Wed 02 Oct 2019

written by naomi baron

Why is it Such a Popular Option?

Buying a house with an annexe can be a good option for a variety of reasons.

Maybe you are looking to generate some additional income by renting out your self-contained annexe space?  Perhaps you need the extra space for either elderly parents, or even grown up children who are saving for their own place?

Having a house with an annexe is an ever-increasing attractive feature for home-buyers seeking additional flexibility.  And, with over 30,000 granny annexes in England in Wales alone, finding a property with additional space is not often a problem! 

Check out this awesome property with sel-contained annexe in Catshil, Bromsgrove

Whatever the reasons that buying a property with a granny annexe are, there are a few things you should consider about both the purchase of, and subsequent decorating of this additional space. 

What is a Granny Annexe?

Granny annexe is the term most commonly used and it refers to a building that is added either onto a property or in the garden of a property.

Can I get a Mortgage for a Property With a granny annexe? 

First of all, if you are moving into a property with a relative, you need to establish exactly who is going to fund the property purchase, and who is going to own it.

It’s typical for both parties to contribute funds for the new property.  However, how you share ownership of the property has financial and legal implications.

Buying an Annexe Property with a Relative

If you want to buy the property with your parents, for example, both parties will be on the mortgage.  This is known as a joint tenancy, and means that the property is owned in equal shares.  If one ‘tenant’ dies, their share is automatically divided equally between the other owners.

Things to consider:

• Some mortgage lenders can be reluctant to give mortgages to people who are past retirements age, as their income is often lower;

• If some of the older borrowers may not live past the term of the mortgage, will the surviving joint tenancy party be able to afford the mortgage for the whole property?

Another option is to own the property as tenants in common.

This means that each party owns a fixed (not necessarily equal) share of the property.  If one of you passes away, your share will be inherited by the named beneficiary.

Things to consider:

• A named beneficiary might not be the surviving party;

• The person who inherits the share may want to sell their share.

Buying a Property with an Annexe Alone

Of course, you may simply wish to purchase the property as a standard house purchase with no additional considerations to take into account.  In this case, a standard mortgage procedure will follow!

How to Make your Granny Annexe Look Awesome?

You don’t want your annexe to feel like a “lesser” part to the main house.  So, how do you make this extra space stand on its own design feet?

As space can be in short supply in annexes, it can be a good idea to create a multi-use environment with an open plan kitchen, living and dining area.  This is both practical, as well as a very modern use of space.  Using mirrors will make the space appear larger, as well as reflecting light in the area.

We all know that light, bright colours make spaces look airy and fresh, so this technique should be applied to a granny annexe space, too.

Annexes should be treated as completely separate to the main property, so it’s a great opportunity to totally change the style of interior design in this space from the other rooms in your home without risk of ruining the design aesthetic!