They're in their late twenties or early thirties. They're working, maybe doing well. And they're still in the box room they grew up in, because the maths of moving out simply won't close. The rent eats the deposit; the deposit never grows; another year goes by.
If that's your house, the first thing worth saying is: you are not unusual, and neither are they.
440,000 grown adults, and counting
In Census 2022, 41% of Irish adults aged 18 to 34 were living with their parents, more than 440,000 people, up from 32% in 2011 (CSO, Census 2022). That isn't a generation that didn't try hard enough. It's a country tens of thousands of homes a year short, with rents past €2,000 a month in much of the State.
For most parents there have only ever been two responses, and both hurt: hand over a deposit you can't really spare, or watch a capable adult stay stuck. As of 2026, there is a third.
The third option: a home of their own, twenty steps away
On 21 April 2026 the Government brought draft Exempted Development Regulations to Cabinet. If enacted as drafted, they create a new category of home, a detached, self-contained dwelling of 32 to 45 m² in the rear garden of a principal house, that would need no full planning permission where the conditions are met, including linking its services to the main house.
That is not a glorified shed. It's a real one-bedroom home: their own front door, their own kitchen, their own bathroom, their own life, close enough that family stays family, independent enough that they're finally living rather than waiting.
It is important to be straight about the status: these regulations are still in draft and not yet enacted, and they remain subject to environmental assessment. The sensible first step is always a site review against the current draft conditions, we set out exactly what the rules say here.
For the price of a small car, not a deposit you'll never see again
This is what makes it finally realistic for ordinary families: it doesn't cost what a house costs. A unit like the Ériu 20ft Expandable, which opens to roughly 34 m² in a single working day, starts from €25,000 delivered for a basic but livable specification, including sea freight and simple furniture, and finishes up to a fully-fitted, compliant, A2-BER home for a fraction of the €110,000–€180,000 an Irish-built equivalent typically costs.
Because the foundation, crane, services connection and BER differ from one garden to the next, there is no single all-in figure to quote honestly, so we model the exact number for your site and itemise every line. What's certain is the comparison most parents come back to: a deposit handed over is gone, while a home built on your own ground is an asset that stays in the family and keeps working long after they've found their feet.
If you want to see the buyer's-eye version of all this, the layouts, the spec, and how families are using it, we've laid it out on one page here.
What it takes, told straight
We would rather you knew this now than after you'd signed. Two things matter most:
- Planning-exempt is not building-regulations-exempt. Even under the draft rules, a back-garden home still needs a Commencement Notice, services connected from your house, a foundation, and a BER on completion. Every Ériu unit is specified to the Irish Building Regulations (TGD Parts A–M) and ships with a full compliance pack; our vetted Irish installer network handles the site phase. Here's exactly what that involves.
- The mortgage point. Most Irish lenders will not currently mortgage a property that has a second self-contained dwelling on the same title, which can affect remortgaging and resale. Many families therefore fund the unit from savings, a credit union loan or a personal loan rather than the house mortgage. We provide a written briefing on this with every quote, and you should confirm the position with your solicitor.
None of that is a reason not to do it. It's the difference between a complete, lawful, occupiable home and a box with a problem attached, which is the whole reason to buy from an Irish-owned company that inspects every unit in person and answers the phone here.
If your back garden is big enough, the box room might not have to be forever.
Frequently asked questions
Can I legally build a home for my adult child in my back garden?
Under the draft April 2026 Exempted Development Regulations, which are subject to environmental assessment and not yet enacted, a detached self-contained dwelling of 32 to 45 m² in the rear garden of a principal house could be built without full planning permission where the conditions are met, including linking services to the main house. It must still meet the Irish Building Regulations and carry a BER. Start with a site review against the current draft conditions, and confirm the position with your local authority and solicitor.
How much would a back-garden home for my son or daughter cost?
A unit like the Ériu 20ft Expandable starts from €25,000 delivered for a basic livable specification and finishes up to a fully-fitted, compliant A2 home for a fraction of the €110,000–€180,000 an Irish-built equivalent costs. Site works, foundation, crane, services, BER, vary per garden, so the all-in installed figure is project-specific and itemised in your quote.
Will building a second home in the garden affect my mortgage?
Most Irish lenders will not currently mortgage a property that contains a second self-contained dwelling on the same title, which can affect remortgaging and resale. Many families fund the unit from savings or other finance rather than the house mortgage. We provide a written briefing on this with every quote and recommend you confirm the position with your solicitor.
