A granny flat advocacy group is calling for a national rule on how the suburban backyard staple could be used to help curb the rental and housing crisis.
It comes after the South Australian government committed to reviewing ancillary dwelling laws which stop the buildings from being rented.
In some states, such as Western Australia and New South Wales, secondary or ancillary dwellings can be rented out privately, while in others such as South Australia and Victoria, only dependents can reside in them.
Dean Roller, who has made a career out of helping people to build granny flats, said the government needed to make the process of building and renting them easier.
"It helps us pay our mortgage, I've got a young family and two kids [to support] like a lot of people," he said.
"To allow [our granny flat] to be rented out for people to use it, that rental income literally pays for our living expenses."
Mr Roller said uniform rules should apply to the construction and use of secondary dwellings such as granny flats across the country.
"If there is a National Construction Code … we just wish those national rules could also apply to renting granny flats or to granny flats in general," he said.
"It would be wonderful if all the states could unite and realise this rental crisis isn't just defined to individual states, it's a problem nationwide."
Potential for change
South Australian Planning Minister Nick Champion said he was considering rental reforms for ancillary accommodation.
"We recognise the role this alternative housing form can have on easing market pressures across the state," he said.
"Which is why rental reforms for ancillary accommodation are being considered through the Future Living Code Amendment now underway."
Mr Champion said community consultation on the changes would begin later this year, with results expected to be finalised by the end of the year.
Not reinventing the wheel
Better Renting director of advocacy, Bernadette Barrett, said allowing granny flats to be privately rented would offer more permanent housing to people in need of a roof.
"It's really no different to renting out a room in your home to a person that's not related to you," she said.
"If this was an option over those maxed out caravan parks, couch surfing, overcrowded houses, or sleeping rough, it's an option the state government needs to carefully consider."
Ms Barrett said there would need to be measures in place to protect tenants if changes were made to allow granny flats to be privately rented.
"We wouldn't want to see people hastily constructing granny flats or converting sheds into a room that are unhealthy or not safe for habitation," she said.
"So long as the structure is well maintained, it's comfortable to live in and doesn't have any structural issues that would lead to mould or damp, there's really not a problem with it."
Federal Housing Minster Julie Collins said she would meet this week with all state and territory housing ministers to consider how to ease the pressure on renters.
"The National Cabinet has agreed to develop reforms to increase housing supply and affordability, and to have some national consistency around renters' rights," she said.
SA Consumer and Business Affairs Minister Andrea Michaels, who is responsible for private rentals, has been contacted for comment.
