Multiple Generations, One House

You may have heard people talking about building a “granny flat”. What most people mean by that is a separate living unit located either above the garage or behind the house. It’s called a granny flat because the original purpose was to create a space for elderly parents to live in.

This unit, which the City of San Diego refers to as a “companion unit”, has a separate entrance and would include a place to sleep and sometimes a sitting area; a bathroom with tub or shower; and some kind of kitchen facility-often just a sink and microwave, although it could include a small-size range for cooking.

Unfortunately, the City isn’t a big fan of granny flat construction, essentially a second dwelling unit on a lot which is zoned for only one. Obtaining a permit to build one is difficult in the Clairemont area. While it is possible to get this permission, the restrictions involved discourage it. There are restrictions on the size of the unit, who may occupy it, what parking must be provided and more.

What many families are doing instead is creating a semi-separate living suite for the grandparents as an addition to, or reconfiguration of, the existing home. Most often, this new “granny suite” is created by adding a new second story with a master bedroom and bath suite, and sometimes bedrooms and a bath for the kids. The existing bedrooms downstairs are remodeled into a bedroom, bath and sitting room for the older generation. The whole family shares the kitchen and family room. This is common in Clairemont and we have built several over the last few years.

When designing a remodeling project of this type, don’t forget to make the “granny suite” handicap accessible. Even if the older folks don’t need the assistance now, it’s likely they will at some point. Installing some attractive grab bars, designing the doorways and halls to be wide enough to accommodate walking aids, and considering the eye level of someone in a wheelchair when placing windows are all examples of subtle ways to make the area comfortable for mobility-challenged occupants.

There are many benefits to creating a granny suite instead of a granny flat. Remodeling an existing building is most often less expensive than building a new one and it most certainly is easier to obtain a permit for. With careful planning, the granny suite can provide the privacy everyone wants without isolating anyone from the day-to-day family activities.

From a financial standpoint, building a granny suite can offer special benefit also. Typically both the older and younger generations already own homes, and by consolidating the real estate equity from two homes into one, are often able to pay for the remodeling without borrowing. A financial planner or real estate attorney should be consulted to see what, if any, changes should be made to the legal ownership of the jointly-occupied home as well.

A granny suite offers special benefits to the family outside of financial considerations. The peace of mind that comes from knowing your elderly parents are safe, the joy of grandparents getting to see the kids everyday, the lifelong memories the kids will have of those times with the whole family together-these are the benefits you can’t attach a monetary value to.

Tags: clairemont builder, granny flat clairemont, granny flat remodel, room addition in san diego, san diego remodelers