Granny flats for extra living space
Lockyer Sheds quotes and builds granny flats (secondary dwellings) for Queensland homes: extra living space for family, guests, a home office or a rental. A granny flat is a habitable home, not a shed, so it is designed and approved as one. Projects are built by our QBCC-licensed team from our Crowley Vale head office.
- Supplied and built in Queensland
Who it suits
- Ageing parents or adult children living close by
- Guest accommodation
- A separate home office or studio
- A rental on the same lot as your home
A home, not a shed
A granny flat is a secondary dwelling: a smaller home on the same lot as your main house, used with it. Because people live in it, it is designed and approved as a habitable building, with the structural, energy efficiency, fire safety and sound requirements that come with that.
Queensland's planning department states that any new secondary dwelling requires building approval, and that you need to check with your council whether a development approval is also needed. The same applies to converting an existing structure into a granny flat.
Renting it out
Since 26 September 2022, Queensland's Planning Regulation no longer restricts who can live in a secondary dwelling, so a granny flat can be rented to anyone. The approvals are still required, and the Residential Tenancies Authority notes owners must have all relevant approvals and meet smoke alarm and safety requirements before renting.
If a granny flat will be rented, additional fire and sound transmission requirements of the building code can apply. Your certifier confirms them, and we design to their advice.
Designed for your block
We plan the floor layout, the position on the lot and the connection to services with you, then prepare drawings for the certifier. Council rules on secondary dwellings differ, so the site and the planning scheme shape the design from the start.
How we deliver it
Granny flats are quoted per project and built by our team anywhere in our Queensland service area under Builtwise Group Pty Ltd's QBCC licence 15445275 (Builder – Open). Plumbing, drainage and electrical work are done by licensed trades as part of the project.
Make it yours
Options we can design in. Final specifications, colours and sizes are confirmed in your quote.
Layout
- One or two bedrooms
- Open-plan living and kitchen
- Accessible layouts on request
Outside
- Covered deck or veranda
- Carport alongside
Finish
- Cladding and roof colours to suit the main house
- Insulation and glazing to meet energy requirements
Design considerations
- Building approval is required
- Queensland's planning department states that any new secondary dwelling will require building approval, and that councils have different rules, so check with yours about development approval.
- Rental use adds requirements
- A change from a family granny flat to a rented one can bring in additional fire and sound transmission requirements of the building code. A building certifier advises on what applies.
- Energy efficiency and condensation
- Unlike a shed, a dwelling must meet the NCC's energy efficiency provisions. Insulation, glazing, sealing and ventilation are designed in, not added later.
- Site and services
- Sewer, water, stormwater and power connections, and the site's soil classification for the footings, are confirmed early because they affect where the granny flat can go and what it costs.
Why choose a Lockyer granny flats
Treated as a home
Designed and approved as a dwelling, with the requirements a home carries.
Licensed builder
Built in Queensland under QBCC licence 15445275 (Builder – Open).
Approvals handled
We prepare the drawings and work with your certifier and council through approval.
One team
Design, slab and construction coordinated from our Crowley Vale head office.
What's included
Included
- Design and drawings for building approval
- Coordination with your certifier and council
- Slab or footings as designed
- Construction of the granny flat by our licensed team, as quoted
Not included, or needs someone else
- Council, certifier and connection fees are paid by the owner.
- Furniture, appliances and landscaping are not included unless listed in the quote.
- Construction is available in Queensland only.
Where it's available
| What | Queensland | New South Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Sheds supplied and built | Yes | No |
| Concrete slabs | Yes | No |
| Council approval paperwork | Yes | Ask us |
Building work is carried out in Queensland only, under QBCC licence 15445275. Remote Queensland towns are by arrangement. See our service areas.
Granny flats: common questions
Do I need approval to build a granny flat in Queensland?
Yes. Queensland's planning department states that any new secondary dwelling requires building approval, and you should check with your council whether a development approval is also needed.
Can I rent out a granny flat?
Yes. Since 26 September 2022, Queensland no longer restricts who can live in a secondary dwelling. The approvals are still required, and rental use can add fire and sound requirements.
Can a shed be converted into a granny flat?
Converting an existing structure into a granny flat needs building approval, and a shed usually needs significant work to meet the requirements for a home. Talk to us and your certifier before you start.
Do you sell granny flat kits?
We quote granny flats as built projects in Queensland. If you are considering a kit, ask us: whether it suits depends on the design and the approval.
How long does a granny flat take?
It depends on the design and the approval process. We give you a timeline with the quote once the site and the approval path are known.
Will a granny flat add value to my property?
Queensland's planning department notes a secondary dwelling can add value to a property and provide rental income. The actual effect depends on your property and market.
Talk to us about a granny flat
Tell us who the granny flat is for, the size you have in mind and your suburb. A site plan or photo of the block helps.
Call 07 5466 5858