Here’s Why You Should Have A Granny Flat

Published on: 03 March 2022 Last Updated on: 14 February 2025

A Granny flat has been gaining more and more popularity as homeowners turn their attention to this convenient piece of property. Especially populous in Australia, a granny flat is also known as an “in-law apartment”.But first of all, let us get familiar with what a granny flat truly is.

A granny flat is a dependent personal unit located inside a house with, usually a single-dwelling, family. In easier words, additional spaces of your home used up to make a dwelling for one or a maximum of two persons is called a granny flat. It can also be defined as an accessory dwelling unit alongside a house.

A granny flat is mostly used for an elderly or aging parent, hence the name. A granny flat is ideal for any aging parent, a granny, a young adult, a guest, etc.

Where can I build a granny flat? There is no specific rule for the location of a granny flat. You can build a granny flat by converting your garage, building a granny flat in front of your main unit, on the lawn, or building it in your basement. You can be creative, utilize that extra space sitting in your home!

Why should I consider building a granny flat?

Nowadays, you will see granny flats in every other house. What is the reason for its popularity? Well, they are popular because they are very advantageous. Here’s a small overview of the perks provided by a granny flat.

1. Extra income

A granny flat, if rented, can bring an additional income to the house. Granny flats are high in demand by single individuals so you will easily find a tenant.

2. Portable

Most in-law flats are portable. Meaning, if you wish to change your house, you can simply take your granny flat with you. Granny flats in Melbourne caught the attention of people for this exact reason.

3. Utilizes extra space

That big lawn is just sitting idle. Why not use that extra space for your benefit? Not only will you be utilizing your space stylishly, but you are also bringing additional income to your home through tenants.

4. Keep your loved ones close

It is difficult to keep your aging parents away from you in a time when they are so fragile. A granny flat accommodates your aging parents by keeping them close.

5. Privacy

Privacy

Privacy is a significant factor for every person. A granny flat keeps your loved ones close in a way that both of you have privacy as well. What better than being close to family and also having personal space?

6. Increases house value

A major advantage of a granny flat is that it increases house worth. An additional living unit is part of the house you own. Hence, the resale value of your home increases significantly.

One thing you must consider before building a granny flat is to check with city zoning regulations to go through the conditions and rules for building a separate living unit.

Building a granny flat from scratch has more restrictions, rules, and regulations. Therefore, most people prefer converting their garages into granny flats to avoid the barriers of zoning laws and building restrictions.

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Arnab

Arnab is a professional blogger, having an enormous interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, He carries out sharing sentient blogs.

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Why do modern people prefer Coliving to other housing options?

