How to DIY Build A Granny Flat on a Budget

So, you are considering to build a granny flat yourself, this blog has all the information you will need to know when deciding if DIY is right for you. Your DIY and Construction skills along with how much time you have to dedicate to the project will determine if building the granny flat yourself is a good option. If you have skills and the time it could potentially be the cheapest option for you to take, but not always. as possible on your new granny flat, it’s potentially the cheapest approach to take.

How to Build a Granny Flat in NSW by Yourself

Residents of Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Central Coast and other parts of New South Wales are allowed to build their own granny flats as long as they acquire the necessary permits beforehand. If you would like to tackle a granny flat build yourself, below are the steps you’ll need to take.

• Obtain a White Card, Development Consent and Owner Builder Permit – Before you can consider building a granny flat by yourself, you will need to obtain all the necessary documentation. A White Card, which is also known as a Safework Statement of Training, confirms that you have completed the required safety training. Development consent is obtained from the local council and is an approval of your building plans. These documents must be lodged with your application for an owner-builder permit if your DIY granny flat cost will exceed $10,000, along with your property deeds. For projects that cost less than $10,000, an owner-builder permit is not required. If the cost of labour and materials for your granny flat build totals more than $20,000 at current market rates, you will need to complete an owner-builder education course as part of the application process for your permit.
• Hire a Qualified Designer, Surveyor and Engineers – You’ll need an experienced designer to draw up plans if you are building a granny flat yourself, and you’ll also need a surveyor to survey the land, along with engineers and geotech reports to identify your soil type, to ensure that it is suitable for laying your foundation. If you decide to hire a building contractor such as ourselves, we will take care of all these details for you but if you are determined to go it alone, feel free to check out our granny flat designs for inspiration. You are also more than welcome to visit our display home if you’d like to see a finished granny flat in the area.
• Find Qualified Tradesmen for Specialist Work – Your owner-builder permit, if required, will not cover you for specialist work such as electrical, plumbing, waterproofing and many other services, so you’ll need to find local tradesmen to carry out this type of work for you. This will, of course, add to your DIY granny flat cost so be sure to shop around for the best deals.
• Arrange for Private or Council Certifier to Inspect Building Work – Your building work will need to be inspected at certain stages throughout the project, so it can be certified once you have finished. You can either use a local council certifier or hire a private certifier.

Once you have successfully negotiated your way through all of the above steps and purchased the materials for your project, you can start to build yourself a granny flat. If after reading our short guide on how to build a granny flat you would like to investigate the possibility of having one built for you by a team of experts, with planning, building licence, insurances, quality trades and quality inclusions then please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time. We will be delighted to arrange a site visit to discuss your requirements and prepare a detailed quotation for your consideration.