ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT
In-law units, granny units, or accessory dwelling units (ADUs), are selfcontained, smaller living units on the lot of a single-family home. These are units that typically include their own bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living space. They can either be attached to the primary house, such as an above-the-garage unit, or a basement unit. They are an easy way to provide homeowners with flexible space for a home office or an on-site caregiver, additional rental income, or a space for elderly family members to remain in a family environment. With the current housing crunch, homeowners can alleviate their income with an ADU. ADU housing can be used in different ways, the most common being as a rental unit. It does not take up as much space as new construction and provides privacy because of the additional bathroom and kitchen. If you have a large family and live in a single home, an ADU is the perfect solution to accommodate everyone. ADU housing has minimal impact on the environment compared to other housing alternatives. This is because they are generally smaller and take up less space. The use of an Accessory Dwelling Unit varies from person to person and family to family. Privacy is one of the biggest merits of living in an ADU. Different people have different requirements depending on their age. Senior citizens and teenagers might require a living space of their own. Even guests and caregivers might require space for themselves. Since an ADU is a complete living space with all essential amenities, it serves all these purposes. As it is a standalone home, even tenants can feel 20
Spring-Summer 2021
comfortable while living in one. It can be a modified structure or one that is newly constructed. What’s more, security is an added advantage since the structure is on the same lot. In some cases, an ADU looks more like another floor. Some homeowners even decide to make an ADU out of an extra bedroom. It’s like enjoying the best of both worlds. The cost of building an ADU can vary depending on multiple factors like size, type, materials, and location. There are attached and detached ADUs. Although a fully detached structure is more expensive, it is definitely more affordable than building a new primary home. Homeowners who are more concerned about rental income have the option of using readymade components to reduce the cost of construction. The focus can be more on functionality rather than aesthetics and resale value of the overall property. Even the insurance and taxes would be comparatively lower. Also, there are some common amenities that can be shared by all the residents of the property. If there’s a fairly large garage for instance, the residents of both homes can park their vehicles there. Furthermore, there is no extra investment to be made for land, parking, elevators, etc. California has enacted a series of laws in support of the development of ADUs. This helps owners of residential properties to convert garages and backyard buildings into fullfledged living spaces for use. Another objective of the program is to make the best use of the available urban space. There are
