DS wants to live in the garage...

[Lowerechelons]

Currently I live in a far to big for me family home which was fully renovated when we moved in, more than 20 years ago and now needs doing again, with adult 2 DSs. They're pretty good at "helping" but the responsibility is mine and I find it overwhelming.

A perfect new build bungalow is going up round the corner. Really well laid out living space and two big double bedrooms, one with ensuite. Small garden, drive and garage.

It would be perfect for me on my own and would work well enough for me and DS2. DS1 (nearly 24) should really have moved out,but it's not so easily for young people blah blah. Anyway, he's said he'll convert/live in the garage, until he can do something on his own.

How practical is that as an idea?

Is the garden big enough for a glamping pod. Or a summer house/garden room.

It depends on a few things. How much would a conversion cost? Might that money be better spent on a deposit for a flat? Where do you live? How far would the conversion money go in terms of a depositon a flat?

Here in Scotland, unless he is happy to freeze, it would take a lot of insulating and a very robust heating solution to make a garage warm enough for winter.

Are you putting in a bathroom? That would make it a lot more expensive, but night time traipse in for a pee through the snow would be such a pain. Would a loft conversion work better?

Why can't he and gf rent like other grown ups?

Not really, these kinds of properties don't come up round here very often and the whole point is I'm future proofing.

Because they're saving for a deposit. They would if they had to, but it seems daft if they don't.

To add to my previous post, I’m fairly certain that if my DD (19) had the choice between having a garage conversion paid for or getting £10K in cash for a future deposit while she camps out, she’d take the cash and invest it. She loves seeing her money grow. 😂

So you are still responsible for cleaning etc? Not a chance.

Let him buy on his own.

Are you going to really accept DS2 moving out ever if he has fragile MH? If not, why think about having deposit for him.

I'm hoping his MH will improve. It's all around a series of traumatic events that happened a couple of years ago.

TBH, DS1 can be untidy, but he's pretty useful around the house. He's cleaned the bathroom, done the food shop and done some heavy work in the garden today.

You would for it to be legal.

You could buy a small caravan and put it on the driveway. Might work out cheaper and you sell it when he moves. That way would come kitted out

That almost certainly would fall foul of the covenants and neighbours would be complaining left right and centre. Hence glorified garden shed is the answer, well hidden, more privacy.

Look at ads for caravans on eBay or gumtrree

I think because it’s detached it would need planning permission as there are strict rules about outbuildings being used to sleep in over night? If it was attached, it would be a straight forward conversion.

Sounds as though down sizing may be what you want, but you still need a 3 bed.

Garage conversion is 15-20k.

Are people who let their adult kids live at home not worried that they’re missing out on the best years of their lives house sharing and being independent? I didn’t have a penny to my name by age 30 but I have amazing memories from my 20s. Buying a house isn’t everything. Kick him out.

You can't just let someone live in a shed in your garden!! It needs to meet building regs and planning too.

The neighbours will grass you up id they realise someone is living there.

If it is a new build, check if there are any covenants attached. Some prohibited garage habitation.

Check out planning requirements and do the best job you can on converting (if it's allowed), including bathroom and kitchen facilities, then after a couple of years when he moves on it could be available for your younger son providing him with some independence while still being supported for his mental health.

But that poster is saying it'll cost the same. For the conversation or X number if years in a house share. So either way he won't be saving. He's 24, why hasn't he saved already?

Do you actually want him to move out or not OP? Your post sounds conflicted.

Static and touring caravans are usually allowed if they are occupied by a member of the family and within the domestic boundaries
Garage conversions to form an annexe occupied by a member of the family are easy to get planning for and when he moves out you can Airbnb it.
If the plumbing and drains are in the right places and it’s built to the correct standards it won’t be too difficult a job. But it probably would cost 15-20k. If your son was happy to do some of the basic work the cost could drop significantly

I want to move to a more managable house. I'm not desperate to be rid of him at all, he's a joy to have around, but I recognise it's probably time.

Both boys lost their Dad, just as they were leaving school. It's had a big impact on them and caused an interruption in their education and in their early careers. It probably also meant I wasn't present for them as much as a I should have been when they were making some big decisions.

I wouldn't convert a detached garage in a new build.
DS1 seems as though he is in a settled relationship and eager for his own space. Sell yours, give DS1 the £15k for a deposit on his own place then worry about DS2 later down the line.

Yes, but £15k won't touch the sides in terms of a deposit round here, and they'll need much more than 10% to make the mortgage affordable. A one bed flat in a council block is about £250k.