Can I Rent Out My Garden Annexe?
A garden annexe, also sometimes known as a garden room, granny annexe or summer house is a building in your garden that is separate from your main home.
Garden annexes have lots of uses from accommodation for elderly relatives to extra space for growing families.
Increasingly, many garden annexes are being used as guest accommodation and holiday lets.
If this is something you’re considering for your existing garden annexe or if you’re thinking of building a garden annexe to rent out, read on to find out more.
In this blog, we’ll look at the benefits of renting out a garden annexe, how to rent out a garden annexe and answer the question, ‘Can I rent out my garden annexe?’
What Are the Benefits of Renting Out A Garden Annexe?
So, what are some of the benefits of renting out your garden annexe?
Recoup your investment
Renting out your garden annexe as a holiday let is one way for you to recoup the investment you’ve made and can provide you with an additional income stream.
Meet new people
Turning your garden annexe into a holiday let is a way of meeting new people and introducing them to all that your local area has to offer. If you live in a place that is appealing to tourists, your garden annexe is likely to be in demand and guests will be grateful for the tips and insight you can offer to make the most of their stay.
Maintain your space and privacy
Unlike renting out a room or section of your home as a holiday let, renting out a garden annexe means you can have all the benefits of a holiday let whilst still maintaining your family’s space and privacy.
A garden annexe adds value to your home
If you’re considering building a garden annexe to rent out as a holiday home, a garden annexe can add considerable value to your home in the long term and make it more attractive to potential buyers in the future.
How To Rent Out A Garden Annexe
If you decide to rent out your garden annexe as a holiday home, there are a few things you’ll need to consider first.
You’ll need to make sure you have the required planning permission for your garden annexe and it’s worth checking if there are any local rules and regulations about short-term lets like the ‘Greater London 90 Day Rule’. You might also want to put insurance in place before accepting your first booking.
When you’re ready to rent out your annexe, there are lots of ways you can do this. Some people choose to advertise and rent out their annexe independently. Others use a third party to advertise their holiday let and manage bookings and payments.
Airbnb
Airbnb is a popular option for people looking to rent out their property, spare room or annexe to guests. Airbnb has a website and an app, allowing you to advertise your garden annexe to potential holidaymakers or people looking for short-term accommodation for business or pleasure.
On Airbnb, you can list your garden annexe, using high-quality photographs and a detailed description to attract guests. Bookings and payments are managed by Airbnb and it also offers AirCover to protect hosts against things like damage, unexpected cleaning costs and income loss.
Booking.com
Booking.com is another popular choice for people looking to rent out their garden annexe or other holiday property. On booking.com you can set house rules for your guests and request additional damage deposits, for security and peace of mind. You can also report guest misconduct and access 24/7 support. You can find out more about how it works here.
Alternative options
Airbnb and Booking.com are the two biggest competitors for letting out your garden annexe. However, with the rising popularity of self-catering holidays, there are lots of options for both holidaymakers and hosts looking to let their property short-term. If you’re thinking of renting out your garden annexe, you might also want to check out some of the alternatives like vrbo (Vacation Rentals By Owner), Expedia and FlipKey.
Other Uses For A Garden Annexe
If you have a garden annexe that you no longer use for its original purpose but you don’t want to rent it out as a holiday property, here are some alternative uses for a garden annexe that you might consider.
Home garden office
With working from home on the rise, having a separate area for work away from your living space, allows you to keep a work/life balance and prevents distractions and interruptions.
A workshop or studio
A garden annexe makes an ideal space to enjoy hobbies that need space or benefit from peace and quiet, like art, music, writing or crafts.
Games room or playroom
Your unused garden annexe could be turned into a games room or playroom. Whether you have young children or growing teenagers or you like the idea of a man cave, you could create a fun entertainment space or chill-out zone in your garden annexe.
Space for guests
A garden annexe provides excellent overnight accommodation for family and friends to stay over. It’s perfect for a big family Christmas, get-togethers or even for those unexpected guests that need a place to crash for a night or two.
See our recent blog Alternative Uses For Granny Flats for even more ideas.
Get In Touch
We hope this blog has answered the question ‘Can I rent out my garden annexe?’ If you would like to find out more about granny annexes, get in touch with Family Annexe. We have six unique annexe models available, each providing a safe and cost-effective solution to elderly care.
Family Annexe has an efficient seven-step process, designed to make your annexe experience stress-free and enjoyable. This starts with a free, no-obligation consultation!
