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Quality Minor Dwellings
& Granny Flats

Expand your space with self-contained living solutions.

Extra Space Without
The Extra Hassle

Creating more space shouldn’t mean leaving the home, neighbourhood, or lifestyle you love. Whether you want room for extended family, a private space for teenagers or guests, or an additional income stream through a rental unit, a well-designed minor dwelling can completely transform the way you live and use your property.

At Gareth Davis Builders we build quality minor dwellings, granny flats, sleepouts, and small homes across North Canterbury, Christchurch, Waimakariri, and Hurunui. We focus on creating functional, stylish spaces that add genuine value to your property and lifestyle.

With the introduction of the new 70m² building consent exemption, building a granny flat can now be a more streamlined process in the right circumstances. If you would like to understand how the exemption works and whether your property may qualify, you can read our full guide to the 70m² granny flat building consent exemption.

We work closely with our designer to offer you a full design and build service and manage the building process from start to finish, helping make the experience straightforward and stress-free.

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Types Of Minor Dwellings We Build

Granny Flats & Self-Contained Units

Independent Living, Right At Home
A granny flat is the perfect solution for elderly parents, adult children, or guests, offering a comfortable, self-contained space with privacy and convenience.

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Standalone Sleep Outs & Home Offices

Extra Space For Work Or Relaxation
Need a dedicated home office, creative studio, or guest room? A custom-built sleepout offers a functional retreat without compromising your main living area—and it may be exempt from council consent.

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Guest Houses & Airbnb Units

A Smart Investment For Additional Income
Short-term rentals like Airbnb units provide a great return on investment. Our expertly crafted guest houses offer a comfortable, high-quality stay for tenants or visitors.

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A Seamless Build,
From Concept To Completion

01.

Initial Consultation

Catch up with Gareth to chat through your ideas. Bring in your plans and inspiration–this is all about understanding your vision.

02.

Plans & Quotation

No plans? We’ll connect you with a trusted designer. Once drawings are ready, Gareth provides a detailed quote. A quote fee applies but is credited if you go ahead.

03.

Specifications & Final Sign Off

While plans go to council, we’ll help finalise your fixtures and finishes. Then we’ll confirm a fixed-price quote for approval.

04.

Contracting

We sign a Master Builders Contract and apply for your 10-Year Guarantee. Then it’s all go.

05.

Construction

With consent approved, we start building. You’ll receive regular updates as your home takes shape.

06.

Handover
Once finished and signed off, we hand over the keys and do a final walkthrough to ensure you’re happy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Granny Flats

What is the difference between a granny flat and a minor dwelling?

The terms are often used interchangeably in New Zealand. A granny flat or minor dwelling is a small, self-contained home built on the same property as an existing house.

Can I build a granny flat without building consent in Christchurch and North Canterbury?

Under the new 70m² building consent exemption, some standalone granny flats can be built without a building consent if strict criteria are met. However, council rules, building code requirements, and other approvals still apply. For more information, read our article about the Granny Flat Exemption.

How much does it cost to build a granny flat?

The cost of a granny flat depends on factors such as size, design, site works, foundations, services, and level of finish. We can help guide you through realistic budgets based on your goals and site requirements, however most dwellings fall between $3000-$4000 per square metre.

Can you build granny flats larger than 70m²?

Yes. We can build larger minor dwellings and standalone homes through the standard consent process where permitted by council rules. A resource consent is required if the dwelling is bigger than what is permitted by your council zoning rules.

What areas do you service?

We build granny flats and minor dwellings across Christchurch, Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Pegasus, Amberley, Waimakariri, Hurunui, and wider North Canterbury.

Do you offer fixed-price contracts?

Yes, we typically work with fixed-price contracts to give you certainty and peace of mind around the overall cost of your project. Once work is underway, if any unforeseen work arises, we’ll discuss any required variations with you and seek approval before moving forward.

What Our Clients Say

Cannot recommend Gareth and his team enough! They took on a complex renovation of our 1950’s property and the end result is fantastic. Throughout the entire process, there was clear and effective communication so we always knew what was going on. We also threw a fair few number of scope changes into the mix, which Gareth and his team handled with ease.

Would highly recommend these guys if you’re planning a similar project!

