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In December 2023, new rules were introduced in Victoria that allow you to build a small, private secondary dwelling or 'granny flat' on your property without a planning permit.
This decision has been warmly welcomed by the community, as interest rates surge, house prices creep back up, and the state experiences a rental crisis.
But, before you get too excited, here are four key things to consider when contemplating the construction of a secondary dwelling – and the key reasons Almighty Tiny Homes would be the perfect fit.
1. The size
A ‘small second home’ is defined as a dwelling that is 60 square meters or less, on a lot of 300sqm or more, where there is no flooding, environmental, or other special planning controls. The dwelling must also be under five metres in height.
More information can be found on the Victorian State Government website.
Almighty Tiny Homes offers various sizes of homes, all of which fall well within the secondary dwelling size guidelines. Our largest home covers an area of 36 square metres and includes space-saving furniture such as two 2-seater dining room chairs with table, and a foldaway double bed. The homes also feature a kitchen, shelving, storage, and a modular bathroom, which can be attached externally to create extra space, and cladded with Colorbond to perfectly match the external aesthetics of your Almighty Tiny Home. Although smaller than a traditional granny flat, these cost-effective Almighty Tiny Homes have all the space, comfort, and facilities needed to live well and feel truly at home.
2. The purpose
The additional dwelling must not be commercial in nature.
However, anyone is allowed to live in the building. Families may want to rent it out to their children as a first step to independence or use it to accommodate an elderly relative who may need their loved ones nearby. The home can also be rented out to friends or even students – a great scheme for any first home buyer wanting to pay off their mortgage quicker.
Almighty Tiny Homes are suitable for anyone seeking an affordable or practical accommodation solution. Our homes can also be custom-built for people living with a disability – for example, we can install ramp access for people who use wheelchairs and apply electronic controls to help with the safe manoeuvring of our space-saving furniture in and out of storage.
Furthermore, our homes are portable – they come ready built, so you don’t need to worry about construction complaints coming from the neighbours! And with their modular functionality, you have the flexibility to expand, providing total size does not exceed 60 square metres.
If you do not require extra accommodation on your property, then why not plan a second building for your home office, a hobby workstation, or even a home gym? So long as its use is not commercial, there are many ways you can utilise your Almighty Tiny Home.
3. The permissions
Under the new rules, you can now avoid liaisons with local Council, with planning permits no longer required. However, if you do want a second dwelling on your land, then you will still need to acquire a building permit to meet siting, amenity, design, and safety requirements. For this, you’ll need to firstly appoint a registered building surveyor, through whom you can then apply for your permit. More information can be found on the Victorian Building Authority website.
4.The small print
In addition to the requirements mentioned above, any secondary building must be self-contained, requiring some kind of kitchen and bathroom. And there can only be one secondary home on a lot.
All Almighty Tiny Homes come equipped with a kitchen and bathroom, whereby the latter can be attached externally, creating an additional 1.2 metres of space inside your home. And although you will not be able to place a second dwelling on your property, if you do need more space, you’ll be able to expand your Almighty Tiny Home thanks to its modular design – providing you remain within the 60 square metre size limits.
All Almighty Tiny Homes are built using high-quality materials, and are trade constructed to the highest building code. They also come with certified plumbing and electricity ready for on-site connection to your water and electricity supplies, by your qualified tradespeople– noting that the Victorian Government does not permit any secondary home to be connected to a reticulated natural gas supply, in line with its plans to phase out new residential gas connections.
If you’re keen to talk through your options, feel free to call for a friendly chat, or to book a time to see one of our Mighty Tiny Homes. .
View the Almighty Tiny Homes range
here.