What is a Granny Flat?

If you have ever looked at expanding your home or looked at other properties on the market in recent years, the chances are you will have heard of a granny flat. A granny flat in Sydney is a great way to add extra space at your property, whether for an elderly relative, additional space for hobbies, a home office or to give some independence to an older child, or to rent out on Airbnb or other alternatives.
But while that all sounds great, what is a granny flat, what can you do with them, and what do you need to look for in a granny flat builder in Sydney if you decide you want one?

A granny flat is a self-contained addition to your property that sits within the boundaries of a single-family dwelling. It gets its name from the most common use for such a property, that of being a home for an aging parent that allows them to retain their independence while still being close if help is needed.

However, while Sydney residents often use them for this purpose, Liverpool granny flats and those all over the region are frequently used for other purposes too. There are a wide range of designs that a granny flat builder can use to create the property, depending on the space available of course, however most feature one or two bedrooms and an open plan living area that offers plenty of space and easy maintenance.

There are plenty of options for granny flat building in Sydney, from custom builds and prefabricated designs through to flat pack solutions in some cases. However, building a granny flat in Sydney or anywhere is not simply a matter of finding a granny flat specialist and going for it, there are rules and regulations that must be complied with.

Granny Flat construction

For a granny flat in Campbelltown, Liverpool, West Sydney or most of the region, the first thing to do is to check you are legally allowed to build one on your property. For most single-family dwellings the answer will be yes, but do check with your local council to make sure. If you can, then you need to submit a Development Application (DA) to get started, something a house and granny flat builder will usually do for you anyway.

Once you know it is allowed, granny flats in Sydney open up a whole world of options, depending on what it is you intend to do with it.

Why have a granny flat?

There are several uses for a granny flat in Campbelltown and across the region, in addition to safely housing an elderly relative. If you have a growing family, a granny flat can be an ideal way to give teenagers some level of independence and still keep a level of oversight, and the open plan nature of most granny flats offers a modern style they will love. But that is not all, a granny flat can be a great source of income too. Airbnb and similar letting solutions give you the chance to build a second income from your granny flat, especially if you live close to tourist attractions, but that is not the only way to earn from a Sydney area including Liverpool granny flat.

With accommodation still going up in cost, a granny flat can make an exceptional rental opportunity, providing affordable homes compared to other options. In fact, a granny flat in Sydney can attract over $700 a month in rent, depending on location, with high demand for such properties.

If you happen to live near to a university, you could also offer student accommodation. A 2 bedroom granny flats in Sydney can house two students, but be empty over the summer and other holidays, perfect if you want to use it for other things part of the year and still earn an income.

The ideal granny flat in Sydney

So, a granny flat can be an extension to your living space, a halfway house between living at home and moving out for older children, a safe space for elderly parents or a source of income. With so many options, it is no surprise that granny flat builders are busier than ever.

Whatever you wish to use it for, a granny flat can add value to your home and is a great addition to any property.