With a mini boom in granny flats being built across Australia, (some estimates show a threefold increase in the last 5 years in NSW) what separates the good from the bad? In other words, how do you make sure your granny flat doesn’t turn into the storage shed for all your old broken bicycles?
Where is the best place to build? How much space do you need? and… what on earth is a Fonzie flat?
On the Central Coast, there are plenty of options on how to make your additional small home something you cherish, that adds joy to your life, and even add value to your property.
Here are a few things to think about.
How Much Space Do I Need?
The maximum size your granny flat can be is 60sqm, which – in the current era of small homes, and minimalism contesting values of materialism – can turn out to be quite a lot. One question to ask is how much space do you want in the backyard for the dogs/children/yourself to run around, and how much of this space are you willing to lose to have another indoor haven?
Having a healthy sized backyard makes the decision to build a granny flat much easier. You can tuck it away in the back corner of the yard or attach it to the main house. If you’ve bought on the Central Coast you probably have a decent size backyard, and so fitting in a granny flat can be the perfect option to free up some space in the main house, while still leaving room for the kids to go and get their hands dirty digging and playing hide and seek.
If you’re thinking about building your granny flat to rent out, then it’s good to think about how the space works so both households have a sense of privacy. Building a granny flat with a separate side entrance, for example, gives tenants a sense that it is really their own home, and that your sense of privacy isn’t compromised.
Remember, 60sqm is the maximum size you can build your granny flat. That doesn’t mean it has to be 60 sqm. Bigger isn’t always better. If you have less backyard space, it can be more valuable to build smaller and keep land for the backyard. Backyards are sought after, and having more indoor space won’t necessarily add value to your property or your lifestyle.
In the end, it comes down to what you want.
Does The Location Matter?
Maybe you don’t have a lot of extra room in the backyard, but where you live can be just as important as how much space you have. Living near the beach, for example, provides a great opportunity to add a small abode. Living by the beach has always been popular. Indeed, as long as there have been humans around, we have made our settlements around water, whether, lakes, rivers, or oceans. Have a look at a population map of Australia, for example: where there’s water, there’s people https://www.businessinsider.com.au/this-map-shows-population-density-across-australia-2017-7
A well placed one bedroom granny flat on a property near the beach, or near any body of water, will be sure to attract a tenant in no time who seeks proximity to the natural elements. Otherwise, your teenager who needs their own space will nab it just as quickly.
Again, all the little details add up. Thinking practically as well as aesthetically are equally important.
A Fonzie flat? What is that?
Remember Happy Days? Of course you do. Fonzie, the coolest guy ever to be on television lived in a studio above a garage. If you don’t know who he is, here’s all you need to know- https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/sydney-homeowners-rejoice-as-happy-days-fonzie-flats-above-garages-now-approved/news-story/ef203c37b34c3e77715c7792337ec477
Maybe Mike Baird was a Happy Days fan, because his government made it legal for to build flats above garages in NSW. Maybe going up and not out is the perfect option for you, and who knows, you might even star in your own TV show!
https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-build/building-and-renovations/granny-flats