The popularity of granny flats on the Sunshine Coast, and in fact throughout Australia, has increased considerably. A granny flat is a great way to increase the value of your property, and of course provide you with that little bit of extra cash in your back pocket!

Whether you want to accommodate parents, teenagers, older adult children or just a paying tenant, Beachside Construction can help. Whilst you might know us for our high quality custom built homes, we also design and build 1 and 2 bedroom studios.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BUILD A GRANNY FLAT?

This will depend on whether you’re going for one or two bedrooms, but ultimately, building a granny flat is far cheaper than building a brand new home, so it’s a great option for elderly family members, or a place for the kids to live before they can afford a place of their own.

If you’re needing finance, shop around as some banks offer products specifically designed for the development of granny flats.

 

WHAT SIZE GRANNY FLAT CAN I BUILD?

One of the first questions we get asked is what size granny flat can I build. Now, this will depend on where you live as each Council has different regulations, but here on the Sunshine Coast, this is what you need to know:

  • For residential zoned blocks of 600sqm or more, you can build a granny flat that’s 60sqm (excluding verandah and carport). These may be freestanding, attached to, or built within an existing structure or house.
  • For rural or residential rural zoned blocks, the granny flat can be 90sqm (excluding verandah and carport).

 

WHAT DOES THE GRANNY FLAT NEED TO HAVE INSIDE?

Under the Dwelling House Guide (part of the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014), a ‘dwelling house’ (this refers to the main dwelling and/or a secondary dwelling) must include the following:

  • Food preparation facilities (a kitchen or kitchenette)
  • A bath or shower
  • A toilet and wash basin
  • Clothes washing facilities

 

WHO DOES THE GRANNY FLAT BELONG TO?

Since granny flats cannot be separately titled, it’s important to consider putting in place an informal agreement. Whilst relationships might be good now, things can go wrong and relationships can sour. Have a chat with a lawyer about writing an agreement which all parties are happy with.

 

BEACHSIDE CONSTRUCTION CAN CUSTOM BUILD YOUR GRANNY FLAT

Hopefully the information above has helped answer your questions around building granny flats on the Sunshine Coast. If you’d like to chat further, give Paul or Tonya a call at Beachside Construction. We’d be more than happy to discuss your plans and meet on-site.