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Original poster

Would you buy a house with an 'annex' in the garden?

136 replies

Dailyhandtowelwash · 01/02/2021 17:02

We have a four bedroom house but one bedroom is really small. We've been looking at options and decided to move, but looking at the market we'll be paying moving costs and stamp duty etc for just a slightly larger fourth bedroom, and probably have to do work to the rest of the house to get it the way we'd like.

We've got a big enough garden to have a garden room at a little distance from the house, and had been thinking of one but we are OK for living space. I've found a company that for less than it would cost us to move does fully liveable garden rooms, including sorting out the planning for you. It would be ideal for us with a child about to go to university so very happy to have a space to chill with their own bathroom.

But would you buy a house with this as a 'fifth bedroom'? Or would it put you off?

OP posts:

Dogonahottinroof · 02/02/2021 18:19

@CaffineismyBFF

I should also say if you find a good builder, you actually won't need to go through planning as there are ways to get round it with 6ft rule (you'll need a builder to explain it!). If you plan on having water running to the annexe then it may impact your council tax band. Gas definitely will.

Depends where you live Conservation area? National Park?

We can't put anything with a toilet or kitchen up here- you need planning for everything but don't get it if there is a toilet or kitchen.

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 02/02/2021 18:27

As a guest room / office / Uni-Based-teen room / theatrical digs or midweek pied-de-terre rental it would be a huge plus for me!

As long as there was enough remaining garden.

crazylikechocolate · 02/02/2021 18:39

I developed a property a couple of years ago with a large detached annex in the garden, 2 rooms plus a full bathroom , a modern converted brick built building with planning permission and building regs , the garden was landscaped and it sat well in it , when I sold it I was inundated with prospective purchasers who wanted because of the annex for a variety of purposes , granny annex, oldest child annex, Airbnb, gym , home office , artists studio , it was a great space and very versatile.
Make sure it's as big as you can go and fully documented works and you cannot go wrong

BeyondMyWits · 02/02/2021 18:43

Brick built, insulated, permanent structure, yes, would be interested as a buyer. Wooden built - glorified shed... no.

Fivepoundcraziness · 03/02/2021 07:55

We are not allowed a kitchen around here either. As it's a granny annexe it doesn't really need a full one and we got round it but putting in a freestanding dresser base as a work surface with a small fridge hidden inside one of the cupboards. There is a kettle, toaster and microwave on the top and all the mugs, plates etc are kept in the dresser base or on the shelves above. Breakfast is easily made as is sandwich or soup lunches. Dinner is had by guests in the main house with us. No issues when selling as there is no real kitchen there once furniture is removed.

TastyTicklemore · 03/02/2021 12:46

I just read something talking about how houses with seperate living/garden rooms are set to go up in value - as people look for properties where they can have an office that isn't right in the home. Demand for this is likely to go up (so they said).

Itsokthanks · 03/02/2021 12:51

Yes, I think it would be a selling point.

fungster · 03/02/2021 12:57

I would love to have that! Beer room, granny annex...what's not to love?

nordica · 03/02/2021 12:57

Yes absolutely but it depends entirely on your (the buyer's) lifestyle...

If it's needed as a bedroom for a child, then it's not idea. For an older child or even as a "granny annexe" perfect though. For someone working from home making it into a home office would be great, or for someone who has a private practice or work room as a counsellor/massage therapist/hairdresser/artist etc. it would be ideal. Or as a guest room, space for someone who fosters cats, plays a musical instrument etc. also a major selling point - I'd love a house that had this.

RoseMartha · 03/02/2021 13:06

Yes if i liked it

Original poster

Dailyhandtowelwash · 03/02/2021 13:39

@nordica

Yes absolutely but it depends entirely on your (the buyer's) lifestyle...

