Experiences (and Problems) with Granny Flats / Dual Occupancies

Explore 36 Aston Martin Drive, Goulburn in 3D

 

i purchased a house with a g/flat in place in Doonside, Syd, did a cosmetic reno. It was always rented and in demand provided double digit returns. Then BOOM, I decided to take the money and run as I doubled my gains

Regretting this big time now..... note to myself, don’t do this again

 

Is adding a GF in Logan still worthwhile since they introduced the $23,000 "Infrastructure Charge"?

 

It was already expensive enough ($1,700m2+!) to write off the idea for a lot of people beforehand, I guess you just have to consider whether the extra charges make it worthwhile. It really depends on your personal circumstances and the overall design.

 

Hi Dave, check your site though LoganHub.

You get a credit for the existing house charge so should be approx $8k for your feasibility study.
May be different if you have a unique property but around this amount seems consistent with a number I’ve looked at.

 

Side question re: the 1.8m gap between the house and the granny flat, is it necessary to be 1.8m away from an existing, freestanding shed in the backyard?

Would it be a problem to build and connect a breezeway between the granny flat and the shed, with a deck underneath? Photos attached. The shed will remain a shed.

 

I believe its a fire hazard gap between dwellings, you should be able to build upto the shed.

 

From what I've heard after calling around, I need a minimum 900mm separation ie the roof over the proposed deck can't touch the roof of the shed.

 

Is that from your private certifier?

 

No, granny flat builder

 

Fair call, though not all granny flat builders know the ins and outs as much as they claim, with a CDC id imagine that it would be something like that, you may be able to use a DA and attach to the Garage.

 

Yeah but I'd rather stay out of the council if I can. I wonder if going OVER it by 900mm is the same as 900mm away from it.

 

Me too, perhaps leave the required gap between the granny flat and the shed and build it after handover?

 

Have to think about that one.

 

As in the 3m for a pergola.

 

No as in extending it 900mm after the fact so they touch.

 

Would have to see how they would be positioned on the block, wouldn't want a full length extension if 900mm, infill concrete would be annoying etc

 

I've been watching granny flats for years now and think they are great but in specific locations, specific design so both occupants good sized backyards. I would also only do it if main dwelling is in good condition or knock down and rebuild

@euro73 has this covered in my opinion

 

Any Sydneysiders or Canberran's or 'Gongsters who would like to get out of the house , take a nice drive to Goulburn ( it's less than 2 hours from the northern side of Sydney and only an hour and a bit from the Southwest of Sydney and about an hour from Canberra) , get a selfie at the Big Merino , check out the excellent smoked BBQ at the Astor or the coffee at Roses Cafe, or maybe visit a friend or relative at the supermax...... and then pop by and have a look at one of our recently finished Dual Occ's so you can see examples of how to do them right.... more than welcome to do so. Couple of doors down from the Astor you'll see they like us so much they even named a pub after my company... the Hibernian Hotel !!!! Well, maybe they didn't, but it's a nice story to tell

 

Can also recommend the burgers at the Astor.
Very Yummy! Did a great job when feeding the fam on the overnight for the Qld road trip (pre Vic lockdown of course).