Homes are getting a lot greener this year. Natural light, botanical plants and the garden being a priority, people are trying to design homes that reflect the outdoors.
The modern garden is an extension of the home. For some, it’s storage. For others, it’s a garden office. For others still, it’s… home.
With the costs of care and housing on the rise, graduates and grandparents are under the same roof. An expert in garden extensions shares why this is the case and the benefits of the garden annexe.
Why Is The Garden Annexe So Popular?
Natasha McCulloch, Sales Manager at Green Retreats, says: “Families are planning further ahead than ever before. With care costs rising and the population ageing, we are seeing sustained demand for annex buildings that balance independence with proximity.”
Nearly one in five people in the UK is now aged 65 or over, and as life expectancy increases, this ratio will only increase. Green retreats found that care home fees are often over £60k a year in many areas of the UK. Comparing this with the majority of UK earners that don’t see that amount of money in a year (1/5th of people in the UK earn over £60k), it’s clear that care is unaffordable for most. While it does provide structured care, it’s not the best choice for familial closeness.
Property prices and rent are increasing far faster than wage rates, making independent living and home ownership a distant dream for many, especially graduates with loan repayments at high interest rates.
Perhaps the appeal is also the value proposition of annexes. Green Retreats found that self contained annexes can increase overall property value by 20% to 30%. An all-year-round option amongst the other garden extension ideas floating about, it’s an attractive option to growing families who want to stay together but give each other breathing space. Sharing their website data, Green Retreats found 60% more traffic on their annexe-related pages over the last year.
“A well designed garden annexe allows families to remain connected while protecting privacy and dignity,” Natasha comments.
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