Why are more Australians than ever turning to granny flats, tiny rentals and secondary dwellings to survive the housing crisis?

This week on The Edit, host Elle Lovelock sits down with award-winning designer and our TV fave James Treble (The Block, Open Homes Australia, Renovate or Rebuild) to unpack why the most contested real estate in the country might just be… your backyard.

With more Australians squeezed by affordability pressures, one major property portal reported a 50% spike in searches for “granny flats” and related terms in just one year — a dramatic indication of how sharply the market has turned toward secondary dwellings, backyard rentals, and multigenerational living.

James brings three decades of experience, a suitcase of stories, and a refreshingly honest take on what happens when families try to solve emotional problems with architectural ones.

 The Practical Reality

“There’s nothing idyllic about sitting on a toilet while looking at a washing machine.”
James digs into the design traps, regulatory blind spots and build-site chaos that catch even experienced renovators off guard.

Topics include:

• The Dutch Method of floor-planning

• Why a “simple” backyard build is never simple

• The blueprint tweaks you can make — and the ones that will blow your budget

• The unexpected “Venice of Ettalong” building-site moment

• Why tradies can be “full on,” but often right

 The Emotional Weight of Small Spaces

James opens the door to the real reasons people build these micro-homes:

• Housing ageing parents with dignity

• Boomerang kids who need independence (and parents who need privacy)

• Creating flexible spaces for WFH, guests or Airbnbs

• How a well-designed granny flat can transform family dynamics

• The rise of women over 55 as the fastest-growing cohort facing housing insecurity in Australia

• Why secondary dwellings can become “the most valuable square metres on your property — or the most expensive mistake”

Thank you for listening ❤️

before you leave...

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James Treble 

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🙏 Our special thanks making 'The Edit' our new home:

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Oz Design - furniture Australians love 

James Treble

Credits:

Edited by Phil Calloway 

Production by Thomas Crnkovic 

Our wonderful Home Beautiful team 

Learn More: HOME BEAUTIFUL

🧭 Final Takeaway

If you’re dreaming of building “out the back,” James suggests you start by answering one deceptively simple question:

“Who is this really for in five years?”

Because the best backyard builds aren’t just designed —
they’re planned, felt, argued over, compromised on, and finally lived in.