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We’re your granny flat, cottage and sleepout experts
Frequently Asked
Questions
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We offer a broad range of customisable plans, allowing you to choose the details that best suit your needs. Whether it’s selecting taps, wardrobes, showers, or making adjustments like wheelchair accessibility for a family member, the final cost will depend on your unique preferences and requirements.
For a preliminary price estimate, please feel free to contact us. We’ll discuss your needs and provide an initial estimate. However, please note that final pricing will be determined during the planning stage, once all details and customizations are finalised.
All prices are fixed price so there’s no surprises (although as with any builds, sometimes variations pop up. But these are always communicated beforehand.)
Absolutely, you can build a granny flat on your property here in New Zealand! However, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Size
You can go up to 60 square meters for a standalone granny flat without needing a full building consent. If you’re thinking bigger, that’s no problem and if you’re wanting to make it self-contained (kitchenette and bathroom)—you’ll just need to meet the resource and building consent requirements.
Facilities
If your granny flat doesn’t have a kitchen or bathroom, you won’t need a building consent for a single-storey, detached structure. But as soon as you add those features, it becomes a self-contained minor dwelling, which might require a resource consent. We are always happy to help you with these.
Other bits and bobs
You’ll also need to:
– Stick to New Zealand’s Building Code.
– Have the work either done or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) (That’s us here at Canterbury Cottages!).
– Let your local council know when the job’s done.
– Make sure the new flat doesn’t interfere with existing neighbouring structures.
If you’re after any advice, feel free to give us a call on 027 339 9945 or flick us an email.
Once you engage with us to build your new granny flat, cottage, sleepout or cabin, we will take the reins when it comes to any (if any) consents and council inspections. Before we begin the building process, documents such as a Geotechnical or Soil Report (depending on the location), a Certificate of Title, a Project Information Memorandum (PIM), a Building Consent application, and a site plan may be necessary depending on what you’re building. If you prefer, you’re welcome to organise them yourself.
The duration of the building process depends on several factors, including the size and complexity of your project, weather conditions, and any customisations you request. On average, a project can take anywhere from 8-12 weeks for a granny flat to complete. Less if it’s a sleepout. More if it’s a more complex cottage. We’ll provide you with an accurate timeline once we’ve discussed your plans and requirements in detail.
60m² – Small but mighty!
In New Zealand, you can build a granny flat up to 60m² as a standalone, self-contained unit without needing traditional building consent. That’s plenty of space for a bedroom, living area, and ensuite—all the comforts of home in a compact design!
If you’re dreaming of something a bit bigger, you can absolutely go for it—just be prepared to meet resource and building consent requirements for larger builds.
Our plans are specifically designed to make the most of the 60m² rule, combining clever layouts with modern style to create a space that’s practical and inviting. Whether it’s for family, guests, or extra income, we’ll help you build a granny flat that feels just right!
At the moment, the NZ Government is focused on easing the housing crisis by increasing the supply of affordable homes for New Zealanders. As part of this, the Government is proposing to make it easier to build small, self-contained and detached houses, or ‘granny flats’ on properties with an existing home on it.
All going well, we’ll soon be able to build granny flats without the need for traditional consent (as long as certain criteria are met). In the meantime, we’re following the current regulations for building self-contained granny flats and cottages, whether they’re on properties with or without existing dwellings.
No you cannot.
No our prices do not include installation of solar panels. If solar power is something you are interested in or requiring, please flag it with our team and we can get this priced for you.
Yes. Before we begin the project we will require a 20% deposit upfront.
Both! We find most of our customers prefer we build the granny flats and cottages directly onsite, but we are just as happy to build your cottage in our yard and transport it to you. There are extra costs associated with transporting the cottage to you.