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And it’s a trend that growing rapidly throughout the UK.
That’s especially true for older age groups who wish to live their own lives whilst having a caring family close at hand. Of course, the high cost of care homes also makes investing in a garden annexe an attractive proposition. And the pandemic has also brought families together and transformed our attitudes towards multi-generational living.
But it’s not only the older age ranges that have embraced this trend.
With house prices beyond the reach of many first time buyers, a quality garden annexe is a truly affordable solution to giving younger family members the independence they crave.
Indeed, a report published in 2020 by Aviva titled ‘How We Live’ estimated that two million UK households are considering building an annexe on their property. Of these, 27% were earmarked for older relatives, whilst 25% were for grown-up children choosing to stay at home.
Building an annexe is a highly skilled process. So much so, few traditional builders and construction companies possess the know-how to deliver a quality product.
Unfortunately, the recent explosion in demand has seen many new unskilled entrants move into the annexe market. Some of these pay scant attention to build quality, whilst others simply lack the experience in dealing with the complex regulations of planning and building control. These players cut corners, cut costs and ignore standards in the pursuit of winning business and profiteering.
Official guidance can make it unclear as to whether or not the exacting regulations which govern the building of a permanent home apply when creating an annexe. Unscrupulous builders exploit this lack of clarity to produce shoddy products which keep prices low and by-pass building controls and regulations.
The NAPC is there to protect and safeguard customers as this malpractice is neither ethical nor fair. The NAPC charter requires all builders to build annexes to the same standards demanded for the construction of permanent homes – regardless of their classification under planning regulations.
Building an annexe is a highly skilled process. So much so, few traditional builders and construction companies possess the know-how to deliver a quality product.
Unfortunately, the recent explosion in demand has seen many new unskilled entrants move into the annexe market. Some of these pay scant attention to build quality, whilst others simply lack the experience in dealing with the complex regulations of planning and building control. These players cut corners, cut costs and ignore standards in the pursuit of winning business and profiteering.
Official guidance can make it unclear as to whether or not the exacting regulations which govern the building of a permanent home apply when creating an annexe. Unscrupulous builders exploit this lack of clarity to produce shoddy products which keep prices low and by-pass building controls and regulations.
The NAPC is there to protect and safeguard customers as this malpractice is neither ethical nor fair. The NAPC charter requires all builders to build annexes to the same standards demanded for the construction of permanent homes – regardless of their classification under planning regulations.
Whether acting in good faith but woefully ignorant of best practice, or simply choosing to cynically disregard the proper standards, builders who fail to follow the NAPC charter are producing poor quality annexes unfit for permanent habitation. And that means potentially dangerous living spaces, produced under the radar of building control and planning and beyond their regulation.
Not only can such poorly built annexes pose a risk to the physical health of customers; they can also impact on their financial wellbeing as people waste their lifetime savings or equity from the sale of the family home on products that are simply not fit for purpose.
What’s more, without proper standards or building controls and planning in place, low quality annexes may not be covered by any building and home insurance policy – and neither will they be saleable as part of the main property.
Needless to say, this sharp practice is damaging the reputation of the annexe industry as a whole, including those specialist annexe builders who abide by exacting standards.
By following the NAPC charter, builders and homeowners can be confident that their homes are safe and represent a secure investment in the value of their property.
The NAPC was established in 2021 by the UK’s leading annexe building company iHus. The aim? To ensure that all annexe builders adhere to strict regulations and controls so that:
the reputation of the industry is maintained
quality builders who deliver to the NAPC standards can be easily identified by customers
consumers are informed of the potential risks and pitfalls involved in annexe building and disreputable or inexperienced builders
annexe owners are protected financially and their health and safety assured, and
best practice is shared to help new entrants to the market understand what it takes to build a quality annexe.
The NAPC is a charter that enshrines a set of ten commitments that make certain that the highest standards of design, construction and delivery are achieved.
The NAPC was established in 2021 by the UK’s leading annexe building company iHus. The aim? To ensure that all annexe builders adhere to strict regulations and controls so that:
the reputation of the industry is maintained
quality builders who deliver to the NAPC standards can be easily identified by customers
consumers are informed of the potential risks and pitfalls involved in annexe building and disreputable or inexperienced builders
annexe owners are protected financially and their health and safety assured, and
best practice is shared to help new entrants to the market understand what it takes to build a quality annexe.
The NAPC is a charter that enshrines a set of ten commitments which make certain that the highest standards of design, construction and delivery are achieved.
The NAPC was established in 2021 by the UK’s leading annexe building company iHus. The aim? To ensure that all annexe builders adhere to strict regulations and controls so that:
The reputation of the industry is maintained
Quality builders who deliver to the NAPC standards can be easily identified by customers
Consumers are informed of the potential risks and pitfalls involved in annexe building and disreputable or inexperienced builders
Annexe owners are protected financially and their health and safety assured, and
Best practice is shared to help new entrants to the market understand what it takes to build a quality annexe.
The NAPC is a charter that enshrines a set of ten commitments which make certain that the highest standards of design, construction and delivery are achieved.
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