Other Multiunit Solutions

There are a few other solutions that are available for homeowners looking to maximize there space by adding one or more legal units:

Garden Suites: While similar garden suites differ from Laneway houses in where they are located in your backyard and not facing a public laneway, costs are similar to build. Both garden suites and laneway houses could take advantage of an existing detached garage as your primary structure.

Home separations: There are cases where a large single family home maybe be separated into a duplex or multiplex using the main living area (excluding basement and attic spaces). There are several factors which will influence this option ie. square footage, existing layout, zoning requirements.

Attic Apartments: The attic space in your home may be converted into a separate apartment where your home’s structure and Ontario building code allows. Attic apartments are rarer than basement apartments typically because there is less square footage available and additional technical considerations. These are still a viable and welcomed options for some homeowners.

Laneway Suite: These units use the A laneway house, often referred to as a laneway suite, is a residential unit that is separate from a primary residence and is typically located in the rear yard of a property, connected to a public laneway. While most commonly found in urban areas, laneway houses can also exist in rural settings. These units offer many of the same benefits of a Basement Apartment ie. extra income, increased property value, but with additional privacy as they are separate houses from your main house. There are of course many more technical considerations with these units and are typically more expensive than a basement or attic build in that you are essentially building a mini house (which includes foundations, framing, siding etc.) in addition to kitchens, bathrooms etc.