Valet Custom Blog | Luxury Closet & Cabinet Solutions for Home Organization

The new California laws that went into effect in January have lessened the difficulty and cost of adding a so-called granny unit, now dubbed Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), to single-family or multi-family dwellings. San Jose has gone a step further in their attempts to ease the housing shortage that is causing rents in the Bay Area to skyrocket. San Jose’s removal of barriers for these small rental units; by lowering the total square footage of the lot needed for an ADU and increasing the maximum square footage of the unit itself to 800 square feet, can create a great opportunity for you - the homeowner - to benefit. While it may not be built for resale, you can rent this unit out to increase your monthly income. It can also be used for multi-generational living, for instance with boomerang kids or aging parents. It can even be used as a short term rental (STR) like Airbnb.

A wall bed can make a small accessory dwelling unit into a chic and versatile place to retire.

Image from Valet Custom Cabinets & Closets.

We’ve been working in and around Berkeley for a long time, and we know it’s a place people want to live. But because so many people want to live here, the city has been forced to tighten up its zoning laws. As a result, we’re seeing more and more accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, that are able to serve many functions. These small spaces can transition over the years, changing from a home office, to a guest room, to a storage area and more. Here at Valet Custom Cabinets & Closets, we often see ADUs being used for aging relatives who are looking to stay close to family.