Tasmania is about to shake things up with a big change to its granny flat size rules, giving homeowners more freedom to create affordable housing options. Under the new proposal, the state will increase the maximum size of backyard homes from 60 square metres to 90 square metres. This may seem like a small shift, but it could make a big difference in addressing the growing housing shortage and the need for more rental properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tasmania has long struggled with one of the lowest rental vacancy rates in the country, which has now dropped to an alarmingly low 0.3%. With demand for affordable housing continuing to outpace supply, the state government is looking at ways to make better use of existing land. According to Kerry Vincent, Tasmania’s Minister for Housing and Planning, the change to granny flat sizes is just one step in a broader plan to increase housing options and diversify the state\u2019s housing stock. By increasing the size limit for second dwellings like granny flats, the state hopes to provide more one- and two-bedroom homes to meet the demand for affordable accommodation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Currently, many backyard granny flats can only accommodate a single bedroom due to space restrictions. With the size limit raised, it\u2019s expected that two-bedroom granny flats will become more common, giving families or individuals more livable space at a fraction of the cost of buying or renting a traditional home, explains Yahoo Finance<\/a>. This simple change could be a game-changer for homeowners looking to add extra living space or generate rental income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n