US housing solution “Fonzie Flats” could help Australia’s housing crisis

Four decades on, the leather-wearing heart-throb known as “The Fonz” is still popular – and could help Australia’s housing shortage according to an urban planner.

A housing solution nicknamed after “The Fonz” could help address Australia’s housing shortage.

The Fonz – aka Arthur Fonzarelli – was a beloved TV character from the 1970s and 80s sitcom Happy Days that lived above the garage.

Four decades on, the leather-wearing heart-throb played by Henry Winkler is still well known and has been floated as a saviour to Australia’s housing shortage.

A United States housing solution named “Fonzie Flats” has regained popularity across the states resulting in 7000 new home approved in Los Angeles alone this year.

Happy Days was a hugely popular sitcom from the 70s and 80s. Picture: Getty Images

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Fonzie Flats turns the character of Fonzie’s living conditions into reality. It is independent accommodation within an existing home. In Fonzie’s case, it was the garage however it can also be a granny flat or other alternatives.

Urban solutions provider Hatch Roberts Day partner Mike Day is advocating for the housing solution across Australia after returning from his company’s study tour of the US.

Mr Day said issues such as migration and restrictive planning laws were contributing to the crisis.

Fonzie lived above the garage. Picture: Getty Images

Examples of a “Fonzie Flats”, a housing solution making a return across the US.

“Changing the entire Australian housing industry simply isn’t feasible in the short term, but we can finely tune our existing housing model,” he said.

“For instance, we should be utilising the existing space that many Australians have by building granny flats in backyards and by putting Fonzie flats on top of existing garages.’’

Mr Day said Australia’s housing crisis was not expected to resolve soon, with research from the Institute of Public Affairs revealing a net supply shortfall of over 250,000 homes by 2028. Affordability also remains a major issue with competition driving up prices.

“The young, the elderly and others in low-paid or part-time work are particularly at risk,” Mr Day said.

Fonzie flats are independent living quarters within an existing home.

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“And our inadequate supply of public or community-owned housing leaves us ill-equipped to take care of our most vulnerable or reduce existing backlogs as 1.7 million net new immigrants flood into the country between now and 2028.”

Mr Day said Australia should be emulating California, which is in a building boom for basement suites, garage apartments and backyard cottages.

“They don’t have a major impact on communities or add many new cars to the roads, and they are well suited to seniors who want to live on the same piece of land as family members, or for younger people dealing with a tough housing market,’’ he said.

Fonzie was initially a secondary character in the sitcom but his popularity soared.

“It’s a cost-effective and environmentally sound housing solution which can be adapted to existing urban areas or emerging metropolitan growth areas. It would also assist communities to be more connected by accommodating multiple generations and different familial structures into neighbourhoods.

“Councils could restrict their use for Airbnb purposes so that extended families and key workers in the community would have access to a greater attainable housing pool.’’

Queensland’s deputy premier Steven Miles recently acknowledged the issue.

“We cannot only rely on traditional models and new greenfield development as the answer for housing choice and affordability given what we know about people’s preferences,” he said.

Last year, Queensland pushed through a new law to allow people to rent out granny flats, which is still not allowed in other states including Victoria

Mr Day said this important precedent should be emulated elsewhere, and planning restrictions can be improved across Australia to encourage construction of Fonzie flats and granny flats.

“At the end of the day, the only way to provide more attainable housing is to foster diversity in housing forms and build more of it where people want to live,’’ he said.

Originally published as US housing solution “Fonzie Flats” could help Australia’s housing crisis