Hello,
I am currently planning to build together with my parents on their property. So far, the plan was to build two semi-detached houses side by side.
However, due to the local development plan and the requirements for garages, this is not so easy to implement.
We are now considering building a two-family house… my parents on the ground floor, me upstairs.
Advantages I see:
- Everything on one level, especially better for my parents as they age
- Lower connection/building costs
- Less loss of living space due to splitting over two floors or less space needed for staircases (1 shared staircase versus 2 staircases in semi-detached houses)
Disadvantages:
- Soundproofing becomes even more important since my parents would no longer live separated by a solid party wall but directly below the floor...
Previously, two semi-detached houses of about 140 m² (1506 sq ft) each were planned with a footprint of roughly 8.5 x 11 m (28 x 36 ft) each. Now, the multi-family house would be built with a footprint of about 18 x 11 m (59 x 36 ft), so that the upper apartment would reach at least 160 m² (1722 sq ft)… meaning the apartment would be larger than the previous semi-detached house. The reason is that a home office must now be included, which would have been located in the basement before. Since my parents don’t require that much living space, the garages would be partially “integrated” into the house on the ground floor, so my parents would have about 140 m² (1506 sq ft). The advantage is that they can get from the apartment to the car without going outside.
What living space can be achieved with a footprint of 18 x 11 m (59 x 36 ft)? How much space should we roughly expect to lose due to wall thickness? Can we realistically reach 160–170 m² (1722–1830 sq ft)?
What about sound insulation? The best solution here is probably a solid concrete ceiling with soundproofing layers… does anyone have experience with this?
Another point is the consideration to build a small granny flat of about 50 m² (538 sq ft) in the large basement for my sister, who currently still lives with my parents. Later, my oldest son (currently 8 years old) could move in there. The problem is that the development plan limits the property to a maximum of two residential units. When does a granny flat count as a separate “residential unit”? Is it as soon as a kitchen and bathroom are installed? When there is a separate meter for electricity/water? Or when there is a separate entrance?
In other words, is there a way to create a fully equipped small flat in the basement for a family member, which is not intended for rental, without it being considered a full “residential unit” under the development plan?
I am always open to tips and advice.
I am currently planning to build together with my parents on their property. So far, the plan was to build two semi-detached houses side by side.
However, due to the local development plan and the requirements for garages, this is not so easy to implement.
We are now considering building a two-family house… my parents on the ground floor, me upstairs.
Advantages I see:
- Everything on one level, especially better for my parents as they age
- Lower connection/building costs
- Less loss of living space due to splitting over two floors or less space needed for staircases (1 shared staircase versus 2 staircases in semi-detached houses)
Disadvantages:
- Soundproofing becomes even more important since my parents would no longer live separated by a solid party wall but directly below the floor...
Previously, two semi-detached houses of about 140 m² (1506 sq ft) each were planned with a footprint of roughly 8.5 x 11 m (28 x 36 ft) each. Now, the multi-family house would be built with a footprint of about 18 x 11 m (59 x 36 ft), so that the upper apartment would reach at least 160 m² (1722 sq ft)… meaning the apartment would be larger than the previous semi-detached house. The reason is that a home office must now be included, which would have been located in the basement before. Since my parents don’t require that much living space, the garages would be partially “integrated” into the house on the ground floor, so my parents would have about 140 m² (1506 sq ft). The advantage is that they can get from the apartment to the car without going outside.
What living space can be achieved with a footprint of 18 x 11 m (59 x 36 ft)? How much space should we roughly expect to lose due to wall thickness? Can we realistically reach 160–170 m² (1722–1830 sq ft)?
What about sound insulation? The best solution here is probably a solid concrete ceiling with soundproofing layers… does anyone have experience with this?
Another point is the consideration to build a small granny flat of about 50 m² (538 sq ft) in the large basement for my sister, who currently still lives with my parents. Later, my oldest son (currently 8 years old) could move in there. The problem is that the development plan limits the property to a maximum of two residential units. When does a granny flat count as a separate “residential unit”? Is it as soon as a kitchen and bathroom are installed? When there is a separate meter for electricity/water? Or when there is a separate entrance?
In other words, is there a way to create a fully equipped small flat in the basement for a family member, which is not intended for rental, without it being considered a full “residential unit” under the development plan?
I am always open to tips and advice.
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