We have often been told that more of us will live in cities and that cities will be bigger. But what we have not seen is how this will happen. While there is a growing awareness among the public, politicians, developers, and architects about the need to improve living conditions in cities, little is being done. Coliving is still a new concept, but the fast-growing Coliving industry aims to redefine the way we live. Coliving offers shared living spaces, sharing kitchen facilities, sharing laundry, and cleaning services. The potential cost savings are significant, although the initial start-up costs are high. Living in smaller spaces is a cultural norm in the affluent West. But until recently, people in most developing countries had few options beyond informal settlements or slums. Now, thanks to urbanization, millions of people are leaving rural areas and moving into cities. Urbanization is speeding up in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, but the trend has been visible in developed countries, too. In 1960, 70 percent of the world lived in cities; by 2050, it will be 75 percent. Read this blog content about coliving from sharedeasy.club. History of coliving In the 1950s, we began to think of space as a commodity. At first, we thought of it as a commodity to be bought and sold, like a plot of land or a building. Then, we came to think of it as a utility, like electricity or water. Then, as the idea of sustainability grew, people began to think of space as a vital resource. Finally, in the 21st century, we came to think of space as a service. That is, a space is a service, like a utility, that provides shelter, privacy, and community. Co-living also falls under a relatively new concept of Housing as a service. It is disrupting the way we screen, monitor, and select housing. Co-living is seen as a promising potential from industry experts from different market leaders as the real estate developers, hospitality companies, and investment community. Big names in the retail- and automotive industry are adding co-living to their portfolios. Related Reads: Smaller Apartment Downsizing Hacks Coliving benefits SharedEasy launches its new spaces which is an innovation lab based in New York. Here are some main benefits of coliving: Co-living spaces are breaking free of traditional housing models. They provide living spaces with shared amenities, such as gyms, cafeterias, and common areas. Co-living spaces are often in buildings with 100 to 400 rooms. Co-living is not a new trend, but a new business model, with unprecedented demand. Co-living spaces offer more than just a place to sleep. They provide shared amenities like gyms and cafeterias. Co-living spaces are viewed as an alternative to conventional housing, either because of cost or lifestyle issues. Co-living spaces are growing in popularity. An increasing number of millennials are choosing these spaces over conventional homes. Urbanization brings with it many benefits. But rapid urbanization also brings with it many new problems. Often, people are priced out of the housing market. They are forced to live in informal settlements or slums. They lack adequate access to infrastructures such as water and sanitation. And because of the strain on city infrastructure, cities are left vulnerable during natural disasters. “Build it and they will come” is a noble sentiment. But it doesn’t work in practice. Related Reads: Property Investment Worths Coliving in practice Housing is a basic human right. For most of us, our housing is the biggest single expense we have every month. But building housing is expensive. Many cities are at or very near their historic peak population levels. The East Coast already has more housing than it can reasonably absorb, with the result being that half the population cannot reasonably afford a home. And California, which has experienced a spectacular population boom in recent decades, has a serious housing shortage. Insufficient housing is one reason why young people, especially, are leaving cities for the suburbs. By some estimates, 30% of young people between the ages of 18 and 34 live with their parents, compared to 7% of older people. Co-living is a response to this problem. It’s a way of living that takes advantage of the economies of scale in housing. Instead of people having to buy or rent their own house, they live together. In a normal house, people generally have private rooms, but in co-living arrangements, they share a bathroom and a kitchen. Co-living has many advantages. Now people can live near their best neighbors, and they can also share costs. And they do not have to be locked into a long-term contract with a landlord. But it also has some disadvantages. First, co-living is not for everybody. Some people want privacy. For these people, co-living is probably not a good idea. Second, the co-living companies need to manage a large number of people, and this requires a lot of staff. This is a considerable expense. But most importantly, co-living does not solve the fundamental problem. We need to build a lot more housing. Why is coliving preferred by millennials? Co-living, in this sense, is an evolution of what millennials have come to think of as normal: a communal living arrangement that mirrors the way social media functions. It’s both social and intimate, it’s both private and communal. And it’s a community where members do not compete with one another for space; instead, they collaborate, sharing common spaces and amenities, from kitchens and living rooms to bedrooms and bathrooms. Conclusion Co-living in particular is the logical consequence of sharing everything online. The idea of shared living spaces has been around for quite a while. The Victorian fascination with communal living and with communal service — the belief that community was the key to happiness — was reflected in the rise of the boarding house and the shared house. Read Also: Federal Government and the Subprime Mortgage Crisis They Created How Much Will You Pay To See Landmarks During Lockdown?

