Floor plan first to live in, then to rent out, but how?

Good day everyone,

my girlfriend and I are currently planning our house and want to design it in such a way that in old age, when the children have moved out and we can limit ourselves to the ground floor, the first floor can be rented out with two residential units.
We like the idea, but the layout must already be largely fixed before renting because personally, I do not want to remove and rebuild all the walls when the time comes.

I have already used the search function in the forum but unfortunately could not find whether anyone has ever attempted such a thing.
Maybe you have a link to a post that fits my concern?

Otherwise, I can upload our floor plan sketch. Unfortunately, the current state is only suitable for renting, but how to modify it so that personal use and renting in the future go almost hand in hand is something we are not yet sure about.

We would be very happy about tips and advice, many thanks and best regards
Nils and Lisa

Does the development plan for the property allow 3 residential units? That then counts as a multi-family house… that is also one reason why people search endlessly on Google, because they are looking for something that is very rare.

We are happy to receive tips and suggestions

1. The floor plan on the upper floor largely depends on the floor plan on the ground floor (load-bearing walls, water/sewage) 2. Preparation also means preparing everything at once for three units (electrical sub-distributions, electricity and water meters, etc.) 3. How is the access from below? You need a completely enclosed staircase. 4. Development plan requirements? Usually, you build new where a maximum of two units are approved. These are just a few of many points. But now to my opinion. Build a house for your needs. If the kids are out and it’s too big for you, sell it and downsize. I wouldn’t want tenants from above staring into my garden (where are the balconies for the apartments upstairs?) when I just feel like spending naked time with my partner in the pool... P.S. By the way, walls are always drawn too. They are not lines but wide stones. Then many floor plans often solve themselves...

I have already used the search in the forum, but unfortunately could not find whether someone has ever attempted such an experiment.

Someone regularly comes up with this idea. We had also considered it once. In practice, you either end up with a poor single-family house or a poor two-family house. So far, I have not seen a floor plan that does both well and uses space efficiently.

My girlfriend and I are currently planning our house and want to design the house in such a way that in old age, when the children have moved out and we can limit ourselves to the ground floor, the first upper floor can be rented out with two residential units. We like the idea, but the layout must already be largely fixed before renting because I personally do not want to remove and rebuild all the walls when the time comes. I have already used the forum search but unfortunately could not find whether someone has already tried such an attempt. Maybe you have a link to a post that fits my concern?

Here you go, on the keyword "Altersbauen" I have something here and at the same place:

Yes, I recommend you - unfortunately to google externally, preferably including the quotation marks - "Das Obergeschoss hat Vorrang" (The upper floor has priority), as well as, considering your sit-down shower on the ground floor, also "Irrwege der vorausschauenden Hausplanung" (Missteps of forward-looking house planning) and in addition "Wann ist es Zeit, ans ´Altersbauen´ zu denken?" (When is it time to think about 'aging building'?).

On "bauen jetzt" I have expressed my two cents on the keyword "Altersbauen" in two posts. From my point of view, one and especially a potential second granny flat are knee-jerk shots for the house design within the possibilities.

Does the plot and the children who will move out in the future even exist yet?

Otherwise, I can post our floor plan sketch. Unfortunately, the condition is only for renting out, but how it could be modified so that own use and renting almost go hand in hand in the future is not certain to us so far.

It is unfortunately very certain that a universal life-phase house would be neither fish nor fowl. That one should design the upper floor first is already a good approach ;-)

P.S. By the way, one always draws walls. These are not lines but wide stones. Then many floor plans often become obsolete...

Sort of, I also first draw lines: walls first get one layer and only afterwards a material and a dimension. To prevent floor plans from becoming obsolete, you have to take wall thickness into account – generally 12 cm in width and depth of the house is a practical value.

By the way, walls are always drawn in as well.

As long as you are still in sketch mode, doodles are sufficient.

Does the plot and the children who will move out in the future even exist yet?

And yes, that’s exactly what I thought:
not yet married, no child or household, just mentally building a nest on paper, dreaming about how to pursue goals together – that’s all perfectly legitimate.

But at some point, the seriousness of life comes: searching for land, financing… you can be glad if you can even pay for a small house for your own needs. Before full repayment after 30 years, most couples have already separated or, with too many or too few children according to plan, have long since moved into something else.
If you are financially lucky and also get a plot where no restrictions limit you, then of course the goal is to combine a warm nest atmosphere with a staircase. Usually, by this point at the latest, people say: I am only planning for myself and will make no compromises.
If you think as an investor or believe it is wise to create many housing units, then please provide living space with quality of life for all involved. Functional planning regarding shared bathroom and water pipes, fire protection, storage rooms, etc. Last but not least, also consider that strangers live above you, use the same entrance and driveway including noise nuisance and cars on your own property, for which you have to offer something rather than a direct view of your own terrace. Otherwise, strangers change too quickly and neglect your own house.