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Cabin as Granny Annexe

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  • smallzoo2 wrote: »
    Thanks for all the comments..hopefully some of the critical ones were a bit tongue and cheek. I have cared for my grandparents and parents for over 25 years so I certainly wouldn't be shoving my mum into a garden shed !... she is 95 but all her family lived into the 100's and at the moment she is healthy and looks/acts like an 80yr old.

    Anyway I will take all these comments into mind and do some further research.

    cheers

    My 'critical' comment was most definitely not tongue in cheek. I am appalled that you are even considering such a plan.

    If, as you say, you are going to buy a 2/3 bedroom house once your kids have left home, why can't she just continue to live with you in the house?
  • GaleSF63
    GaleSF63 Posts: 1,541 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    What do you actually see as the advantage of doing what you suggest over what you have now?
  • ProDave
    ProDave Posts: 3,785 Forumite
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    Just to add, if you get a static caravan type home for her make sure it is well insulated, plus they are noisy when it rains due to thin roof.
    We lived in one whilst building a house, the other problem was the water pipes under it freezing up at night, fill kettle before going to bed!
    We are living in one just now over one of the coldest winters in the Highlands for several years.

    I insulated the pipes and under the floor in general and panelled in the space between the 'van and the ground. Nothing has frozen up this winter. The best upgrade I did was install a wood burning stove that is keeping us warm almost for free.

    And remember, you don't necessarily have to buy an off the shelf mobile home. I is perfectly possible to build your own with plenty of insulation that is still legally a "caravan" so has the same legal exemptions. Indeed there are a few companies that specialise in building well insulated mobile homes.
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 18,942 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Any structure which has facilities for preparing food, washing, sleeping and a WC is liable for a separate Council Tax band if within the curtilage of another dwelling. But if it is occupied by the parent(s) of the occupiers of the main house and the parent(s) is/are over 65, then they will be exempt from paying.

    Static caravans are not designed for year round occupations. Many "lodges" are and all true mobile/park homes are, as they are of better construction and have better heating and insulation. There are a good number of manufacturers of these, each with a large range of models, but new ones aren't cheap.
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • AlexMac
    AlexMac Posts: 3,064 Forumite
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    edited 18 February 2018 at 4:33PM
    There was an article about exactly this; "multi-generational living" in The Saturday Telegraph Property supplement two weeks ago;
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/retirement/rise-granny-annexe-families-turning-multi-generational-living/

    They clearly suggested that a fully insulated, plumbed lodge did not need Planning Permission; one case study said that they spent;

    "£135,000 on their 40ft by 20ft, three-bedroom timber frame lodge. ; It!!!8217;s warm, economic to run and we have so much space,... didn!!!8217;t need planning permission, as the lodge is considered portable, and they are exempt from the council tax and have more disposable income. (the grandparents) daughter and her husband...work full-time and have also benefited since (they)arrived !!!8211; they now have no childcare costs for their daughters 10, and six...."

    Other case studies were included; all with illustrations of nauseatingly happy three-generational smiley families!

    So subject to space, it sounds feasible
  • ashe
    ashe Posts: 1,574 Forumite
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    Consider implications of selling it down the line if it has a sale rate council tax bill attached to it. Would put most buyers off I imagine
  • ProDave
    ProDave Posts: 3,785 Forumite
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    ashe wrote: »
    Consider implications of selling it down the line if it has a sale rate council tax bill attached to it. Would put most buyers off I imagine

    I don't understand that?

    The value in a stand alone residential mobile home is the plot on a residential site, not the actual home. As I have already said, used ones in good condition can be bought off site quite cheap.

    IF you have the land (your garden) and it is for familly use, we seem to have established no PP is needed and no extra council tax.

    If you later want to sell it, it would be sold off site and you would get back most of what it cost, they will of course depreciate in value as they get older.
  • My 'critical' comment was most definitely not tongue in cheek. I am appalled that you are even considering such a plan.

    If, as you say, you are going to buy a 2/3 bedroom house once your kids have left home, why can't she just continue to live with you in the house?

    Appalled and judgemental without even ever meeting the family or knowing the true situation. There are descriptions for people like yourself.
  • ashe
    ashe Posts: 1,574 Forumite
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    ProDave wrote: »
    I don't understand that?

    The value in a stand alone residential mobile home is the plot on a residential site, not the actual home. As I have already said, used ones in good condition can be bought off site quite cheap.

    IF you have the land (your garden) and it is for familly use, we seem to have established no PP is needed and no extra council tax.

    If you later want to sell it, it would be sold off site and you would get back most of what it cost, they will of course depreciate in value as they get older.



    OP is asking about building a residential cabin on site, not a mobile home. user suggestions have proposed a residential mobile home but that is not what OP asked about.
  • freeisgood wrote: »
    Appalled and judgemental without even ever meeting the family or knowing the true situation. There are descriptions for people like yourself.

    As far as I'm aware, I do not need your permission to be appalled by the suggestion of housing one's 95 year old mother in a cabin in the back garden.

    The fact that my opinion does not correspond with yours, is of no concern.
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