(Newswire.net — November 10, 2018) — Canada started experimenting with the concept of laneway houses back in the early 2000’s to reduce the cost of living in metro cities and also to increase its urban density. Laneway houses are detachable small-sized homes built within the plot of larger houses facing backwards towards the laneway, in the space where usually a garage will be located.
Since then, laneway housing projects have become popular in Canada and seen in almost every dense neighbourhoods of Vancouver and Toronto areas.
If you are planning to build a laneway house, then today we bring you an article featuring top 5 essential points that you need to know about laneway houses in Canada.
Top 5 Important Points to Know About Laneway Houses in Canada
Laneway Houses have specific Eligibility Requirements and Restrictions.
There are some eligibility criteria which homeowners need to meet before building a laneway house in their lot. Laneway houses can be constructed on any lot that is at least 32 feet wide, located in an RS family zone.
There are other restrictions as well regarding the construction of a laneway house. For example, in Toronto, the height of a laneway house is limited to only two floors, and the laneway house should be built in such a way that it is within 45 meters in the distance from the main street to make it easier for emergency services to reach.
Therefore, before heading on with the construction, make sure to approach your city council for details on the eligibility criteria and restrictions.
Laneway Houses Cannot be Sold Separately.
Laneway houses are considered a part of the lot that has the main house as well. Therefore, laneway houses cannot be sold separately and can only be sold as a part of the entire lot including the main house.
Services for the Laneway House are Taken from the Main Residence
Services such as electricity, gas, and water of the laneway house are taken from the main house in the lot. Which means that laneway houses do not get a separate direct connection and the supply of services only depends on the capacity of the main house.
Therefore, it is essential to make sure that the main house is capable of supporting the requirements of the main house before applying for a permit.
Laneway Houses are Cheaper to Build than Traditional Houses
Vancouver and Toronto are some of the costly areas in Canada. Building a traditional home for a single family will cost at least $1 million, whereas building a laneway house will only cost about $300,000.
Apart from the building costs, laneway homeowners will have to pay extra for installation of electricity, gas, and water and will have to get separate permits too.
Laneway Houses have Huge Demands.
Laneway houses are quite cheap to build and maintain and thus can be offered at a more reasonable rent than a condo.
People with a tight budget looking for a place to stay in cities like Toronto and Vancouver mostly prefer to rent a laneway house mainly because it’s cheap and offers more space and accessibility than a condo.
Having a Laneway House Will Improve Property Value
As laneway houses are mostly considered a rentable unit, the value and demand of your property with a laneway house will be higher than what you might get with just the main house.
A lot with the main house and a laneway house can fetch at least $100,000 more than a plot with just the main house.
Final Words
In the above article, we have tried to include all the vital information that one should know before building a laneway house.
We hope you found this article informative and in case you have any queries related to laneway houses, then do get in touch with us by leaving a comment below and we will help you out.