Australian Property Investor Magazine

Western Australia has taken a major step towards tackling the housing crisis that is wreaking havoc across the country.

The state is scrapping rules around the building of granny flats in suburban back yards as it tries to increase urban density, slow urban sprawl and bring more housing stock to the city with the country’s lowest vacancy rate among state capitals.

The relaxed amendments to Residential Design Codes (R-Codes) will boost housing supply by removing the minimum lot size requirements for an ancillary dwelling, commonly known as a granny flat.

The alternative housing type will no longer require council planning approval and can be constructed on any property lot size. The new dwellings will need to meet setback requirements and must not exceed 70 square metres.

To read this article in full including comments from UDIA WA CEO Tanya Steinbeck, click here.

Related posts

  • Fuel crisis threatens housing affordability

    Opinion Editorial, Published in The West Australian Newspaper, Wednesday 22 April 2026 Terms like ‘unprecedented’ and ‘global uncertainty’ became part of everyday language during the pandemic. Just as the development and construction industry was finding…

    Read more

  • Sand no longer dirt cheap

    The West Australian, Page 3, Saturday 18 April 2026 WA’s identity as the Sandgroper State may have been forged in its coastal plains but sand is no longer dirt cheap with costs jumping two-thirds —…

    Read more

  • Saffioti flags more housing budget measures

    Business News Rita Saffioti has signalled a potential expansion of the first home buyers’ grant, while reassuring developers connections to infrastructure should improve. Speaking at an Urban Development Institute of Australia WA event today, the…

    Read more