Everyone’s Talking About Granny Flats. But What Should You Actually Build?
Granny flats are having a moment in Victoria.
The rules have changed.
More homeowners are looking at their backyards differently, and the conversation around small second dwellings seems to be everywhere. In Victoria, a small second dwelling can be up to 60 square metres and, where the relevant requirements are met, may not need a planning permit. A building permit is still required, and things like siting, setbacks, private open space, overlays and other requirements still matter.
There are also newer streamlined pathways for eligible two-home developments, with some planning applications able to go through the 10-business-day VicSmart process.
All of that is positive. But after almost 30 years in the building industry, there is one thing I think can get lost in the excitement:
Just because it is easier to build a second dwelling, doesn’t mean it is easy to work out what you should build.
And that, to me, is where the conversation needs to start.
We speak to people all the time who have a very general idea of what they want to achieve. Perhaps Mum or Dad are thinking about downsizing. Maybe adult children need somewhere to live. Maybe the goal is a little more independence for a family member, a home office, a teenage retreat or an investment.
The reason for building matters.
Because a granny flat designed for ageing parents may look very different from one designed for a young adult. And the best solution for one backyard may make very little sense in another.
Then there is the property itself.
Where can you actually put the dwelling?
What access is available?
How will it sit in relation to the existing home?
What services will need to be connected?
What does council require?
How much garden and private open space needs to remain?
Are there planning controls or site constraints that need to be considered?
These are not particularly glamorous questions. But they are the questions that can make the difference between a plan that looks good on paper and a solution that genuinely works.
I also think it is important that people don't assume that the biggest possible dwelling is automatically the best one.
Sometimes a smaller, carefully considered home will work beautifully. Sometimes a larger solution makes more sense. Sometimes the right answer is to rethink the position, layout or purpose altogether.
For me, building has never just been about putting a structure on a block of land. It is about understanding the people who are going to live there and what they need their home to do for them.
That is why I believe the first conversation should be less about choosing a floor plan and more about asking a simple question:
What are you actually trying to solve?
Once you know that, the building becomes much easier to talk about.
The granny-flat boom is certainly creating more opportunities for Victorian homeowners. But more choice doesn't necessarily mean you should rush into a decision.
Sometimes the smartest first step is simply sitting down with someone who can look at the whole picture with you - the property, the practicalities, the people and the possibilities - before you start drawing lines on a page.
So with this in mind, this Spring, we invite you into our Display Homes and for everyone who books – we will sit down with you for a Property Solutions Consultation. This means we will take you through a detailed session that includes:
Site suitability
Council requirements
Finance pathways
Floor plans & sizing options
Titles and governance
Land tax implications
Centrelink & aged pension impacts
Approximate pricing
Book online by clicking here, and we hope to see you in the Display Homes this Spring!