Josh S

We recently had alterations done to our home by Gareth Davis Builders and we are really happy with the result. The workmanship was excellent, the communication was clear throughout, and the whole project was handled in a friendly and professional manner.
Nothing was ever a problem and every detail was taken care of, and the team was reliable, tidy, and respectful of our home.
Our home lacked a proper front entrance and the final outcome certainly gave us that and has made a huge difference to how visitors arrive.
We’d happily recommend them to anyone.

Adrian and Trish

Gareth and his team built our home in 2020. We had no experience in building previously and Gareth was able to make the process as stress free and seamless as possible. The build ran ahead of schedule and we are absolutely thrilled with our house. Would highly recommend Gareth to anyone looking to build or renovate!

Tim M

This is the second time we have used Gareth Davis builders; first for an expansive deck and this time for kitchen, dining living renno. They are a great skilled team, subies used also fantastic. They are flexible, nothing's a problem, they listened to what we wanted and completed the job to a high standard. We are super stoked with the results. Will definitely use again.

Claire K

Gareth Davis Builders have undertaken a number of alteration projects for me over the years, both residential and light commercial in nature.

Gareth is an excellent communicator, is extremely approachable and keeps me informed throughout each project. He is always willing to work with me to achieve the desired outcome and nothing is ever too much trouble to him.

His team are professional, reliable and efficient. They are excellent problem solvers and use their extensive knowledge to offer recommendations and solutions throughout the build. They run a tidy site and have exceptional attention to detail.

I can confidently recommend Gareth Davis Builders to anyone who wishes to take on their next building project.

John M

Gareth and his team are absolute experts in their craft. We engaged them to undertake a complex renovation on a 1950’s property, which included relocating a kitchen, creating a new bedroom, two new bathrooms, a new roof and re-cladding a garage. Throughout the process communication was clear and efficient, with Gareth managing multiple scope changes and a series of different subcontractors with ease. The quality of the work was top notch and often above and beyond expectation.

We will definitely be using Gareth again in the future and would highly recommend him to anyone looking to take on a similar scale renovation. Thank you for all your hard work!

John & Nicole

Having been a Registered Architect for more than 30 years, I have worked with a lot of builders, some good, others not so good.

When the time came to carry out earthquake repairs and completion of our own house, I wanted a builder who was trustworthy, honest, a good communicator and open to a challenge or three. And preferably someone who would be on site and on the tools, not just the phone.

Gareth had built a small house for some clients in Pegasus a few years earlier and I was impressed by his attention to detail and the tidy site.

Our own project was a different story. It involved some fairly new building products and systems, a few unusual materials, and as you can imagine with an architect’s house some tricky detailing. Gareth took it all in his stride, thought it through and came up with some good solutions. Nothing was ever a problem, and he went the extra mile on several occasions when unexpected weather and other events occurred.

We are very happy with the end result, and I have no hesitation in recommending Gareth and his team to any discerning clients.

David M

Gareth Davis and his team made our investment property renovation an enjoyable experience.

We wanted to be actively involved (get on the tools). In the planning phase we met with Gareth and sought guidance in how involved we could be and what work we could do to help save on some costs. Thinking this may be an issue we were pleasantly surprised to see how at ease Gareth was with us being involved.

Gareth project managed other trades and also kept us well informed of where we were at and what had to be done. Gareth and his team took around 7 weeks to do their part of the renovations so that we could start the exciting task of painting inside and out.

They are a professional outfit who are flexible and will do their utmost to tackle any challenge. Thank you Gareth, Dan and Harry. You guys were great to work with and we will most definitely work with you again as well as be recommending you to others.

Straton & Vicky

We have just completed our second new build with Gareth. The team at Gareth Davis Builders went above and beyond to help our dreams come to life. From helping us to refine our plans with a tight budget in mind to finishing off the build with care and attention to detail; we could not fault the process.

The team was flexible and had excellent communication when it came to decision making and keeping us in the loop with the time line. We loved turning up each week to our site and seeing progress - our build was complete sooner than expected, making it a super stress free and exciting experience.

We cannot recommend Gareth Davis Builders enough - absolutely get them on board with your next project!

Tim & Brittany

Expand Your Home With
A Smart Living Solution

A minor dwelling is a cost-effective, practical way to create extra space or generate rental income without the need for a major renovation or move. Let’s discuss your needs, budget, and options to build the perfect granny flat, sleepout, or guest unit for your home.

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