If you need more space in your house, but you love your home, the area where you live in and don't want to move out, these following options can provide extra room to give you what you need.
1. Detached studios.
Extend your home by adding a room that is separated from the main building. Detached studios can be used as bedroom, an artist’s work space, a home office, a hobby room, a rumpus room, a teenager’s retreat, or similar habitable room.
2. Secondary dwellings
Popularly known as granny flats. These are the basically the same as a detached studios, but with the inclusion of a kitchen/kitchenette. You can find more information about granny flats in our previous post about granny flat living.
3. Sheds.
Mainly used for storage, sheds usually do not require building approval as they are not meant for living. The building standards are lower and thus they are easier and more affordable to build.
Can I live in a shed?
Any building or structure intending to be used for habitable purposes (eg living, sleeping etc) must first receive development approval. It is illegal to live in a shed, garage, shipping container, farm building or the like without approval.
The Building Code of Australia (BCA) classifies sheds as non-habitable buildings and therefore they are not required to meet the higher standards of construction or require the same facilities as a dwelling house. This means they are not meant to be used as a residence or to be lived in.
A lawful conversion of a shed into a dwelling or residence will require compliance with building codes and other standards which apply to dwellings. A higher standard is applied to dwellings to ensure the safety of the people who live in the dwelling.
Longing for a beautiful space to add to your home but don't know what is the best option for you? Get in touch with one of our friendly BIBO team members today. Whether you need a detached studio, a granny flat or a shed, we may have the perfect solution for you.