Building a Granny Flat
For many years now there has been increasing interest in building granny flats in suburban areas and inner-city locations around the country.
Trenz Granny Flats have been helping homeowners build granny flats in Newcastle and the Hunter region since 2011 so we thought this article might be helpful to anyone considering the idea of building a granny flat in our region.
What is a Granny Flat?
A granny flat is a standalone dwelling that is built on a residential block of land that already has an existing home on it.
Often granny flats are positioned in the backyard of existing home sites or if you have a wide block of land you may be able to position a granny flat to the side of your existing home – be mindful that your granny flat will need to fit in with the existing streetscape and some councils may prefer that the granny flat dwelling is positioned behind the existing dwelling.
So, what can you use a granny flat for?
Many people still see a granny flat as a small affordable housing option for elderly parents to move into, however, granny flats are also a great alternative for savvy investors to earn two (2) rental incomes from the same block of land.
Some other common uses for granny flats is to create an affordable office space outside of your family home, a music room or additional living space for guests.
What approvals are required to build a granny flat in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley area?
Different councils have different requirements so it is difficult to give you an easy answer on this. However, we can say that a granny flat dwelling that is no larger than 60sqm in total floor space will meet complying development which generally saves you time and money when it comes to gaining approvals for your building project. A granny flat of 60sqm in size gives you the ability to build a one (1) or two (2) even (3) bedroom granny flat and it’s possible to have a veranda and carport or garage as well.
If you want to build a dwelling larger than 60sqm the development will need to be submitted to council as a dual occupancy development which we can advise you on.
So, here’s the answer to what you really want to know. What’s it cost to build a granny flat in Newcastle and the Hunter Region?
The cost of building a granny flat does vary and will depend on a range of different factors such as the level of inclusions, site access, location and of course the size. To give you an idea of costs, we generally find that the typical two-bedroom granny flat with most home builders is now over $180,000 plus connections and council costs which can range between another $10,000 up to $25,000 depending on what you are hoping to build and what council area you are building in.
But a Granny Flat built through our system will save you upwards of $40,000 on the average size flat with comparable fittings and fixtures. So, if you want to save money building a Granny Flat call us and arrange for a quote.
Please feel free to visit our website www.trenzgrannyflat.com.au to find out more or give Terry a call on 0432 331951.