Accessory Dwelling Units

ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS

Are you looking to expand the living space of your home? Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) may be the perfect option. ADUs are equipped with power, water, cooking facilities, and plumbing. They can be used as a home office, a rental unit, or a separate living space. You may have heard them referred to as in-law apartments or granny flats. However, the truth is that these spaces have come a long way over the years.

ADUs are best suited for...

🏡 Family members
🏡 On-site Caregivers
🏡 Guest Accommodations
🏡 Home Office
🏡 Rental Income

Modern small room with kitchen area and wooden floor
little house garden / Blue house cottage garden summer in green plant and tree background
Small grey house with wooden deck. Front yard with flower bed and lawn
Bright room with new hardwood floor and ivory walls. Tropical style furniture set with dry branches in the conrner. VIew of kitchen area with dark brown cabinets. Mother-in-law apartment
real estate blueprint
Rustic tiny house interior design with kitchen, living room and bedroom in mezzanine floor in warm sunset light. 3d rendering.
A charming playhouse cottage sits in a shaded perennial garden.
Small tiny wooden frame house with sundeck and white windows and door as a country residence in sunny summer day.

Who Can Benefit from ADUs?

Homeowners–
ADUs offer the ability for homeowners to create a separate space for their aging parents or grown children while still allowing them to reside nearby. The cost to create an ADU may be less than trying to purchase a home. The space is also perfect for a homeowner to utilize for a home office.
Landlords –
ADUs are the perfect option to help generate some extra income. With the current market, many buyers may be turning to rent. Instead of investing in multi-family properties, or in building new rental properties, this allows landlords to create an investment property within the limits of their own single-family property.
Renters–
Due to their size, ADUs are smaller and are often a more affordable housing option that may appeal to both short-term and long-term renters. ADUs also allow renters to find housing within a desirable neighborhood that may be predominantly a single-family neighborhood.

Types of ADUs

Attached

An Attached ADU is any unit built as an addition, meaning a structure built onto the main home on the property. 

Detached

A Detached ADU is built as a separate structure from the main home. The shapes and sizes of this type of ADU vary due to town regulations. 

Converted Space

Converted Space ADUs are just as the name suggests. They are units built in a pre-existing location, such as the space over a garage, a basement, or an attic.

Adding a detached ADU may not be the least expensive of the three options, but it offers flexibility in its design. While there is flexibility, attached and converted space can also match the existing structure of the main home. ADUs may have a separate entrance or share an entry with the main property. The design will vary depending on the type of ADU, the available space allocated to the unit, and any rules required by the financial institution you may use.

Each town will have its own regulations regarding ADU usage and its size. So it is always a good idea to consult your local zoning officials.

In addition to being used for short-term or long-term rentals, ADUs could be a good Airbnb rental space. To investigate as to whether this route is a feasible option, talk to your town’s planning and zoning regarding ADUs.

Benefits of ADUs

Increased Property Value

Many buyers may see an ADU as an asset. The uses of the ADU, whether it be for its rental usage or personal usage, will benefit any potential buyers.

Affordable Housing

In many cases, the cost to build an ADU can be less than it would be to build a new house. In some areas, the cost may be even less than purchasing a new home.

Land Conservation

Because ADUs are built in conjunction with an already existing home, there is no need for additional land to build the dwelling unit.

Independence

An ADU offers the perfect space for your aging family member or adult child. It creates a separate living space from the main home and offers them a sense of independence.

Additional Income

ADUs can make for an ideal short-term or long-term rental property. It allows a homeowner to gain extra income to offset expenses or help pay the monthly mortgage.

Resources

CT Law
CT Law
AARP
Freddie Mac

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