How ADUs or ‘Granny Flats’ Can Help Solve the Housing Crisis

Granny flats are an extra residential unit beside a main house. They are also known as backyard homes and in-law suites. Their official title is accessory dwelling units, or ADUs.

ADUs increase housing density without demolishing existing neighborhoods to construct new homes. ADUs need fewer materials to construct and less energy to heat and cool. They can even be bought pre-fabricated, saving on time and costs.

As our living habits change, with more people working from home and young people priced out of buying, urban experts say reviving ADUs could be a solution. Diverse patterns of living across families and generations used to be much more common, from multi-family complexes to housing co-operatives.

However, over the past century, zoning policies have come to favor single-family plots. Today, it's illegal to build anything other than a single-family house on 75% of residential land in US cities.

ADUs offer the chance to revive intergenerational living. They're often single-story, making it easier for older people to age in place. But they can also provide space and privacy for younger adults who may not be able to afford their own homes.

California is leading the way in encouraging ADUs. The state offers a $40,000 subsidy to anyone building one. Los Angeles has launched a program offering 64 pre-approved ADU models for construction.

According to estimates, the US is short of 6.5 million homes. Globally, 1.6 billion people could be affected by housing shortages by 2025.

Here's more about Accessory dwelling units: a zoning solution to the US housing crisis