Adding an Extension to Host Boarders? Five Tips to Consider

Adding a house extension where you can host boarders is a great way to turn your home into a mini bed and breakfast or to create a space that you can rent out through a site like AirBnB. However, as you design your extension, there are several things you should keep in mind. Check out these tips and ideas:

1. Make sure you are zoned correctly.

In most cases, you need to obtain a building permit to add an extension, and you also need to ensure you are compliant with local laws related to easements and such like. However, in some cases, you may also need special permission if you plan to put boarders in your extension. For example, your home may need to be zoned as multi-occupancy, or to rent out rooms, you may need to be in a mixed commercial-residential area.

Contact your local council to make sure you are compliant. You can also direct these questions to the person helping to design your extension -- they typically know the laws in the areas where they work.

2. Consider creating a separate space.

If you are going to be renting out the extension to strangers, you may want to put it somewhere separate from your home. That gives both you and the boarder a bit of extra privacy. For example, instead of building an extension off a lounge or kitchen, consider putting in an extension on the other side of your garage. Alternatively, look into options such as building a tiny house in your garden or adding a "granny" flat above your garage.

3. Add a bathroom.

If the budget allows, always add a bathroom to your extension regardless of how you plan to use it. In most cases, extra bathrooms add to the resale value of a home, and they also make the extension more appealing to potential boarders or renters. In most cases, it's easier to have a builder add a bathroom to an extension whilst it's being built than it is to add one after the fact.

4. Create a separate heating and cooling zone.

If you have a ducted HVAC system, consider adding a separate system to the extension. Adding a ductless heating or cooling option is typically easier and cheaper than extending your ductwork. Additionally, your HVAC system may not be large enough to heat or cool more space, and with a separate heating and cooling system, you can put a unique thermostat in your boarder's space, allowing them to set the temps they like. Finally, if you have separate systems, you can shut off heating and cooling in the extension when it's not in use, saving you money.

5. Look into a separate entrances.

Lastly, when talking with someone about designing an extension to house B&B guests or boarders, consider the benefits of a separate entrance. That means the guests don't have to come and go through your home. It gives both you and your boarders a bit of extra privacy.