So you’ve seen the trend of building a smaller-scaled bungalow to your backyard and decide that fits your lifestyle well. How do you go about it? Do you know which office of your local government to report to in order to start building custom granny flats?
There’s a lot of advantages to building your own pad in your backyard. Property values in Australia don’t come cheap, but leveraging your own property’s value by adding your own spin to classic granny flats has become a popular practice. Along with providing a sense of independence for people in multi-generational families that live together, these pads are ideal for recreational spaces, home offices, rental income for home-sharing or bed and breakfast services, etc.
But is this all legal?
There are different misconceptions surrounding this, particularly the myth that it’s difficult to get your local government to approve the construction of custom granny flats. While it’s true that Australia is strict when it comes to following building and construction codes, there are recent policies that have been approved to cater more to the demand of these type of secondary dwelling units. Depending on which city you live in, there are mandates that allow for the increase and availability of affordable rental spaces, making it easier for custom granny flats to be approved.
The timeline of approval for construction varies per state as well. For New South Wales, for example, approvals can take anywhere between six to eight weeks, with private certification going as quickly as ten days. Other states can take a process time of up to a year, though. If you’re trying to build classic granny flats in Sydney, be sure to look up the current regulations posted by your local council.
Taking the time to thoroughly research the regulations that apply to you can either quicken or delay your process. For instance, there are misconceptions that you’re supposed to file for a completely separate mailing address, arrange for individual utility bills, etc. In reality, unless already part of your state’s local codes, subdividing your property isn’t actually allowed. This applies to states wherein they treat it more as private property.
However, in places where the property is close to public transport, universities, and generally the busy side of cities like Sydney, granny flats are attracting more tenants than traditional rental homes or apartments, making regulations more considerate and customer-centric. At the end of the day, however, it’s good for you to consult with professionals. While granny flats are relatively new solutions to the house-hunting competition, your local contractor with a few years under its belt may be able to help you breeze through these regulations quicker than you’d think.
Would a boutique design granny flats fits you? Check out https://www.grannyflats.sydney/.
What You Need to Build a House in Your Backyard,