The greatest gift you can give your parents is…
their very own granny flat.
It is textbook to say that a Granny Flat is a self-contained living area or unit, usually located on the same property as a larger house. And it’s also a popular way to take care of your ageing parents.
In reality, a granny flat is a short stroll to a cuppa and a big hug. In our busy lives, this proximately makes it much easier to give your parents your time, attention and care.
For some of us, our children will get to hangout more with our parents, and of course, for you as well. Above all else you will have greater peace of mind knowing that your parents are close, living independently and as privately as possible. And you are nearby to help as required.
People choose to build Granny Flats NZ for many reasons. Some for their peace of mind while others are used for older teenage kids as a stepping-stone to full independence. Some are used as backyard entertaining hubs. Still others are rented out as a secondary income. Even when not in use, having a Granny Flat can be a good selling point and increase the value of your home to potential buyers.
In previous years, building Granny Flats NZ either involved an extension to the main home or building a separate structure in the backyard with full plumbing and electrical. This is still an option, albeit an expensive one.
It does not have to be this way. Modern Granny Flats NZ can be a fully portable standalone unit, pre-built in a factory with no site earthworks, electrical or plumbing work required. These portable units can have full kitchen and bathroom facilities and can run off the power and water supply of the main house.
Going one step further, portable Granny Flats NZ can have solar power, composting toilets, rainwater collection, and can even be built on a trailer, making them 100% transportable and eco-friendly. As an added benefit, if your Granny Flat is built on a trailer, it is legally considered the same as a caravan and doesn’t fall under the New Zealand Building Code. This way, you avoid some of the extra rules, regulations, and red tape in having a second dwelling on your property (having said this, we always recommend you get in touch with your local council first, as councils can vary wildly in how they apply the regulations).
Our smallest option for Granny Flats NZ starts at just $62,990 and includes kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom spaces. All our Granny Flats NZ are finished with top-quality materials inside and out, including beautiful kitchen benches, LED downlights, modern standard toilets, timber subfloors, and fully insulated.
At Absolute Tiny Houses NZ, we do have pre-configured options to choose from, but all granny flat designs are fully customisable. This is especially useful for elderly people who may have mobility issues. This could include design considerations such as wider doorways and hallways, appropriate placed grab rails, appropriate shower trays, appropriate bench and stove heights. We can help you with your deck and ramps. We will work with you to ensure your needs are meet.
Our self-contained Granny Flats NZ are designed to be fully transportable, and you have the option of building on a warranted and registered tandem axle trailer for the ultimate in portability. What’s more, you can choose a solar off-grid setup, rainwater tank, grey water filtration system, and composting toilet for the ultimate eco-friendly alternative.
One of the big advantageous of a fully portable granny flat, when it is no longer required, you can sell it and gain your backyard back.
Absolute Tiny Houses NZ has a comprehensive range of Granny Flat designs that are fully customisable to suit any need or situation. Whether it’s for an ageing family member, brooding teenager, or raucous house guests, we can set you up with a bespoke Granny Flat NZ design that will keep even the most demanding occupant happy.
The options and design choices are plenty. You can choose a simple and compact one-bedroom setup, or you can step it up with extra living space, loft designs, and even have the option to have multiple bedrooms available. Or we can fully equip it for elderly living.
There is a sheer number of interior design options. Internal and external colour schemes, tapware, benchtop types, and even lighting colour are all up for grabs. And again, thanks to advancements in portable building technology, your new Granny Flat doesn’t need much plumbing and electrical work on site. Our Granny Flats for sale NZ are set up with a caravan plug and power lead, quick hose connection for water, and under-unit wastewater plumbing ready to plug in on your site.
There are a couple of ways to get started and we recommend you jot your ideas down.
Tell us:
Then give Michael a call or drop him an email. Michael is happy to have a relaxed, free and no obligation conversation with you. From there he will answer your questions and concerns and guide you as to what’s next for you.
If your building is 30sqm or less, you could fall under the ‘30m2 Building rule exceptions’. Talk to Michael about what’s involved and how he has built many homes for our customers minimising the building code red tape and other local council requirements.
If you choose our transportable Granny Flat vs one built on foundations, it is built on a warranted and registered trailer, and on build completion it is transported to your location. Thus by definition makes it a portable granny flat. Your power supply is connected via a standard caravan plug that you can plug into your home. If you set up your toilet and water systems in the same way a caravan is setup, you remain portable.
While your Granny Flat is transportable, it’s not designed to go everywhere like a caravan.
To learn more about the difference between building on foundations or on wheels, check out our blog post.
Tiny Home Living, Foundations vs. Freedom: Choose the Best for You
Yes, you can. We have several off-grid options available, including:
We have other off grid options that are customisable depending on your needs and setup. Let us know just how far off-grid you plan to be, and we will come up with the right mix of options for you.
Yes, you can. However, there is some requirements that may need to be meet for long term rentals. You will need to check these with your local council.
It takes approximately 2.5 months from build start date.
Our fixed cost build contracts start at NZ$62,990.
To get an idea of what’s available and to compare options, check out our floor plans and our view inside feature, slide the slider and toggle between standard and custom features.
Floor Plans
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