Standard Two-Unit Duplex Design

What is the “bivvy” area, and why is it important?

The “bivvy” is the area that can be locked off from the rest of the home, with its own sitting area, bathroom, and bed loft. It can be accessed directly from the outside, making it a great way to rent part of the home out on a short-term basis.

Why is this so important?

We’ve interviewed over 100 potential home buyers, and every single one of them indicated that owning land is not essential to them, as long as there is short-term rental potential.

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Affix is committed to safeguarding our homeowners for the long term. Through our analysis of trends in short-term rental legislation nationwide, we've observed a growing number of cities imposing restrictions on short-term rentals in properties owned by absentee landlords. The aim of such regulations is to ensure that housing in these areas primarily serves local residents rather than becoming predominantly occupied by tourists. Under these new laws, short-term rentals are typically allowed only in properties where there is a permanent resident, such as renting out a single room or wing of a home that is occupied year-round.

The bivvy design offers protection to homeowners against the potential impact of future short-term rental laws that may target absentee-owned properties. Under this arrangement, the homeowner can reside in the main part of the home or lease it full-time to a local resident, thereby maintaining the ability to continue renting out the designated bivvy area on a short-term basis.