What is a Granny Flat?

Once built to house elderly relatives or extended family, the modern granny flat can be used for a huge range of purposes.

A granny flat is a detached or semi-detached residence built adjacent to the main home. Usually, granny flats are designed for one or two people, either with a single bedroom or, at the most, two bedrooms.

Most granny flats feature all the facilities of a standard house, just smaller. Compact homes like these often require clever design and planning consideration to ensure the space is functional as well as enjoyable to live in. Granny flats can be fully self-contained; however, some may share facilities such as the laundry or outdoor entertaining areas with the main house.

Granny flats are sometimes referred to as guest houses, cottages, and as mentioned above, tiny houses. Regardless of what you call it or what you’re planning to use it for, building a granny flat onto your home has many great advantages.

Why Should I Build a Granny Flat?

Adding a second dwelling to your property offers a unique blend of lifestyle flexibility, privacy and space as well as financial security. There are many reasons to invest in building a granny flat on your property, but the most popular ones include:

• Multigeneration Living: With the rising cost of living, chances are your adult kids or elderly relatives are calling you asking to move back in. Instead of living on top of each other, build a dedicated granny flat for them.

• Passive Rental Income: With the Gold Coast’s high demand for housing, renting out your granny flat can provide a significant amount of extra cash and income.

• Dedicated Home Office: Since COVID19, more and more people have opted to work from home. Escape the chaos of the kitchen table and set up your home office in the comfort of the granny flat.

• Increased Property Value: A high-quality granny flat is a permanent asset to your home. It can turn into a significant selling point and increase the livability of your home.

Can I Convert my Garage into a Granny Flat?

Converting your garage into a granny flat is an affordable alternative to building a new structure from scratch. By utilising the existing roof and slab, you can seriously reduce the building and construction costs. However, make sure that the space is waterproofed, insulated and meets the Building Code of Australia (BCA) standards to ensure it’s legal before anyone moves in.

How Many Granny Flats Can I Build on My Property?

Unfortunately, you can only build one granny flat per property. Your granny flat must be smaller than the main house and within 20 metres of it. Before building a granny flat on your property, it’s important to have a look at your council’s website to find out your local zoning and infrastructure laws and regulations.

How Many Bedrooms Can My Granny Flat Have?

Most Gold Coast granny flats are designed with one or two bedrooms. Adding more will limit your total floor space, making it feel cramped and uninviting.

Do I Need Council Approval Before I Start Building My Granny Flat?

The short answer is yes. All granny flats and secondary dwellings need council approval before any work begins. Our expert builders can help to get all the paperwork and permits organised so you don’t have to stress about the finer details.

Start Your Gold Coast Granny Flat Journey With Symcorp

Building a secondary dwelling needs clever design to make sure the space is private, liveable and energy efficient. As your local granny flat builders on the Gold Coast, we can guide you through the entire process from start to finish, answering any questions you may have.

If you’d like some more guidance and professional advice on building a granny flat on your property contact our experienced Gold Coast builders at 1300 043 012 or complete our granny flat build enquiry today.