Rising house prices, high rents, student loan debts and a stagnant job market are just some of the challenges young adults face today. 

The combined financial pressures of life are driving many grown-up children back home to live with their parents. 

According to data from the Office of National Statistics, more adults than ever are moving back in with their parents. In England and Wales, the 2021 census showed that around 4.9 million adult children were back home. 

You might have gotten over that empty nest syndrome years ago when they first left home. Maybe you even redecorated their bedroom or decided to transform it into a craft room or study. 

Your space and time were your own, but now they’re back on the doorstep, suitcase in hand. The question is, where will you put them?

The answer might be to install a bespoke granny annexe in your garden. 

What Exactly Is A Granny Annexe?

Don’t let the name fool you, a granny annexe is not just for elderly mums. It is a separate living space built within the garden of your home or as an extension to the main building. 

A granny annexe enables independent living, in proximity to the main house. 

They can include the following features:

  • One or two bedrooms, depending on the size
  • A bathroom with plumbed-in shower and toilet facilities
  • A living space 
  • A kitchen and dining area 

What Is The History Of Granny Annexes In The UK?

The origins of the granny annexe or granny flat date back to the 1970s in the UK, when families built them as a solution for multigenerational living. It saved elderly parents from living alone and the high costs of residential homes. 

They were named granny annexes because they were often annexed to the main house, as a building extension over the garage or in the garden space. 

However, the original granny annexes might go back even further, to grand country estates. The lords of manors were obliged to provide housing for elderly relatives, widowed mothers-in-law, and spinster sisters. 

They were often provided separate housing, such as a cottage, within the estate grounds where they could be cared for. 

Are Granny Annexes Suitable For Long-Term Housing?

With the right planning permission, a granny annexe can be a permanent structure in your garden. 

Granny annexes should be built to building regulations legislation, and abide by health and safety codes for dwellings. 

Buildings can be fully insulated and heated with electricity, so they can be lived in all year round. They can be coupled up to mains electricity and a broadband extension can be added for internet connections. 

What Are The Advantages Of A Granny Annexe For Your Adult Child?

No self-respecting adult really wants to move back into their childhood bedroom with pink unicorns or band posters on the walls. But there are some other reasons why a granny annexe is a good decision, including:

A Granny Annexe For Independent Living

Moving back home after living away can feel like losing independence. A granny annexe gives them a separate entrance and plenty of personal space. 

They can come and go as they please, and you don’t need to worry about them returning after a late night and waking you up. Plus, the separate space might even relieve any potential familial tension.

An Alternative Option To Private Renting

If your young adult is saving a deposit for their own home or for another big expense, a granny annexe can give them a break from costly private renting.

A garden annexe offers financial stability if they are trying to get themself back on their feet. They are investing in their future, and so are you. 

A Granny Annexe Can Help Balance Support With Freedom

Navigating moving back in with parents can be hard. If the move is due to job loss, breakups or health reasons, they might need more than just a place to live. 

It is easier to give them the support they need when they’re so close by. A separate living space allows freedom and support without feeling smothered. 

Having your grown-up child back home can have advantages for you in terms of support, too; whether that is regular dog-sitting or just an extra pair of hands around the house. 

A Granny Annexe Means Better Boundaries

An article in the British Psychological Society cites one of the issues of moving home for adult children is the risk of reverting to child identity behaviours. 

Having their own living space is a physical reminder that they are not a child and that they have autonomy. That difference can help establish better communication and boundaries between you. 

What are other purposes for a granny annexe?

Once your adult child has flown the nest once more, there are other uses for a granny annexe. 

It can be easily converted into a fully self-sufficient guest suite for visitors, or you can rent it out. Alternatively, you can transform it into a den, a bar, a gym, an art studio or a meditation space.  

Or you might use it as a home from home, a safe haven at the bottom of your garden.Â