The price of property and the growth of our cities is driving a drastic change in the way we live here in Australia. In fact, census data shows that young adults are living with their parents for longer and more people are working from home.
Our more flexible living arrangements are shifting our property priorities and small additions like granny flats are becoming more popular - particularly in big cities like Sydney. With that in mind, we’ve run through everything you need to know about living in a granny flat.
Using a granny flat for living
Provided it meets certain criteria, a granny flat can be used for a variety of purposes, including as a:
Home office.
Extra living area.
Children’s playroom.
Bedroom.
Separate bedroom.
2nd kitchen.
Storage space.
Entertainment room.
Granny flats offer a particularly interesting opportunity for those looking to downsize too! If you have enough land, you may be able to subdivide, build a large granny flat on one section of the property, then sell either block and pocket the difference.
This is a great way to downsize to a smaller, more manageable living space while freeing up cash for a better retirement. BIBO Build's Barossa is ideal for this, featuring enough floor space for two bedrooms, a bathroom and a lounge so you don’t have to sacrifice your quality of life when you downsize.
Granny flat design, construction, and regulations
Smart, high quality design and construction are essential when installing a granny flat. You’ll have three options:
Building and designing from scratch: This option offers complete customisation of design and build, but quality can vary and the cost will often be high.
Flat pack build with standardised design: Pick from a selection of standard designs and builds, with little or no chance for customisation but lower costs. This tends to cater for larger units, as smaller builds are not economical for builders.
Customisable studio, the BIBO Build way: Pick from a huge selection of designs then customise your floor plan in countless ways. Delivered flat packed with everything you need to build - including help from construction experts if you need it.
Council regulations in NSW for a granny flat:
Council regulations state that if you install a granny flat on your property in NSW, your property must:
Have residential zoning.
Be over 450m2.
Have a street frontage of more than 12 metres and a 12-metre width at the building line of the existing dwelling.
Be large enough to maintain a 3-metre gap between the granny flat and the rear boundary, a 0.9-metre gap from the sides and a 1.8-metre gap between the principal dwelling and the granny flat.
In addition, the granny flat must meet Basix certification and have an external area of no more than 60m2.
Sound complicated? It doesn’t have to be! Our team of BIBO experts are on a mission to remove the complexity of finding and installing a granny flat. From working to customise your design, to planning and council approval. With BIBO, adding additional living space and value to your property is made as easy and stress-free as possible!
Get in touch to find out more.