Where to start?
October 11, 2023
The process isn't as overwhelming as it seems, because we do it for you!
So you’ve received your 21-step checklist for building a granny flat
and now you’re wondering what next? We know that it can seem so overwhelming, especially the planning stage as there are many moving parts to coordinate a building approval, which is why we’ve tried to explain it by breaking it down into manageable steps.
In order to quote effectively, we do require your current plans from council. This step is crucial to move forward and obtain exact pricing as it allows us to work with the draftsperson to create a space specific to your block and will tell us pretty quickly how large we can make the dwelling based on your boundary and house set-backs. The plans will also indicate if there are easements we need to address when drafting a concept plan of the granny flat. Whilst it may seem inconvenient to outlay $500 to get your plans, the reality is they are needed, and it will prevent any costly design errors when drafting plans on the fly!
In our experience, we have found that there are two types of property buyers; the first finds a property falls in love, and wants to put an offer in but has no idea of their borrowing capacity, so hits a snag and can’t move forward – or they want a granny flat and would like to start next week. The other type has been working towards their vision and has a finance pre-approval formalised, some clients might even have plans and maybe even an approval ready to go, but otherwise are ‘ready to cut ground’ and they need a builder. We are able to work with either buyer type, but to the former type, we would strongly encourage you to work with a broker at this point so you understand your budget. This crucial bit of information will allow us to create a design that is the right size and specification to suit your budget.
So, you're ready to build. Maybe it's a Granny Flat for Mum, a teenager retreat, or a smart way to boost your property value. But before the dream takes shape, there's the not-so-glamorous hurdle of building approvals. We hear this question all the time from families across the South East Queensland: "How do I get building approval quickly and without all the runaround?" We've helped countless Queensland families cut through the red tape and get their Granny Flat projects moving faster. Here are our top tips to avoid lengthy approvals and start building sooner. First things first – the aim is to qualify as a Secondary Dwelling. We'll share how you can do this below, and knowing these secrets is where you're going to save both time and money! Secondary Dwelling Code: Your Fast-Track to Approval By following a few simple rules, you'll be able to have a Private Certifier approve your Granny Flat instead of your local council. This isn't just a faster turnaround time – it can also save you thousands of dollars. Even better, if you're adding a Granny Flat for additional income, you'll start seeing a return on your investment much sooner. Why Avoid Development Applications? All councils, including the City of Gold Coast, follow a standardised development assessment process guided by the Planning Act 2016 and the Development Assessment Rules. This process involves several lengthy stages, including application, referral, information requests and then finally the decision from Council. Fortunately, the City Plan supports secondary dwellings, therefore if you have followed the requirements and provided the necessary documents, in most cases you will get approval. This is however where you'll spend months waiting and where possible, want to avoid. Our Top Tips for Qualifying Under the Secondary Dwelling Code Here's how to stay within the rules and fast-track your approval: Stay Off the Boundaries There are minimum distances that secondary dwellings must be built from your boundary lines. Knowing what these are and building within those requirements will save you significant time when it comes to approvals – and determines which approval pathway you'll need to take. Stay Under 80m² - size matters There are a few variations, but keeping your Granny Flat under 80m² on the Gold Coast will mean you'll be eligible to classify it as a Secondary Dwelling, which means faster approvals and lower costs. Note: Each council varies slightly on sizing, just contact us to find out more. Build Within the Correct Zones For most areas, your Granny Flat needs to be built within a specific distance of your main property. On the Gold Coast it's 20 metres for a rural property, or 10 metres from eave to eave on a low/medium density home, but again this can vary depending on which council area you're in. Building your Granny Flat within these requirements can again avoid delays. These requirements will be available from your local council and providing you abide by the zoning regulations; you can proceed under the Secondary Dwelling pathway. The Bottom Line If you go outside these rules, the council gets involved as your project becomes "code assessable" and a Development Application will need to be lodged. This means months of waiting and thousands in additional costs. Stay within these simple guidelines and you can obtain Secondary Dwelling Code approval via a Private Certifier – meaning no council delays, faster approvals, and money saved. The best part? We've already decoded this process for you. Ready to build your Granny Flat smarter, not harder? Contact us today and discover how our proven process can get your project approved quickly and built to the highest standards. Let us help turn your vision into reality!
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