Granny flats are small living quarters usually installed in the backyards of residential homes. They are separate dwellings for in-laws, live-in nannies, or elderly relatives.
Sometimes a granny flat is constructed on the property like a shed, which means it is a permanent structure that cannot be moved. However, there are a growing number of property owners installing transportable granny flats on their properties. These are factory-made dwellings that can be transported on a flatbed tow truck and delivered to a property.
A transportable granny flat is the most affordable option because it is manufactured in a factory. You do not have to pay construction workers or worry about a costly construction process. Plus, you can easily move the granny flat to a new property if you ever relocate in the future.
Preparing to Relocate a Granny Flat
Relocating a granny flat does require some preparation first. You cannot just call a tilt tray truck operator to transport your granny flat whenever you feel like it. Instead, you need to seek the proper approval from the Local Council and plot the route carefully.
Seek Transportation Permits
A granny flat may be a small dwelling, but it is considered an oversized load when you are transporting it on a truck. For this reason, you must seek permission from your Local Road Authority before attempting to transport the granny flat.
The Local Road Authority will give you a list of requirements and instructions to fulfill as part of the approval process. If you can fulfill all the requirements, the Local Road Authority will issue the necessary permits for permission to move the granny flat.
Create Drawings and Planning Documents
The Local Council will want you to submit drawings and planning documents regarding the granny flat you want to place into your property. The planning documents must include specific information about the dwelling, such as its exact positioning, stump heights, foundations, and other elements you need to attach to it.
You may need to contact an architectural agency or professional construction company for assistance in preparing the drawings and planning documents.
Plotting the Destination Route
The planning documents must include a plot of the entire route from the starting point to the final destination. It needs to be a specific route detailing every road and street the granny flat will travel on.
In some cases, the Local Road Authority may need to initiate traffic control measures if there are bridges, road maintenance, trees, or other potential dangers on the planned route. You can expect additional fees to be charged if extra complications like these arise.
The Local Council Approval Process
Similar rules and regulations from your Local Council govern granny flats and other mobile dwellings. Local councils don’t often classify granny flats as buildings because they are transportable dwellings. Therefore, a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) won’t approve your request to transport the flat.
You should also be aware that some Local Councils don’t accept transportable dwellings in their jurisdictions, especially in locations with frequent bad weather conditions. So it would be wise to contact your Local Council before investing in a granny flat. Then you can have a better understanding of their requirements and regulations.
Here are some examples of approval requirements in various jurisdictions across Australia:
- New South Wales requires you to submit a Section 68 Application to the Local Council for approval.
- Your request will get denied if the Local Council or neighbouring property owners object to the installation or transportation of your granny flat.
- No building permit or BASIX certificate is required under Section 68.
- You must comply with standards and requirements set by the Building Code of Australia regarding sewerage, drainage, and foundations.
- There is usually a time limit for how long someone can live in the granny flat. The usual maximum time limit is six months.
- The Local Council can forcibly demolish or remove the granny flat from your property if you exceed the time limit.
- You can request approval from the Local Council to consider your transportable granny flat a permanent dwelling rather than a temporary one. But to get this approval, the granny flat needs to be a fixed structure on the ground with traditional utility connections and additions, such as electrical wiring, water pipes, footings, and more.
Keep in mind that not all Local Councils have these requirements. That is why you should contact your Local Council and request a list of requirements for transporting and residing in granny flats.
Moving the Granny Flat
If the Local Road Authority has approved your plans to transport your granny flat, the next step is to prepare the land at the destination site. As a result, you or another company in the area must prepare the foundation, power connection, water connection, sewer connection, and footings before the granny flat arrives. Then it won’t take long to connect the granny flat to the foundation and utilities after its arrival.
When you hire a professional towing company, the towing operators will secure the granny flat to the tilt tray truck to keep it safe and secure during transit. The company’s transportation costs will depend on the dimensions of your granny flat (height & width), the weight of the granny flat, the ease of access to the destination site, and the distance from the starting point to the destination.
Conclusion
It is always cheaper to transport a granny flat to a property than to build a new one. So you could save thousands of dollars by not paying any construction costs. And if you want to turn your transportable granny flat into a permanent dwelling after it arrives on the property, you may be able to do so if the Local Council allows it.
Make sure you do your research beforehand to avoid any surprises. This is a very basic guide that has been created from online references and the information can differ in different locations. In most cases the company selling the granny flat and the transportation company will handle the requirements and this can be used as a guide for your information
