Grannies go west

The role of granny flats to house more Queenslanders

One company in Ipswich, one of the fastest growing areas in southeast Queensland, has seen a surge in the popularity of granny flats since the pandemic.

Building a granny flat or a secondary dwelling on a property has become common in an area traditionally renowned for its Queenslander style homes and historic single dwelling buildings.

Granny flats in high demand in Ipswich

Sonia Woolley, an Ipswich local and director of Vision Granny Flats says that since recent legislation changes, enquiries for new build granny flats have soared.

“I now get anywhere between 5 to 10 inquiries a day from people outside of the major cities wanting to build and live in a granny flat in Ipswich. Up until this point in time you could only build a granny flat for an immediate family member. So that's made a big difference to this area,” Sonia said.

“Whether you have or haven’t built before, building a granny flat can be a daunting process. I bought my first house at 20 and I'm now 61, so there's not much I haven't done in between.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you learn by mistakes and experience. I ultimately wanted to be the font of all knowledge for granny flats in every shire council in southeast Queensland.”

How can granny flats keep Queenslanders connected to their community?

After being made redundant, Tracey Walton found herself unable to find suitable housing that accommodated her disability.

“I was trying to find a space that was easy to maintain. At first, I was worried how I was going to downsize into a granny flat but as I was getting older, I really needed a space that was easy to clean and didn’t have any stairs.  So, a granny flat was perfect for me,” Tracey said.

“When you live alone in a smaller space and have a disability, community is crucial.”

For Tracey, granny flat living is an affordable option to be able to stay in an area she is comfortable in.

“Even though I’ve lived in a few different places, I keep coming back to Ipswich,” she said.

“I have a good community of friends and family here, and as someone who lives alone that’s important.  I spend less time maintaining a large house and more time socializing with friends.”

Investment interest rising in granny flats

Sydneysider Paul Dwyer recently invested in multiple secondary dwellings in Ipswich, a region which has seen a major change and growth in residential, industrial, and commercial developments.

He says that granny flats, have proven to be worthwhile investments, yielding high returns.

“Firstly, they can provide additional living space without the need for building or buying a larger home. Secondly, they can be rented out or used as a guest house for family and friends. This way, they can generate income for the homeowner as well,” Paul said.

Paul says granny flats in Ipswich are also great for multigenerational families.

“They can provide a comfortable living space for elderly parents, adult children or even extended family members. This allows families to stay together while maintaining their privacy,” he said.

Overall, building a granny flat in Ipswich can be a great investment for homeowners and investors. With the right planning and execution, building a granny flat can be a smart investment while adding housing diversity options for the ever-growing area of Ipswich.