Tears, chickens, and tiny home ADUs. Two families reunited thanks to Additional Dwelling Units

“Mom, I’m going to the store. Do you need anything?”

Simple moments like these can be the key to quality of life.

For JP Marquis of Minimaliste, who has just returned from installing his second Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) tiny home in 2 months, these moments are what he’s passionate about.

“Sometimes it’s small details that we think are nothing special, but that’s what makes a difference in people’s lives. So yeah, it was fantastic.”

The ADUs – tiny homes on a foundation – were built in Minimaliste’s certified workshop in Quebec, then delivered by truck and installed in their new home.

Ottawa ADU: A retirement dream of spending time in the garden, close to family

This client hired Minimaliste to build her a tiny home in her daughter’s backyard, where she can be close to the grandchildren and roll up her sleeves in the garden.

She’s single, retired, and has a lot of energy. Just not for cleaning and maintaining her 5-bedroom home.

She’s single, retired, and has a lot of energy. Just not for cleaning and maintaining her 5-bedroom home.

“[Our client] was not in the physical shape that was allowing her to take care of her large house and still have the energy to do things outside. But now, her ADU is small, compact. There’s nothing to do, nothing to maintain. Now she can go out and have another shot at being more active than she was in the previous 10 years, for example.”

The ADU is installed in Clarence-Rockland, an Ottawa suburb. The client sold her house and moved to an ADU on her daughter’s property where she can have her privacy and her own indoor and outdoor space while also helping out with the chickens, maple trees, and other gardening projects.

She will also be close at hand to help with the grandchildren.

As any parent knows, an extra set of hands during the morning school rush can mean the difference between mental wellbeing and burnout, an effect that is felt throughout the rest of the day.

“When you have a family with two, three kids, there is so much to do and take care of. Our client was living 45 minutes away. She is an active woman, she wanted to help, but couldn’t make that drive every day. Now she can be right there.”

Quebec City ADU: No more renting, plus quality time with aging parents

it’s a 12’ by 24’ and it’s officially the first Additional Dwelling Unit in Quebec City, making use of a new bylaw that Minimaliste helped to develop and push through.

JP says, “Our clients are a couple in their early 40s. They are two professionals who work remotely, they have their own companies. They travel a lot. They’ve been renting an apartment in Quebec City, but she wanted to be closer to her parents as her father is living with a disability and she’d like to be able to support them more as they age.”

JP explains, “They installed their tiny home at the back of the family’s property so she can take care of her father and her mother wouldn’t be the only caretaker. Instead of living in an apartment far away, she can be right there. And instead of paying upwards of $1600 for the apartment and being away for six months out of the year, they can now pay a lower mortgage on the ADU. When they’re traveling, they can also rent out the tiny home for short-term rentals or the family can use it for visiting guests. So, yeah, they’re pretty happy right now.”

Instead of living in an apartment far away, she can be right there. And instead of paying upwards of $1600 for the apartment and being away for six months out of the year, they can now pay a lower mortgage on the ADU.

The financing arrangement is an interesting one, and something that JP thinks will be seen more often.

You cannot take out a mortgage on the ADU if it’s not attached to land. With the main house and land owned by the parents, the clients were able to add the ADU to the overall value of the property and then purchase a fraction of the property from their parents.

By entering in a co-ownership arrangement, the clients were able to take out a fractional mortgage on the ADU. They are now property owners building equity instead of renting.

In many parts of Canada, buying a conventional home has become out of reach for people in their twenties and thirties. JP shares that adult children buying ADUs is becoming a more common scenario, and a legitimate “middle step” in a house ownership journey.

“Traditionally, we used to think that ADUs were meant for aging people that don’t want to have to maintain a big house. But we also see young owners that will say, well, I cannot afford my dream home right now, but I don’t want to rent either. I’d like to have something of my own that I can put my money in, and build a credit history.”

I’d like to have something of my own that I can put my money in, and build a credit history.

“Having kids do this starting from when they first start working, say age 25, can really help when they are ready to buy a house later. When they’re ready to move out, the ADU can become a rental.”

A tiny home far better than a basement apartment

Before Additional Dwelling Units were introduced, JP says that most multi-generational dwelling scenarios in his area involved renovating a basement to create an in-law suite. However, the detached ADU concept offers many improvements on that scenario.

Firstly, he points out that ADUs have better access. No stairs for people with mobility challenges, no walking through the main home to reach the apartment.

Secondly, it is above ground level, which means a better lit, ventilated, and heated dwelling – much more comfortable for the resident.

Thirdly, a backyard tiny home offers a lot more privacy. It is a separate home in every way, and depending on the landscaping you choose to put in, you can fully enclose it from the primary house. “You’re investing a lot into converting your basement. And if it doesn’t work out, you’re looking at a big loss of money and a scenario that’s not comfortable for either party. With the ADU, you’re preserving privacy while adding proximity.” Because of the bylaws in Quebec, the ADU has its own address as well, which further adds to the independence of the resident.

With the ADU, you’re preserving privacy while adding proximity.

And when its time to move on, there are better options as well. “Having a family member living with you is usually a temporary arrangement. Once the basement suite is no longer needed, it’s very hard to find a use for it. You’re not going to rent it out to a stranger if there isn’t enough privacy, but you also don’t want to throw away everything you’ve invested in it.”

With the separate backyard tiny home, you have options to rent it out as a short-term or long-term rental. You can also sell it as a unit to be moved to a different property.

“We don’t want every piece of land to be covered with a house. That’s not the intent. But, especially what we say in the Clarence Rockland area of Ottawa, there’s lots of space. And there are many families that would really benefit from this. We can see that it really improves their quality of life.”

“When we did the final video call with our client to show her the finished house, she was crying! It’s cool to build luxury tiny homes for people who have lots of money, but then building this ADU for that lady over there who is crying because it’s going to improve her life so much. The whole family’s life. Our whole team is so proud of that. That’s why we do it.”

It’s going to improve her life so much. The whole family’s life. Our whole team is so proud of that. That’s why we do it.