& the rest...
the back lane “Chris has a long and large garden by city standards and it backs onto a ‘dunny lane’, also known as a ‘night cart’ lane,” says Andrew. “This dates back to the 1900s when there was no sewerage and access was needed for some poor soul to go door-todoor collecting waste. The ‘dunny man’ would access outhouses via the back lane. A lot of houses in the city fringe back onto a lane that’s not on title but is unofficially claimed as part of the plot. If access doesn’t really benefit any one party, it might be worth looking into formalising a takeover of ownership from the council as a group. With the extra space, Chris may get consent to build a granny flat, which could provide a garage at ground level and rentable studio above.”
the granny flat “In the past five years or so, the granny-flat business has been booming in NSW,” says Wayd. “This is in part because, assuming various criteria are met, the government has eased up on planning policy, so it’s quicker and easier to get permission to build. And with all the outside space, the floor space certainly isn’t a problem here. In terms of selling, a standalone unit will add a lot more value than it costs to build because people love to have the flexibility that it brings for visitors, in-laws and teenagers. It will provide an income and pay for itself if Chris rents it out, also offering a lot of flexibility in terms of his grand plan. If he put a granny flat up first, Chris could live in it while renovating the main house, saving seven or eight months’ worth of rent.”
the exterior “Chris says the one place he doesn’t feel the need to work on is the front exterior, but I think the entrance to a home is so important in setting the tone,” says Lisa. “The terrace has beautiful details in the leadlight window above the door and an intricate exterior light, but the modern black fence with its horizontal lines conflicts with the traditional bones of the facade. Chris could look at replacing it with a more traditional wrought-iron detail that’s fine and slender in proportion and less dominant. Sticking to black will work well with the streetscape. The colour scheme also seems out of step; the red of the lacework may well be an approved colour in a heritage-listed area like this, but there are softer, more neutral options on that list that would showcase the beautiful original elements while adding a more contemporary feel.”
“If he put up a granny flat first, he could live in it while renovating the main house, saving seven or eight months’ worth of rent” WAYD MUNRO, PANEL BUILDER