Building a duplex (also known as a dual occupancy) is no longer the realm of property developers. In fact, everyday Sydneysiders are investigating the possibilities and the potential financial rewards.

What is a duplex?

A duplex is two dwellings located on the one block. In Sydney, they make great financial sense given the city’s high property values.

There’s no sacrificing style or amenities when building a duplex. They will still provide everything you want and need in a home and can be built:

Side-by-side
One in front of the other
One upstairs and one downstairs
Single or double story

While it’s common to build both homes the same size, it’s not a requirement. In fact the new trend is for a style of duplex called Manner Homes. They look like one large house but are 2 individual homes – often different sizes.

Why build a duplex?

The primary reason for building a duplex rather than an individual home is the financial advantages. It’s a way of maximising the value of your land by building one home to live in and another to rent or sell. Either way, you are using your land as an income source.

It also means family household expenses such as council rates are reduced because they are shared between the two properties.

In terms of costs, there’s not a lot of difference between building one or two homes on the same block. That’s why a duplex can be built as part of a knockdown rebuild project or a new home build.

Are there any differences between building a new home or a duplex?

When it comes to building a duplex, there are a few differences:

Difference 1: You must have a Hydraulic (stormwater) Plan. It’s used to show how rainwater will be drained from your land and where it will go.

Difference 2: You must also have a Landscape Plan which takes into consideration your local Council’s requirements as well as the Hydraulic Plan.

Difference 3: The potential for subdivision. In some cases, your local Council may allow you to subdivide your property into either a Torrens Subdivision or a Strata Subdivision. This would allow you to sell each home as an individual property.

Like to know more?

Building a duplex is like building a home – you need great advice and someone to guide you through the process. At ZAC Homes, we’ve built over 300 duplexes so we’re able to advise you on whether a duplex is possible for your block. In fact, we can take care of everything for you including design, approvals, construction and demolition (if you are knocking down your existing home).

If you would like to explore the financial benefits and design possibilities of building a duplex, get in touch with ZAC Homes today.