2014-07-03

 Granny flats are crafted for accommodating one or two people. These flats are generally built in the backyard and are considered as secondary residencies. A property of this type can be attached to primary building or property, or can be completely detached from the primary residency. Australian families often opt for these secondary suites, which are also referred as in-law suites or accessory apartments, for accommodating elderly family members. The idea is to let the elderly people, such as grandmas and grandpas, so that they can live with complete peace of mind and can lead a sedentary lifestyle. There are Australian cottage builders who provide the necessary supplies for building home office, backyard cottage and many other ancillary dwelling units. You can find these suppliers and installation service providers online to get a granny apartment built in your backyard for the elderly members in your family.

Advantages of building a granny flat

Granny flats do not just provide ample living space, but they also offer quite a few other advantages as well. For example, you can rent the flat for making some extra cash every month. Your tenants may need to share utilities and basic amenities with you. They may also manage lawn care or child care while you are away. Granny apartments are also used as gazebos min Australia and elsewhere and you can spend your summer afternoons in an apartment, reading books or listening to music.

Characteristics of an ideal granny flat

•             A granny apartment is an extension of the main building and meets the accommodation needs that the main building cannot meet. Here below are the basic features of a granny flat for your further reference.

•             Granny flats are built close to a house, either completely detached from the main dwelling unit or attached to it.

•             The apartment should be located within the same premises where the main dwelling unit is situated. However, there are some other regulations that you should comply with while constructing a granny flat.

Granny flat building requirements

In New South Wales and other Australian states, various rules and regulations pertaining to building granny flats are imposed. Some of these regulations are:

•             There should be only one dwelling unit

•             The combined floor area of the principal and secondary residential building should be compliant with the environmental rules and regulations.

•             Maximum permissible floor area is 60 meters or as permitted by the local authority

•             The flat meets all the planning regulations of your state (building height, floor space ratio, and various other specifications should meet the Affordable Rental Housing SEPP guidelines.

•             A flat of this type should also comply with the Australian Building Code

•             Additional parking space in not allowed

There are backyard accommodation contractors in various AU states that can help you stay within the legal limits and get a granny flat built in your unutilized space outside the main residential area. These contractors use hardwood logs for building granny apartment, home office and other auxiliary accommodations and can offer you attractive offers on materials and installation costs.

Check out our gallery of granny flats before ordering one. Cabin 4 QLD offers home office and backyard cottage construction services.

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