Annexes
An annex is a secondary unit of accommodation attached to, or within the grounds of, a main dwelling. For example a converted garage, garden studio or side/loft extension with its own sleeping and living space. Sometimes called a Granny flat. Annexes range from fully self-contained, including own front door, kitchen and bathroom, to semi-self-contained, sharing some facilities with the main house.
From a landlord’s perspective, the crucial question is whether the annex is treated in law as a separate dwelling, also see Granny flat. If it is genuinely self-contained and used as someone’s only or main home, any let is likely to be an assured tenancy within the private rented sector, bringing full Renters’ Rights Act protections, including fitness and safety standards, EPC, gas and electrical checks, deposit and fee rules, redress, PRS Database registration and possession grounds. Planning consent, its own council tax band and, in some areas, licensing may also be required.
If you live in the main house and the annex is not fully self-contained, the occupier may instead be a lodger with more limited security, provided you genuinely share living space. For example it shares a kitchen or main entrance. Mislabelling a self-contained annex let as a “lodger” arrangement to avoid PRS rules is risky and can backfire in disputes or enforcement.
Also see our landlord blog articles, including:
