Architecture
Extra Accommodation: A Guide to Granny Flats, Tiny Homes and More
Australia's bushfire crisis has put a focus on temporary or quick to set-up housing – here's what's available
Whether it’s the tragic effects of the bushfires, the housing affordability crisis or the desire to create independent spaces at home for teenagers or multi-generational families, there are plenty of reasons to consider adapting your accommodation options. The backyard or spare available land is an obvious space to add in some extra accommodation. But where do you start, what does it cost and how do you choose between the various structures? We asked four small-home experts to give us the lay of the land.
What are the main options?
There are several outdoor structures to choose from, including granny flats, outdoor rooms, tiny houses and converted shipping containers. “Some of the terms such as tiny homes, pods and granny flats are interchangeable, so from my perspective, it really comes down to whether the structure is temporary or relocatable – such as a caravan or a tiny home – or permanent,” says Daniel Wolkenberg, architect and director of Poly Studio.
“Also consider whether the structure is prefabricated – such as an off-the-shelf pod or granny flat – or built on-site. A prefabricated dwelling is also likely to be relocatable.”
Thinking of building a tiny house? Find a building professional on Houzz near you to start the process
There are several outdoor structures to choose from, including granny flats, outdoor rooms, tiny houses and converted shipping containers. “Some of the terms such as tiny homes, pods and granny flats are interchangeable, so from my perspective, it really comes down to whether the structure is temporary or relocatable – such as a caravan or a tiny home – or permanent,” says Daniel Wolkenberg, architect and director of Poly Studio.
“Also consider whether the structure is prefabricated – such as an off-the-shelf pod or granny flat – or built on-site. A prefabricated dwelling is also likely to be relocatable.”
Thinking of building a tiny house? Find a building professional on Houzz near you to start the process
What are the main pros and cons?
Wolkenberg says:
Off-the-shelf pods or granny flats
Pros:
Granny flats built on-site
Pros:
Wolkenberg says:
Off-the-shelf pods or granny flats
Pros:
- Cost effective.
- Quick to install.
- Potential to be relocatable.
- Some companies offer options for customisation of floor plan and finishes, but generally the most economical products feel very generic with limited design value.
- The better-designed options may end up costing a similar amount to a granny flat built on-site.
- Generally delivered to the site as a prefabricated module, so require structural footings and the connection of services.
- Delivery will be subject to site access.
Granny flats built on-site
Pros:
- These have the most scope for customisation to the client’s brief, style and the site topography and orientation.
- Will require a designer/architect and a professional builder.
- These have the longest design and construction process.
Tiny homes
Pros:
Pros:
- Built on a trailer base so they’re easily relocatable.
- Doesn’t require permanent service connections or structural support.
- These have a limited footprint so are generally configured as a studio with the sleeping space in a loft.
Shipping container dwelling
Pros:
Pros:
- Can be either fully prefabricated off-site or fitted out on-site.
- Shipping containers are inherently easy to transport because truck modules are designed around them.
- Flexibility to combine multiple shipping containers for a larger space.
- If fully prefabricated off-site, installation time on-site will be minimal (similar to the timing for off-the-shelf pods and granny flats).
- The shipping container forms a very durable building envelope.
- Restricted to the dimensions of the containers, which results in low ceiling heights.
- Can become an expensive construction system if the design involves significant modification of the shipping container.
- Delivery will be subject to site access.
How have outdoor structures improved in recent years?
“A number of new companies have emerged offering well designed and/or energy-efficient off-the-shelf designs,” says Wolkenberg. “The best of these deploy simple but contemporary finishes with good-quality building envelopes that minimise the need for heating and cooling.”
“A number of new companies have emerged offering well designed and/or energy-efficient off-the-shelf designs,” says Wolkenberg. “The best of these deploy simple but contemporary finishes with good-quality building envelopes that minimise the need for heating and cooling.”
How can extra accommodation improve people’s lifestyles?
“Today’s customers don’t want an old-fashioned weatherboard shack made with cheap products that need constant maintenance. They want a high-quality, contemporary structure that matches the aesthetic of their house – which also means they don’t have to pull the structure down when they sell the house,” says Atkinson.
“They also don’t want a hot tin box, which might be cheap on the surface, but would require expensive upgrades to make it liveable. They want a space that feels like a home, particularly if their loved ones are going to be living in it,” she says.
“Customers’ expectations are much higher than they used to be,” says Serge Panayi, director of Granny Flats Sydney. “They are specifying barbecue and entertaining areas, storage, children’s play areas and safe parking, for example.”