This is a good point as we only need it because we've got four kids over a wide age range. People with a more normal number, or with less spaced children, could fit everyone into the house without an issue. So my worry is how many people want a room with a bathroom in their garden. But this thread suggests quite a lot of people - I suppose it would work for a nanny or au pair quite well. The garden is up some steepish stairs so it's unlikely to feel suitable for anyone with mobility issues.

OP posts:

RealisticSketch · 03/02/2021 15:16

Fantastic, I would love it. Also in future it would be ace for any guests who might come a long way so need to stay for more than a night or two. I have friends and family all over the place and when they come to stay they come for a while, a separate guest annex like this would be awesome for those visits.

lovemirage · 03/02/2021 16:55

Near us there is one house on market with garden room. The house is same size as ours and initially they asked £120k more for it. It didn't sell and they have reduced the price twice. The garden wasn't that big in the beginning and now it's really small.

BackforGood · 03/02/2021 20:24

@BeyondMyWits

Brick built, insulated, permanent structure, yes, would be interested as a buyer. Wooden built - glorified shed... no.

This is how I feel

I can't help feeling that these glorified sheds are going to go the way of conservatories. People like the idea of 'extra space' but the practicalities of keeping a wooden shed warm and dry through British Winters doesn't sound very economical to me.

JanewaysBun · 04/02/2021 10:37

I'm in London. I've been viewing some places with a shed like this, I absolutely wouldn't pay extra for it as I would only really store crap in it and when it's situated in a tiny garden I have to factor in the cost of removing it.

If you have a massive garden then I suppose crack on but I would not pay an inflated price for it

JanewaysBun · 04/02/2021 10:38

Also please don't make an aupair live in a shed! Brick built annex sure but please don't stick her in a shed!!

MaryIsA · 04/02/2021 11:42

We viewed one like this - but it was a brick built annex. They had thought really carefully about the path between it and the house, it was all beautifully lit , had an en suite and a small kitchen in the living/bedroom. It was basically a bed sit and had a bed built into the wall that you brought down.

It was a brilliant addition to the house.

steppemum · 04/02/2021 11:46

There are quite a few of these on my street as the gardens are very long!

They are used as:

bar
garden room
granny annexe (at least 3 of those, but they are brick built)
teens den/game room
home office

They are very popular, our house would be tricky to extend, and is quite big, and I would love to build something at the end of the garden, my own retreat!

Moneyfornothingkerbsforfree · 04/02/2021 11:49

If it’s got a kitchen pretty sure you would have to pay council tax so check first.

wifterwafter · 04/02/2021 11:54

@Dailyhandtowelwash we are considering this when we I've to our new house. Please can you let me know the company you've contacted? I'd be interested to contact them myself for advice. Thanks

Original poster

Dailyhandtowelwash · 04/02/2021 18:55

It's not a shed, is it? It would be required to meet all building regulations and is fully insulated, with loads of natural light. Plenty of people round the world live in insulated wooden buildings!

OP posts:

PeachPiePip · 04/02/2021 19:08

I was very tempted by a beautiful house that had an amazing party barn in the garden. They’d decorated it beautifully with a big l-shaped sofa, mini kitchen and huge wall-mounted tv. The plot was on a busy A-road though. I saw sense and didn’t buy the house, but it was a wow factor. I wouldn’t count it as another bedroom, but it’s definitely a big lifestyle win for prospective buyers, especially now so many can work from home

Dogonahottinroof · 04/02/2021 21:01

@Dailyhandtowelwash

It's not a shed, is it? It would be required to meet all building regulations and is fully insulated, with loads of natural light. Plenty of people round the world live in insulated wooden buildings!

Its a shed

To get something that wasn't requires:

Fresh water connection and sewage disposal
Electricity (and ideally gas)
Central heating
Double glazed windows
Substantial roof (not felted)

AnotherEmma · 04/02/2021 21:04

Why gas? No need for gas and central heating. Electric radiators are perfectly fine, you can get good ones with timers.

AnotherEmma · 04/02/2021 21:06

Although if I was building from scratch I'd probably get a heat/cool system as air con would be ideal in summer

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