The Canberra default
1-bedroom granny flats across Canberra.
The most popular Canberra granny flat format. 40–50m² GFA, one bedroom, one bathroom, open-plan kitchen / living / dining, north-facing porch. NatHERS 7-star, double-glazed cold-climate envelope, reverse-cycle split. Suits APS short-let, university staff, ageing parent, adult child returning home. $90K–$130K turnkey.
1-bedroom granny flat — what you get.
Typical 45m² floorplan.
- Bedroom: 3.3m × 3.2m (10.5m²) with built-in robe, double-glazed window facing north or east. Suits a queen bed plus bedside tables.
- Bathroom: 2.3m × 1.8m. Hob-less shower, vanity, toilet, exhaust fan to outside. Standard reinforced walls for future grab rails (accessibility-ready).
- Open-plan kitchen / living / dining: ~22m² combined. Kitchen wraps an L-shape with stone bench, dishwasher, oven, induction cooktop, integrated rangehood. Living zone fits a 2.5-seater sofa + TV unit. Dining nook for a 4-seater table.
- Laundry: European stack (washer + dryer) recessed inside the bathroom or in a separate cupboard off the kitchen.
- Porch / outdoor: 4–6m² covered north-facing porch with paved area — the “outdoor room” that earns its keep on warm Canberra evenings.
Cold-climate envelope (standard spec).
- Windows: Double-glazed, low-E coating, argon-filled, uPVC or thermally-broken aluminium frames. Total Uw 1.8–2.2 W/m²K. Triple-glazing optional on south-facing windows for +0.5 NatHERS stars.
- Insulation: R5.0 ceiling, R2.5 wall, R2.0 underfloor (or slab edge), draught seals at all doors and switches.
- Heating & cooling: Single 5kW reverse-cycle split, COP >4.0 at +7°C, rated for −5°C operation. Daikin or Mitsubishi standard. Optional in-slab hydronic for premium spec.
- Ventilation: Heat-recovery ventilator (HRV) for the cold-pocket Tuggeranong sites; mechanical exhaust fans in bathroom and kitchen elsewhere.
- NatHERS rating: 7.2–7.6 stars typical (NCC 2022 requires 7.0 minimum).
Build timeline (typical 45m² 1-bed).
- Week 1–2: Site prep, footings, slab pour and cure.
- Week 3–4: Frame and roof structure. Trusses up.
- Week 5–6: Lock-up — brickwork or cladding, roof finish, windows installed.
- Week 7–8: Internal fit-out — plasterboard, cornices, insulation, internal doors, kitchen carcass, bathroom waterproofing.
- Week 9–10: Finishes — stone bench, tiling, painting, electrical fit-off, plumbing fit-off, flooring.
- Week 11–12: External works, paving, fence integration, landscaping, final certifier inspection, EER certificate.
Use-case patterns.
- APS short-let furnished rental (Crace, Casey, Harrison, Garran, Hughes) — $480–$580/wk furnished, 6-month assignments dominant.
- University staff rental (Kaleen, Macgregor, Bruce-adjacent) — $420–$520/wk semester-aligned leases.
- Ageing parent in own space — accessible spec, step-free entry, hob-less shower. Most common in Weston Creek and Tuggeranong.
- Adult child returning home — furnished or unfurnished, often with home-office partition.
- Home office / studio — the “working from home” primary use, with secondary rental option later.
Cost breakdown (typical 45m² 1-bed in Belconnen).
- Site prep + slab: $14,000–$18,000
- Frame, roof, lock-up: $28,000–$34,000
- Cold-climate envelope (double glazing, insulation): $14,000–$18,000
- Internal fit-out + finishes: $24,000–$32,000
- Reverse-cycle split + electrical + plumbing: $14,000–$18,000
- EPSDD DA + NatHERS rating + certifier: $6,000–$9,000
- Total typical: $100,000–$130,000 turnkey
Where we work.
Free 1-bedroom granny flat consultation.
Block measurement, Territory Plan envelope check, NatHERS feasibility, fixed quote within 7–14 days.