In the ever-evolving landscape of housing and retirement planning, granny flats are emerging as a powerful solution, offering a myriad of benefits for families. The advantages of granny flats, beyond their potential to foster intergenerational wealth pooling and address social isolation, the can also contribute to alleviating the current housing crisis.
Intergenerational Living: A Win-Win-Win Scenario
Granny flats can provide a unique living arrangement, enjoyed by multiple generations. Adult children can enjoy the privacy of their own home while being close-by, ready to provide assistance if needed. Grandparents relish the opportunity to spend quality time with the grandkids, which the grandkids love. It can be a win-win-win for all involved.
Social Benefits and Housing Crisis Solutions
Beyond familial advantages, granny flats play a pivotal role in overcoming social isolation among the elderly. These purpose-built, age-friendly homes offer a secure and comfortable living environment that are often tailor made for aging. The pooling of resources across generations can also enable families to save money while providing a sustainable solution to the housing crisis.
Governments are acknowledging the significance of granny flats in the current housing landscape. In 2021, the Federal Government removed Capital Gains Tax liability associated with the creation, variation, and termination of granny flats. The Victorian Government has also taken a progressive step by waiving the planning permit requirement for granny flats smaller than 60 square meters, incentivising the creation of age-friendly housing within existing land parcels.
Pension and Aged Care Considerations
Navigating the pension and aged care implications is crucial if you are considering a granny flat arrangement. Contrary to the real estate definition, Centrelink defines a granny flat as a home that you don't own but have a right to live in, this can include your current residence or one built or purchased in your child/ren’s name.
The amount you pay for the granny flat determines your homeowner classification for pension purposes. If the amount you pay is $242,000 or less Centrelink will categorize you as a non-homeowner, the granny flat will be included in your pension assets and you can qualify for rent assistance. If the amount you pay exceeds $242,000 Centrelink will classify you as a homeowner, exempting the granny flat value from the pension asset test but disqualifying you from rent assistance.
As a general rule the amount you pay for a granny flat arrangement is taken to be the market price, as they are family arrangements it can be hard to determine in other value. However, a reasonableness test applies if the amount you pay exceeds the value of construction or the purchase price (where a home is being bought or transferred) or if Centrelink suspects you are trying to gain a social security advantage. The reasonableness test multiplies the annual couple rate of pension ($42,988) by a factor based on your age. For example, if you are aged 73 the reasonableness test factor would be 14.25, meaning the reasonable amount would be just over $612,500, any amount you pay above this would be considered a gift.
If you are thinking about downsizing into a granny flat arrangement, the potential impact on future aged care costs needs to be considered. If you need to move into aged care within five years of creating a granny flat, and the need was reasonably foreseeable, the granny flat may be treated as a gift, affecting the calculation of your aged care costs.
Seeking Professional Guidance: A Necessity, Not an Option
Granny flats, with their unique legal and financial intricacies, demand careful consideration. Seeking legal and financial advice before entering into a granny flat arrangement is not just advisable; it is imperative for safeguarding financial security and family relationships.
On www.downsizingmadesimple.com.
