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Property/DIY

Anyone built a granny annexe?

29 replies

PosiePootlePerkins · 05/11/2016 15:20

Hi all. I was wondering if anyone has been through the process of building a granny annexe in their garden. This could become a real possibility for us in the next couple of years to provide accommodation for my aunt. She would be doing it for financial reasons ie selling the house she owns, paying for the granny annexe to be built, and living off the remaining money.
We have enough space in our garden and could make it a private area for her. We are literally at the beginning of thinking about this so any thoughts or advice very gratefully received. Thanks?

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PosiePootlePerkins · 05/11/2016 15:21

Oops sorry random ? at the end!Blush

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blackhairbrush · 05/11/2016 15:28

Make sure you have a proper legal agreement - ExH and I split up after 20 yrs together (unexpectedly as far as I was concerned) and the divorce was complicated by the fact that my parents were living in the annexe.

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JakeBallardswife · 05/11/2016 15:31

Friend has a close relative living in the garden. It has put immeasurable strain on the family, friend and the relative. 'Y advice would be don't do it.

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Shiningexample · 05/11/2016 15:44

sounds like it could get messy, why does she not just downsize to some sort of retirement flat?

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Luckystar1 · 05/11/2016 15:49

I wouldn't for many reasons, but from a purely financial reasons I wouldn't as I've seen people struggle to sell houses with annexes (apparently a fairly common problem)

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MerylPeril · 05/11/2016 15:56

My friends parents had her GM living in an annex - she did have to go into a home eventually though. It depends on her health and whether you want to make a permanent change on your home for a few years.
If you do get one do think if it can be redesigned for that area to feel more part of the house eventually

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PosiePootlePerkins · 05/11/2016 16:12

Thanks for all the thoughts so far. I take on board what you are saying about the financial and legal side, and reselling in the future. In terms of emotional strain for us, that wouldn't be an issue, we are extremely close, she is like a second mum to me, she is also an independent woman. Even if she needed us more as she got older, I am prepared to take that on. We have a brilliant relationship.
The question about a retirement flat, she would have so much more privacy living in our garden, its hard to explain our set up but basically she could have her own fenced off area in our large garden, she could come and go as she pleases, she could use our driveway without it impacting on us. We are lucky to have a lot of space. I am talking about a separate dwelling, like a chalet.
Any advice regarding actually building one and the legal requirements etc would be helpful. Thanks.

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atticusclaw2 · 05/11/2016 16:15

If the separate dwelling is more than just a bedroom then you'll be liable for two lots of council tax

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PosiePootlePerkins · 05/11/2016 16:19

Ok thank you for that. Will look into it.

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BowiesBlueEye · 05/11/2016 16:22

We completed ours in May and my parents live in there. DF retires next year so they sold up and built the Annexe in our garden so they are mortgage free. It's a beautiful cedar wood cabin and it's been fantastic so far.

We always knock, we have evenings where we are all in the house or cabin then most nights where we do our own thing.

We pay all the utilities as they are hooked up to the house (separate CT bill if not) as the intention is looking after them as they get older. It would be quite easy to split the bills though. We haven't really noticed that much of an increase yet.

We used Granny Annexe and as brilliant as they were before and during the build the after sales is dire. Once they have your money they lose interest and tiny but irritating jobs that need doing/fixing we are still waiting to be put right 6 months later.

I think it's a good idea and I think it's going to have to become more common place as housing becomes more unaffordable and care home prices rise.

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BantyCustards · 05/11/2016 16:24

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PosiePootlePerkins · 05/11/2016 16:24

Thank you so much blackhairbrush those articles are very helpful, I will have a proper look.

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BowiesBlueEye · 05/11/2016 16:25

Posie we don't pay 2 lots of CT. It's not a separate dwelling as its hooked up to the main house. It's also quite close to the main house.

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PosiePootlePerkins · 05/11/2016 16:26

Bowies thank you for sharing your story. That is very helpful. I am so pleased someone who understands has posted, I just think if we can get through all the legalities etc it could be the perfect solution.

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BowiesBlueEye · 05/11/2016 16:29

We went to a solicitor. Explained the situation and they drafted an agreement for us which we signed. We also had to amend wills.

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atticusclaw2 · 05/11/2016 16:30

Having the annex links to the main house utilities makes no difference to the Council tax issue.

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/435664/Council_Tax_Bands_and_Annexes.pdf

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BowiesBlueEye · 05/11/2016 16:32

We had someone from building control and the council out to look at the cabin and the council agreed that we only need to pay one lot of CT.

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BowiesBlueEye · 05/11/2016 16:36

That link is interesting though and I have no idea why we are exempt then? The company who built the annexe also told us we wouldn't pay extra.

I'm wondering if it's because it's a flat pack building?

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FATEdestiny · 05/11/2016 16:47

My brother has a granny annex for his PIL. They wanted a seperate building (they have plenty of land) but this was refused on drive access basis. While they agreed that the annex would use the same driveway and access as the main house, planners argued that once built it might be feasible in the future to apply for a seperate driveway and then on from that to cleave the oropery into two seperate dwellings. On this basis, given they are admenent the plot may never be cleaved in two and have seperate road acesss, they insisted that the annex was joined.

My brother then submitted plans for a building joined to there's by an orangry/glass walkway structure. So it was joined, but sort of seperate too. This was also declined and they were told in no uncertain terms that they may build an "extension" to house her parents, but it must have an internal door and be fully part of the main house.

So this is what they have. They do lock the internal door though. PIL have a seperate external door but all utilities are shared.

Further down the line, the property could be rejigged to make it one large property rather than with an annex. It would take some building work though because of doubled up kitchens, bathrooms etc.

Consider inheritance. My SIL (brothers wide, who's parents live in the annex) had a sister. PIL paid for the extension/annex on brothers house. So I do wonder how SILs sister must feel about the fact that all of the inheritance that was in her parents propery now wholly belongs to my brother and his wife.

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atticusclaw2 · 05/11/2016 17:18

Bowies it might be that yours is considered a temporary structure?

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PosiePootlePerkins · 05/11/2016 19:57

Thank you for further replies. FATE do you mean that your brother's property would have had enough space to create a separate driveway for the annex? Our garden only has access by two narrow paths, one either side of the house, and we have neighbouring houses and gardens either side and behind, so there's no possibility of creating a separate driveway. Thanks for the info.

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FATEdestiny · 05/11/2016 21:50

do you mean that your brother's property would have had enough space to create a separate driveway for the annex?

Yes. They have several acres but the edge of the land runs beside a major A-Road. Planners won't allow another driveway off the a-road either now or even as a potential in the future.

Even though they had no plans for a seperate driveway, planners wouldn't allow a seperate building on the basis that future owners of the house could potentially apply for a seperate driveway and planners wanted to remove that possibility.

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PosiePootlePerkins · 05/11/2016 21:56

Ah I see thanks for explainingSmile. Goodness its all a bit of a minefield! I have a lot of researching to do.

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FATEdestiny · 05/11/2016 22:10

I don't know if you are planning a perminant and seperate structure, but if you are you have to consider what future owners of the property could do. When there are seperate buildings with seperate utilities you face the potential issue of dividing the land and it being sold as two properties.

Some local authorities may actively encourage this, if they have lack of housing issues in the area for example. Other local authorities may be absolutely dead against this.

Our local planning office are really helpful. If you actually take the time to make a (free of chrage) appointment and talk through your ideas, they are very helpful with suggestions.

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