Multigenerational living continues to be a rising trend, particularly in New Zealand’s major cities, with more Kiwis living in households that consist of more than one generation of adults living together. This is due to a variety of reasons from an ageing population to changing norms about how long adult children stay in their parent’s homes.
This is a phenomenon that experts think is likely to stay. It has triggered a profound rethink of how many families live their lives. Solutions like granny flats or second dwellings play a big role in accommodating this trend while providing a level of privacy, space and independence for everyone in the household.
For older Kiwis looking to downsize but who want to stay near family and are not ready for retirement living, a granny flat means independence and security. Granny flats can be customised to suit the needs of the occupant and can also add value to your property.
Having a second dwelling, offers the comfort of being around family as well as providing everyone with their own space and privacy.
You can even separate the two dwellings with fencing and garden beds to create peaceful retreats for each occupant. This way each home has their own bathrooms, kitchens and living spaces so the property doesn’t feel cramped.
Granny flats aren't just for grannies anymore. They have a wide range of uses; home office, studio, sleep out, teenager’s bedroom, hobby space, guest room, private rental accommodation, temporary accommodation during renovations or a space for a live-in babysitter or pet-sitter.
At Latitude Homes, we have many small footprint house plans, these range from 60m2 with the option for 2 and 3 bedrooms. Our modern granny flats are not that different from traditional homes. Apart from the size, granny flats have essentially the same structure and components of a regular home. For example, our granny flats have a full-size kitchen, a living space and full sized bedrooms. At Latitude Homes, we can custom build granny flats or second dwellings on your property, to suit your needs and your section.
With many Kiwis working from home either as part of a larger team or working for themselves. Second dwellings/Granny Flats can make a great alternative space to work from. In particular businesses such as beauty therapists and artists, can have their home studios set-up a short walking distance from their home.
As mentioned earlier our smaller plans are self-contained, making them great second dwellings on your property with the ability to use them as guest houses. With a rise in Kiwis exploring throughout the country and overseas visitors starting to return, it’s a way to make a semi-passive income from utilising websites like; bookabach & Airbnb to help showcase your own part of paradise with others.
At Latitude Homes, we have a range of great options for granny flats, all built to a high standard. Explore our house plans today or get in touch with our team if you have any questions.
The coalition Government is proposing an amendment to the Building Act to exempt simple standalone houses of up to 60m2 from requiring consent as part of their plan to help address the housing shortage crisis. If the law were to pass, the construction of a granny flat in New Zealand would still have to be supervised or completed by competent, licensed professionals to ensure it meets the current building code.
The changes would apply to homes in rural or residential areas, and possibly mixed-use zones where there is both commercial and residential property. Other standards and district plan rules will still apply to granny flats, governing their size, distance from property boundaries and the proportion of a section that can be covered by buildings.
Public consultation closes 12 August 2024.
The Bill will be read and then voted on in Parliament.
So watch this space...
For more details, please click on this link below:
