the facility of an independent driveway and some yard space for parking is possible but not in case of an apartment
• Designed with a focus on accessibility
• The small size means less labour to keep it clean and neat
• Lower on maintenance
• If your family lives in the main house, quick help is available to fix any problem you face

Cons

• Smaller space
• With a smaller house, unlike large apartments, you need to learn to accommodate all your belongings in less storage space. That is inconvenient if you are used to living in a large house
• While internal accessibility is an advantage, it could be inconvenient to negotiate a granny flat located in the backyard

Relocating To A Granny Flat

When you relocate in a granny flat, the two issues you may face are less space to live in and accessibility. The new skill that you need to learn is how to downsize and declutter your possessions, to make yourself feel comfortable in a much smaller place.

If you are moving into a granny flat on a property that your children own, you benefit from being able to live close to family. This is a great way of enjoying your independence yet being close enough to your kids and grandkids. We are custom granny flats builders that can design and build safe, practical, and very comfortable accommodation for the elderly, any other family members, or as a rental space.

For more information on our granny flat design services, you can get in touch with us at 5 Star Granny Flats today! Just give us a call on 1300 843 921 or fill in this contact us form. You can also use this form to get a quick online quote.

A granny flat is a small addition to your home, but it can be aesthetic, and a value-add to your home. What makes your home attractive, functional, and comfortable to live in its design. The same concept applies to granny flats.

We at 5 Star Granny Flats are the reputed designers and granny flat builders. We know the importance of the preliminary design stage when your granny flat begins to take some shape. It is crucial to work with the builder at the granny flat design stage because:

1. The Design Matters

Always start a housing project for a small house or a granny flat with clear ideas about your requirements. A builder shows you the standard design to initiate your thinking process and gives form to your ideas about the granny flat. You have the option of either modifying it to suit your needs or custom design it to match your dream house.

2. You Can Analyse Whether Your Builder Is Professional

You never sign a contract at the preliminary stage. When a builder visits your site, they listen to your ideas, requirements, budget, etc. Based on this information, they put forth some ideas for your consideration and tell you what is feasible and what is not. They also provide a ballpark figure for building the granny flat. You must be alert to know whether they agree to everything you say or arent interested in listening to you. Professional granny flat builders will always be attentive and proactive in their approach.

3. Include the Installations and Features You Need and Prefer

It is necessary to mention all the major and minor features and installations that you want in the structure. Set down clearly what you do not want. At this stage, you discuss the room arrangements, measurements, and provision to make any changes later.  At this stage, you need to decide the position of the entrance to your house or the granny flat.

4. The Budget Aspect

While you are in dialogue with your granny flat builder, you learn more about the stages of the construction project. You can gauge how realistic your expectations are and whether they synchronize with your budget. Never forget to decide the timeline for the project and the consequences of missing it.

5. Get a Good Virtual Presentation of your New Home

Your builder can give you a presentation of the preliminary design of your new home. It provides a  visual idea about:

• Budgeted costs
• A view of your final house with rooms etc
• Demarcation of places like the kitchen, pantry bathrooms, and more

Working with the builder at this stage helps them give you a fixed price quote and provide you a practical and customized solution. For more information on our granny flat builders’ services, you can get in touch with us at 5 Star Granny Flats today! Just give us a call on 1300 843 921 or fill in this contact us form. You can also use this form to get a quick online quote.