Matters of Interest

Granny Flats

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:24): I rise to speak about the dwelling or flat often referred to as the granny flat at a time when so many people are struggling to find somewhere to live. Most South Australians are conscious of the massive housing shortage and the granny flat has the potential to provide affordable housing in a quicker timeframe than other solutions.

A granny flat is generally a one-bedroom living space. Interestingly, there has been a significant change in the proportion of one-bedroom dwellings that have been rented in Adelaide. In 2021, one-bedroom flats and apartments made up 40 per cent of the rental market; however, in the first quarter of 2024, 81 per cent of dwellings rented in the suburb of Adelaide were one bedroom.

PropTrack data in 2024 shows that available rental properties under $400 per week have halved since April 2023. The average rent for a granny flat is likely to be around $400 or less per week and has the potential to increase the number of rental properties available in this price range, which data indicates has reduced by 50 per cent since 2023.

In the past, many councils have consistently added restrictions to development approval for granny flats by stipulating that kitchens and laundries need to be shared with the main house. This has prevented property owners from renting out granny flats to non-family members. In October 2023, the Labor Malinauskas government announced changes to help in this space by giving greater powers to councils to approve self-contained accommodation by removing technical definitions and reducing red tape.

In fact, Labor is doing much more than removing the red tape and improving the planning and approval process for granny flats. Apart from granny flats being a potential quick fix to diversify the affordable housing market, our government is looking at a new trial scheme which is developing a concept of co-located homes on the same block. Currently, planning laws do not allow multiple households to occupy a single block, so existing homes with large, established trees and gardens are being bulldozed for subdivision.

The draft code trials will take place in well-established areas such as Unley, Burnside and Prospect. Larger homes in these suburbs could be expanded to become three homes with a shared garden for three households who want to downsize and remain in the same area. This concept and trial is building on what we know as the granny flat, which has a long history in many parts of the world albeit under different names and contexts. Throughout Asia, the historical evolution of granny flats reflects a cultural emphasis on the extended family living together. Such dwellings provide an opportunity for ageing relatives or adult children to remain in the community they want to live in.

Research tells us that where and how we live impacts on our wellbeing, sense of community and belonging. Both the granny flat and Labor's co-located housing trial can reduce the strain on infrastructure, health care and social and community services. Both can contribute to how our city manages the future of urban sprawl.

None of us want to walk along our streets and see people curled up and sleeping on pavements, nor do we want our children or elderly relatives struggling to find a home. While we wait for more affordable homes to be built, Labor's plan to change the code so that a granny flat can be a fully self-contained place to live means that property owners could rent their granny flat to whoever they want and, by doing so, they will be contributing to our stock of available housing.