Granny Flats in Perth: A Home for Every Generation | Beagl

What if your birds can't leave the nest?

More and more parents are asking me the same question: how will our children ever buy a home of their own?

It's a fair worry. Perth's median house rent hit $750 a week in the June 2026 quarter, and WA families now need 47.5% of their income to meet average loan repayments, a record low for affordability. For many young couples, the only way in is to buy further out, away from work, friends and family.

But there is another way.

Buy the block, not just the house

If you're buying or upgrading in the next few years, think beyond the home you need today. Ask whether the land could also accommodate a second, self-contained home later.

WA has made this easier. Since April 2024, a compliant granny flat of up to 70m² can be built on a lot of any size without planning approval, subject to obtaining a building permit. The best blocks have a generous backyard, side or rear access, a regular shape, easy service connections and no heritage, flood or bushfire overlays.

If you're building new, a dual-key home (two self-contained homes under one roof) or a multigenerational design with its own living wing can achieve the same result.

How the family cycle works

  • Your eldest moves in. A young couple lives in the granny flat, pays a modest rent and banks the difference towards a deposit.
  • Grandparents help out. Care is on the doorstep, which cuts childcare costs and speeds up saving.
  • They buy their own home. With a solid deposit, they move on to a family home of their own.
  • The next child follows and the cycle repeats.
  • The nest finally empties. You're left with a self-contained home to lease, providing an income stream to help fund your retirement.

    • Along the way, the family stays close, and grandparents play an active part in their grandchildren's lives.

    Keep it fair and independent

    The flat is a launchpad, not a permanent home. Agree on rent and a savings goal in writing, separate the utilities, and design for privacy with separate entries and outdoor spaces.

    Speak to your accountant early, as renting part of your home can affect capital gains tax, land tax and deductions.

    Thinking a generation ahead

    The key is choosing the right land from the start. As a qualified architect and buyer's agent, I assess every property for what it could become: zoning, lot shape, access, orientation and where a second home could sit.

    If you're wondering whether your current home, or your next one, could work for your family, I'd love to talk it through.

    General information only. Please seek independent financial, tax and legal advice for your circumstances.

    Sources: REIWA, "WA housing and rental affordability at record lows", 13 September 2026; WA Government, "More granny flat exemptions give another boost for housing choice", 30 January 2024.