Granny Flats Ireland

A granny flat is a self-contained living unit on the grounds of a main family home — typically for an elderly parent, an adult child, or a relative who needs their own space while staying close to family. It has its own kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living area, but sits within the curtilage of the main house.

A modular granny flat is the fastest, least-disruptive way to add one: built off-site, delivered and installed in days, with no long construction project in the family's garden.

Granny flats solve real family situations. The most common reasons our clients build one:

• A home for an elderly parent — independent living with family support close by.
• A home for an adult child — independence without the cost of renting elsewhere.
• Downsizing — parents moving into the flat and giving the main house to the next generation.
• Recovery or care — a ground-level, accessible unit for a family member recovering from illness.
• Guest accommodation — for frequent visiting family.

A modular granny flat is built in factory conditions and installed on your site in days, not months. Because the build happens off-site, your family's daily life and garden are barely disrupted — there is no muddy building site for six months. The flat arrives fully finished, with kitchen, bathroom, electrics and plumbing all commissioned. A granny flat for back garden use keeps an elderly parent or adult child close to family while maintaining their independence, without the cost and disruption of a traditional extension.

Our smaller Chapter One model and our living pods are well suited to granny flat use. For the specific pod format designed for independent family living, see our granny pods in Ireland page.

A granny flat used as ancillary accommodation for a family member may fall within the 45 m² planning exemption — meaning a full planning application may not be required, subject to all applicable conditions. However, if the flat is to be rented independently or used as a separate dwelling, planning permission is generally required. See our Planning Guide for the detail, and always confirm with your local authority.

Granny flats are often built for an older occupant, so we design with accessibility in mind: level access, wider doorways, a walk-in shower, and a logical single-storey layout. The interior is warm, bright and finished to the same standard as our modular homes — a genuine home, not a clinical unit.

A modular granny flat is a one-time investment that compares very favourably with the alternatives — residential care, renting, or building a traditional extension. Because you own the flat outright, it adds value to your property. A 35 m² ancillary granny flat typically starts from around €80,000 turnkey — see our prices guide and finance calculator.

A back-garden granny flat may also qualify for the new Class 3A exemption for a detached auxiliary dwelling of 32–45 m² (from 27 July 2026, subject to conditions). See our 45m² planning exemption guide for the detail, or see our plain-English guide to the 2026 back-garden modular home rules.

Real New Chapter Homes Projects

1-Bed Modular Pod — Kill, Co. Kildare

Kill, County Kildare

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Lakeside Chapter One Retreat

County Mayo

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Factory to Site in 30 Days — Limerick Modular Home

Limerick

View project