“Today’s customers don’t want an old-fashioned weatherboard shack made with cheap products that need constant maintenance. They want a high-quality, contemporary structure that matches the aesthetic of their house – which also means they don’t have to pull the structure down when they sell the house,” says Atkinson.
“They also don’t want a hot tin box, which might be cheap on the surface, but would require expensive upgrades to make it liveable. They want a space that feels like a home, particularly if their loved ones are going to be living in it,” she says.
“Customers’ expectations are much higher than they used to be,” says Serge Panayi, director of Granny Flats Sydney. “They are specifying barbecue and entertaining areas, storage, children’s play areas and safe parking, for example.”
What’s good to know?
Wolkenberg says:
Wolkenberg says:
- Very cheap products will only include the most basic levels of insulation – for example, single-glazed windows,” he says. “Depending on your climate and the intended purpose of the accommodation, it is best to build with a much higher-standard building envelope, but this will obviously cost more.”
- Including a kitchen will trigger the classification of the structure as a second dwelling, which is likely to require council approval.
Atkinson says:
- Understand the difference between a shed and a high-quality room. A shed can consist of a cheap interior frame incorporating plywood that needs constant exterior maintenance. It can also come in the form of a hot tin box, which would probably require expensive upgrades to make it liveable.
- Be wary of products that are shipped from halfway around the world. It not only has an environmental impact but the products used generally won’t be suitable or designed for the Australian climate.
- Plumbing needs to be explored if you are specifying a kitchen, bathroom and/or laundry. It can be a costly item if you need to dig from the main house to the outdoor room to supply it with services.
- Consider the impact of the structure on neighbours, such as heights and access to sun.
Which inclusions are standard and which are extra?
“We offer standards in roof and wall insulation to meet R-value energy ratings,” says Atkinson, where the higher the R value denotes the greater the insulation. “This includes a steel base, engineered footing systems, a high-grade western red-cedar finish, and a full install including electrics and wall plastering,” she says.
“Optional upgrades include bushfire products that meet BAL ratings, double glazing, electrical-package upgrades, decking, bathrooms and extra insulation,” she says.
At Designer Eco Tiny Homes, you can also specify auto-opening solar-powered skylights, air conditioning, a dishwasher, an extendable kitchen benchtop, a custom-designed kitchen and laundry, louvres and premium benchtop materials such as Caesarstone, says Kylie Emans, sales and marketing manager at the company.
“We offer standards in roof and wall insulation to meet R-value energy ratings,” says Atkinson, where the higher the R value denotes the greater the insulation. “This includes a steel base, engineered footing systems, a high-grade western red-cedar finish, and a full install including electrics and wall plastering,” she says.
“Optional upgrades include bushfire products that meet BAL ratings, double glazing, electrical-package upgrades, decking, bathrooms and extra insulation,” she says.
At Designer Eco Tiny Homes, you can also specify auto-opening solar-powered skylights, air conditioning, a dishwasher, an extendable kitchen benchtop, a custom-designed kitchen and laundry, louvres and premium benchtop materials such as Caesarstone, says Kylie Emans, sales and marketing manager at the company.
How big are they?
“Our tiny homes come in four sizes, from 3.6 to 7 metres long, and all 2.4 metres wide [which equates to 8.64 square metres and 16.8 squares metres of single-storey floorspace respectively] so they can fit on the laneway of the road when they’re transported,” says Emans.
“You can choose off-grid, which comes with a composting toilet, solar panels and a water tank so you can put your tiny house anywhere, including an acreage. Or there’s the residential option, where you connect to your home’s plumbing and electricity.”
“At Inoutside, our standard range of outdoor rooms goes from 10 to 28 square metres – but we also supply bigger,” says Atkinson.
At Granny Flats Sydney, you can specify a three-bedroom granny flat with 70.8 square metres of habitable space.
“Our tiny homes come in four sizes, from 3.6 to 7 metres long, and all 2.4 metres wide [which equates to 8.64 square metres and 16.8 squares metres of single-storey floorspace respectively] so they can fit on the laneway of the road when they’re transported,” says Emans.
“You can choose off-grid, which comes with a composting toilet, solar panels and a water tank so you can put your tiny house anywhere, including an acreage. Or there’s the residential option, where you connect to your home’s plumbing and electricity.”
“At Inoutside, our standard range of outdoor rooms goes from 10 to 28 square metres – but we also supply bigger,” says Atkinson.
At Granny Flats Sydney, you can specify a three-bedroom granny flat with 70.8 square metres of habitable space.
What are the main things to consider?
Wolkenberg says:
Atkinson adds:
Wolkenberg says:
- Do you want fully independent accommodation with its own kitchen and bathroom or just an outdoor room?
