Difference Between Dual Occs, Duplex and Granny Flats
Dual Occupancy, Duplex and granny flat. You’ve probably heard of all these terms. But even though they all differ from one another, these three types of dwellings are often confused. When building a new house, it is helpful to know what they really are. To find out whether one of them might be an...
iBuildNew Editorial TeamOctober 9, 20193 min read
Dual Occupancy, Duplex and granny flat. You’ve probably heard of all these terms. But even though they all differ from one another, these three types of dwellings are often confused. When building a new house, it is helpful to know what they really are. To find out whether one of them might be an option for you, we have created a short and comprehensive guide with all the right points to consider:
Dual Occupancy
Dual occupancies, also known as shared-living homes, exist in two versions - attached and detached. However, the land they are built on is always considered one piece of land and can not be subdivided. While it can limit your liberties, it often means lower building and council costs compared to a duplex. Utilities for the dwelling can be separated though.Dual occupancy is ideal for first-home buyers, who are on a budget but still value a good neighbourhood and aesthetic housing since it will cost you significantly less to acquire a dual occupancy than buying a single-family house.When building a new house, remember:
- also known as shared-living homes - can’t be subdivided -> less building and council cost - separate utilities possible
Image: Metricon
Duplex
A duplex often looks just like a dual occupancy. But even though the two households share a wall, often referred to as a common ‘party wall’, they are considered two dwellings. They are therefore listed with separate titles, which is why the land can be subdivided. As the possibility to subdivide exists, a duplex offers more liberties as to buying and selling a house than a dual occupancy does. Another benefit to the duplex is its price. You will pay up to half of what a detached single house, same style and size, would cost you, which is why the Duplex is very popular among first-home buyers as well.When building a new house, remember:
- two separate dwellings with separate titles -> can be subdivided - common ‘party wall’
Image: Rawson Homes
Granny Flat
A granny flat can be defined as a self-contained home extension to a principal dwelling. It usually contains a bedroom with a bathroom, as well as a small kitchen, dining and a living area. The flat can either be attached to the main house, separated through e.g. a garage, or fully detached. The size is dictated by local councils but in most cases doesn’t exceed 60 square metres.Granny flats are, as their name suggests, popular among ageing parents or grandparents. They can still live independently but have their family in closest proximity. And also for teenage children moving out for the first time, this type of dwelling can be a fitting option. Another way to make use of a granny flat and at the same time get extra income for the household is to rent the flat out, as they are popular accommodations.When building a new house, remember:
- self-contained conjunction to a principal dwelling - often occupied by independent family members
Image: Houzz
iBuildNew Editorial Team
As the specialist voice of Australia’s largest new home building resource, the iBuildNew Editorial Team delivers deep-dive coverage into the house and land sector. From analysing new estate launches to highlighting the country’s leading home designs, we track the building journey to provide clarity for every buyer.
