ADUs allow people to age in place by providing an array of options, such as an easy downsize to a separate, more accessible home on the property. The main house can be rented or a grown child can live there (with his or her family). Other options are to use the ADU as living quarters for a caregiver or for a relative who requires care.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are small dwellings that are separate from a single-family home but share the same property. Tiny houses, granny flats, carriage houses, and in-law apartments are all options. There are attached ADUs, or units that are attached to the main house, and detached ADUs, or units that are not attached to the main house. An ADU can be a separate structure, a basement addition, or even a garage apartment.
As small, infill housing, ADUs often provide a lower-cost option for residents in neighborhoods where other homes are unaffordable.
Their owners may benefit from the rental income that an ADU can provide, which in some cases could help a homeowner afford to stay in place. Given the high cost of construction, however, the opportunity to build or rent an ADU is not affordable to all Seattle residents. This section provides some preliminary insights about the types of areas where ADUs have been created and identifies areas for further survey research.
