Granny Flat

When a dwelling has two separate living units, the granny flat is the smaller of the two. It may be in a basement attic, converted garage or as a separate building on the property. The flat may or may not contain a kitchen or cooking area, but they almost always have their own bathrooms. These small dwelling units solve some of the problems associated with high costs of housing for the elderly, students or people who prefer to live in a smaller space. Most granny flats need zoning approval and not all jurisdictions allow them. Some local government agencies are looking into the benefits of this type of housing since it reduces the need for local infrastructure, can raise the taxable value of an existing home and increases affordable housing.