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Whether you're interested in designing a new commercial building for your business, a new home to live in, or an addition for a home or business, the right help can be crucial. An architect is essential for these and related projects and can provide a number of benefits that will make a huge difference in the long run. Make Sure Everything is Practical Depending on what the plan is, there may be a need to check and make sure everything is actually practical. Is the land appropriately set up for the building or addition? Is there anything that doesn't make sense about the overall plan? An architect will look through to make sure everything looks good before getting into the details of the design. Cochran has more information if you'd like to learn more. Determine if There are Restrictions There may be a local, county, or state restrictions that can be applicable to the building or addition. These need to be discovered at the beginning of the design process so workarounds can be found. Restrictions may include zoning restrictions like how tall the building can be, how far the addition must be from the property line, or even whether the entire project is allowed. Add to Design for the Future Architects aren't just going to think of what's happening right now. They'll also consider the future for the business or home and help you come up with ideas that may future-proof the building or addition. This helps ensure the building is going to continue to be relevant and useful long into the future. Reduce Overall Costs Any construction is going to be expensive. While there are many ways to cut costs, some just aren't worth the savings. An architect can help find ways to save money without sacrificing anything that's needed or the overall quality of the project. If you're on a budget, hiring an architect can help reduce overall costs so the project stays on budget. Help Create a Green Building Energy efficiency can make a huge difference in energy bills and impact on the environment. If an energy-efficient building is needed or desired, an architect is a right person to ask for help. They can use various design elements to create a building or addition that's energy-efficient, or green, to help reduce the impact on the environment and help you save money. Visualize the Design What will the design actually look like when everything is done? Is it going to be what you're imagining? An architect can draft visual designs and stake out the property so it's easier to see exactly how big everything is, where everything will go, and what the project will look like when everything is done. That helps provide a better idea of what the final project looks like so you can ensure it will be exactly what's needed for your home or business. If you're planning any construction, whether it's commercial or residential, an architect can provide a lot of help and allow you to meet all of the goals. Take the time to speak with an architect today to learn more about what they can do to help with the project and what's going to be improved by having the right help from the beginning. You won't want to handle the project without them. Read Also: 3 Ways to Boost Employee Engagement in Your Business Important Things to Know Before Starting a Home Improvement Project

Federal Government and the Subprime Mortgage Crisis They Created

As of now, we have to agree that there is a housing access gap in America that was caused by the federal government through the housing authorities. Low-income earners have always found it hard to afford mortgages, and this has resulted in homelessness and a lot of strain in paying rent. On the other hand, those who earn more money can repay their loans with ease and even afford to take over homes from the poor who cannot clear their debts. A home mortgage in American means a lot to all citizens because it moves them from a state of poverty to a new level. Thus, all people are actively looking for affordable mortgages even if they will be paying it for the next 30 to 35 years. The Origin of the Crisis: Most of the crisis started way back in the early 90s, although it has always been a problem since the depression when politicians coerced the government and authorities in the housing market to change the mortgage laws. They needed this to be made easy for borrowers so that they could access mortgages that everyone knows too well that they cannot afford. But the tricky part is that the low-income earners are blocked from accessing mortgages on homes in specific areas that are reserved for the rich. Most activists have considered this unfair and thus started pressuring the government to amend the laws. But this falls on deaf ears, or maybe we can say that the manipulative underlying force is too powerful. The Subprime Crisis: By 2008, the crisis started to escalate even further when the housing authorities started to give even higher mortgage loans to anyone who applied. Economic analysts in the US stated that this strategy was highly orchestrated by a group of powerful politicians with an agenda. If you check out https://www.boostcredit101.com/, you will find more information on how to be safe when applying for a mortgage to avoid getting yourself in a subprime crisis today. If you did not know, it still exists today. Pressure from Activists: As things started to collapse in the housing department, activists started to pile significant pressure on the government to amend housing policies to correct the mistakes they have made. According to Gale Cincotta, one of the most vocal activists, borrowers will always go for the underwriting that favors them. Thus, all lenders are supposed to tightening this process by coming up with realistic factors. This will make it easy to convince borrowers, especially when they are taken through the process. As a result of this, the Clinton government bowed to the pressure and decided to come up with better housing goals that favored the low-income earners. Mind you, this is the group that had caused all of the problems when they were given access to mortgages with hard-to-meet conditions. Conclusion: The federal government already put America into a housing mess and the effects can still be felt even today. Most poor people are still struggling to pay rent instead of owning a home. However, there is a lot of hope as affordable home projects keep on getting better. Read Also: 6 Tips For Effective Crisis Management Best Home Buying Tips For First Time Buyers 5 Awesome Advantages Of Buying A Smaller House

Here’s Why You Should Have A Granny Flat