Dual Occupancy Homes

Dual Occupancy homes are a relatively new concept to the Perth West Australian building industry. To realise the benefits, you need to understand the cost savings and returns on rental yield. A dual occupancy residence offers a second livable area under the main roof of a new home. The additional cost to create a second livable area is vastly cheaper than creating a second standalone home or granny flat.

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A 4 bedroom 2 bathroom Single Occupancy home built within a green field’s estate (“4x2 family home”) typically generates rent of around $460 to $480 per week. A Dual Occupancy home that could be built right next door on a green title lot can achieve $430 pw on one side and $300pw on the other offering a total combined rent of $730pw. $480pw v $730pw..... Unless you have a massive tax problem because you earn too much, your accountant would typically pick the investment that resembles that of a healthy business……Profitable.

In comparison to a standard residential 4 bed 2 bath home, a Dual Occ investment has only increased by approximately $50,000 to $90,000. This creates the additional Family area, the kitchen, bathroom, garage and alfresco areas (where applicable). If these rooms were to replicated as a free standing form, (“a standalone Residence”) the costs would be up to triple, approx $175,000+.

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With talk now on the table to discuss possible eradication or amendment of negative gearing, investment properties now need to work smarter. Our property designs and packages offer the most durable rental income we are aware of.

As a further comparison, a typical duplex development consists of two freestanding dwellings, typically 3 bedroom 2 bathroom plus double garage. The development would easily cost in excess of $450,000 to $550,000 to create and finish to a turnkey level, or about $225,000 each per freestanding dwelling.

Dual occupancy Home versus a Traditional Duplex

"A Dual Occupancy Home allows the benefits of a typical Duplex income without the additional costs".

The rental yield is truly what makes these house designs currently the most impressive and popular purchase amongst our clients. 5+% rent yields and up are quite possible with this form of property ownership.

Do people really want to live in a one or two bedroom Studio??

The number of people living in each dwelling in Perth is dropping. 20 years ago the average was nearly 3 people per dwelling, projections by 2030 are at 2.2.

“In 2001 there were 1.1 million people aged 75 years and over in Australia, representing 6% of the total population. Over the period 2001 to 2026 this number is projected to more than double, to 2.5 million people (10% of Australia's population will be over 75 years of age).” *Australian Bureau of Statistics.

This is where the real value lies in the purchase of a dual income producing property. There is a growing population that will need this type of product (not a large family/high maintenance home). This is where the terminology, "Granny Flat" comes from.

The Benefits - A dual occupancy property does not need a second title which will add to ongoing rates and taxes. They can be built in large lot estates, and not devalue the neighbouring areas because the overall structure is equal in size to existing properties and looks identical from the streetscape and elevation. You can have whatever frontage you wish or dress up the elevation to satisfy the Developer covenants. We have also had requests for the dividing walls to not be structurally bearing so the home can be opened up in the future to a 5 bed 3 bathroom with games area!

Over the next 10 years, we believe Double Income Properties will become the standard for high-quality yield investing. Apartment growth is also taking off at an unprecedented level in Western Australia. Multi-unit Apartments (or “Class 2” by the construction industry) are cheap and great for cash flow but offer the investor no land content for stronger valuations. They can suffer by being replicated continuously, plus have additional strata fees & management costs. For this reason, they will never be the best investment for the smart investor nor recommended by a long-term-thinking financial planner!

Dual income properties offer sole land ownership, and can sit amongst family households, which coincidentally have the highest median house price compared to units, apartments and villas. Dual Income households can hence, ride the tail of the median house price.