Have you heard of the Granny Flat boom? Currently major cities are having a housing crisis, and you may have seen recently in the news terms such as " granny flats" or " backyard cabins" being throw around. If your curious as to what they are and what they can do, read on as I briefly explain this new housing trend.

Ever thought you need extra room, perhaps you’re working from home and require some office space or you may even have teenagers and would like to give them some independence, whilst still keeping them close by. You wouldn’t be alone thinking along these lines, and a granny flat is perfect for all of the above. What’s more exciting is they are also a great investment opportunity.

Granny flats, also known by names such as secondary dwellings and backyard cabins to name a few are essentially a smaller version of a standard home. By that they are fully self-contained and have all the functions of an everyday home. Generally placed in the backyard they are almost exclusively detached from the primary dwelling, but they can also be attached. Granny flats are usually no larger than 60sqm, but this is dependent on your local council. Typically granny flats have two bedrooms with robes, fully functioning kitchen and bathroom. They also have ample sized living space, generally including a dining area. Laundry is generally enclosed within the bathroom, but can also have its own space depending on the granny flat design.

As mentioned earlier, granny flats are not always designed for living. The best part about granny flats is their versatility; you can design the floor plan to suit your own needs, budget and backyard space. Whether you’re looking for a quite art studio or music studio, rental investment or just somewhere for family nothing is limiting your approach to the design that can’t be done to a standard home.

Brick or timber cladding, concrete tile roofing, stone bench tops and carpet flooring building materials - Choosing your granny flat floor plan and interior and exterior design should be dependent on it’s over all use, the backyard space and the neighborhoods overall aesthetic.

If you would like to know more about granny flats and backyard cabins contact your local council or region government body as each country, state and region has its own rules, building code and regulations regarding granny flat usage, size limitations and environmental impact among other things.