- How many sleepers do you need to accommodate?
- What’s your budget?
- What is site access like?
- How quickly do you need the accommodation?
Atkinson adds:
- How much space do you have?
- Do you want to orientate the structure to enjoy a view?
- Which exterior materials and colours will harmonise with your main house?
What approvals do I need?
“Each state has a different approval process so it’s best to check the council legislation in your state,” says Atkinson.
“Typically a planning permit will be required for a structure that is classified as a second dwelling on a site,” says Wolkenberg. “This is generally triggered by having a kitchen with a stove and/or oven, but not by a kitchenette that only has a microwave.
“Even without a kitchen, a new structure may require a planning permit if there is a specific overlay – such as a heritage, bushfire or flooding overlay – or if the site is smaller than a minimum size specified in the planning scheme.
“In addition, a building permit will be required for any permanent structure whether pre-fabricated or built on-site,” he says.
“Each state has a different approval process so it’s best to check the council legislation in your state,” says Atkinson.
“Typically a planning permit will be required for a structure that is classified as a second dwelling on a site,” says Wolkenberg. “This is generally triggered by having a kitchen with a stove and/or oven, but not by a kitchenette that only has a microwave.
“Even without a kitchen, a new structure may require a planning permit if there is a specific overlay – such as a heritage, bushfire or flooding overlay – or if the site is smaller than a minimum size specified in the planning scheme.
“In addition, a building permit will be required for any permanent structure whether pre-fabricated or built on-site,” he says.
How long do approvals take?
“In my business in NSW, the approval process takes between three and six weeks. But it can take longer, depending on the site conditions, the speed at which the client makes their design decisions and other factors that need approval. A structure going onto a bushfire-prone site, for example, will need separate approval from the Rural Fire Service and this can add a week to the approval timeline,” says Panayi.
Space of the Week: Inside A Margaret River Luxury Granny Flat
“In my business in NSW, the approval process takes between three and six weeks. But it can take longer, depending on the site conditions, the speed at which the client makes their design decisions and other factors that need approval. A structure going onto a bushfire-prone site, for example, will need separate approval from the Rural Fire Service and this can add a week to the approval timeline,” says Panayi.
Space of the Week: Inside A Margaret River Luxury Granny Flat
What does it cost?
“A 60-square-metre granny flat must be designed, approved and built as an overall project, just like any other house development. The overall costs can vary from $70,000 to $150,000, depending on site conditions and desired outcomes. Sometimes a sewer mains will need to be protected or a retaining wall erected, which can have a significant cost impact,” says Panayi.
But you can find cheaper options. At Inoutside, for example, the 10-square-metre standard-range building starts at $18,000 for the lock-up option (where the customer takes on the internal fit-out themselves).
“A 60-square-metre granny flat must be designed, approved and built as an overall project, just like any other house development. The overall costs can vary from $70,000 to $150,000, depending on site conditions and desired outcomes. Sometimes a sewer mains will need to be protected or a retaining wall erected, which can have a significant cost impact,” says Panayi.
But you can find cheaper options. At Inoutside, for example, the 10-square-metre standard-range building starts at $18,000 for the lock-up option (where the customer takes on the internal fit-out themselves).
Are there any costs beyond the structure itself that I should factor in?
“Parking, landscaping, pedestrian access, garbage collection, data connections, storage and entertainment space, which are important elements to maximise and factor in if you want to rent out the space,” says Panayi.
“Parking, landscaping, pedestrian access, garbage collection, data connections, storage and entertainment space, which are important elements to maximise and factor in if you want to rent out the space,” says Panayi.
Your turn
Are you thinking of adding accommodation to your backyard? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Craving more building inspiration? Don’t miss: Houzz Tour: A Surprising Intervention for a Typical Postwar Home
Are you thinking of adding accommodation to your backyard? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Craving more building inspiration? Don’t miss: Houzz Tour: A Surprising Intervention for a Typical Postwar Home
For some people, it’s the unavoidable and sad reality of Australia’s recent bushfires. With upwards of 2,779 homes destroyed so far this summer, many families need a convenient new start; an initially modest dwelling they can set up fairly quickly.
For those not affected by the bushfires, it may be about expanding their options. “With children living at home longer, customers are seeking extra living spaces to accommodate them,” says Julie Atkinson from the sales and customer service team at Inoutside. “They also want liveable spaces they can rent out as holiday or permanent accommodation to generate extra income.”
Lina He, CEO at BIBO Build, concurs, adding; “Grandparents are retiring and downsizing, people are engaging in flexible work arrangements and self-employment – for many people, lifestyle has become the key driver in the investment decision.”