Dual Occupancy Property

Dual Occupancy/Auxiliary dwelling is the correct terminology for this type of building.  Also known as a dual key, dual dwelling and various other names. They are two homes in one. They are not approved to be strata-titled like a Duplex, which means that both dwellings or units are on one title with one set of rates, therefore there are no body corporate fees.

If Town Planning rules were to change in the future and these dwellings were allowed on smaller block sizes, there would be no building changes required to allow the two units to be strata-titled, providing that it complied with the new minimum block size at that time.

Both self-contained units of a dual occupancy property are usually under the same roof, so from the street, the building looks like a normal house. If attached and under the same roof the units are separated by a fire wall which also provides great acoustic benefits.

The two units can sometimes be constructed as detached buildings (depending on the LGA) however this usually only occurs on larger blocks or where a property with an existing dwelling requires an auxiliary unit to be added. Modular buildings are ideal in this situation and can be built on awkward, tight access or sloping sites.

Typically, a Dual Occupancy/Auxiliary dwelling has 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms on one side (the ‘main dwelling’) which can be any size and configuration and 1 or 2 bedrooms on the other side (the ‘auxiliary unit’). Each unit has its own entrance and full facilities, including a kitchen, bathroom, laundry, bedrooms, living areas and car accommodation. The size of the auxiliary unit and the number of bedrooms allowed, varies from Council to Council in Queensland.

Different rules also apply to other states. For example: 

• NSW has overarching State legislation allowing dual occupancy/auxiliary dwellings in all Local Government Areas however each LGA can have their own variations to the requirements.
• Dual occupancy/ auxiliary dwellings can’t be built in Victoria.
• They are allowed in WA and other States vary.

In most cases, only a single egress (driveway crossover) is allowed so the garages for both units are usually sided by side using a common driveway. Some LGA’s have rules about the minimum number of vehicles that have to be parked off the street.

Duplex Homes

Duplex properties have been a popular type of property investment for many years. Most LGA’s allow them, although not all do.

The main advantage of a Duplex is that it can be Strata Titled (split into two titles) after construction is completed.

Strata Titling is not mandatory, and some buyers choose not to, so they only incur one set of Council rates. If Strata Title is made, a body corporate is formed to manage the common property and public liability insurance. The common property areas can often be minimised, thus reducing some management issues etc. Even after a property is Strata Titled, in some circumstances, it is possible to subsequently have the Body Corporate dissolved if the owners of both units agree.

Duplexes are commonly single storey or two storeys. Depending on zoning and density allowances, they could even be 3 or 4 storeys, with a lift and possibly a basement carpark.

A Duplex property is commonly the same floor plan (mirror-reversed) on both sides; however, this is not mandatory; they are often different, particularly on the corner or unusual shaped blocks of land.

Some LGA’s have rules whereby a maximum set number of bedrooms are allowed. Suppose the designated site is below the standard size required by the Council. This could be an uneven number, so a 3 bedroom + a 2 bedroom design may be required.

Sometimes it can be possible to build a Duplex as two separate buildings, depending on the LGA and site size, shape, and allowable site coverage. A firewall is required where the two units are adjoined.

Each unit is allowed to have its own egress (driveway crossover), so there is no requirement for the garages to be adjoined, and in fact, they could be located on different streets on a corner block.

Rooming Houses

Rooming houses offer the opportunity to lease each legally lettable space separately. By doing this, higher yields are achievable.

In some cases, gross yields of 10% or higher may be possible.

Each habitable space is "self-contained", however under rooming house legislation, there is a requirement for a common area that includes

• 1 shared laundry,
• 1 shared FULL kitchen, and
• 1 shared living area

which allows higher rental returns to be achieved. This does vary from council to council.

NB: At full occupancy, Gross Rents achieved from this type of dwelling are far higher than letting a single house in the same location.

Rooming houses are managed by specialised and experienced Property Managers, who have each tenant sign a separate lease.

Each lettable space is self-contained and includes an ensuite, small living area, kitchenette, and sometimes may have external access.

The maintenance of the shared areas, plus the costs of water, electricity and Internet are the responsibility of the property owner.

A rooming house is a residential dwelling that is certified to class 1B standard and specifically designed for separate tenancies.

In Brisbane City Council Area, a rooming house has a maximum of 5 lettable areas, with a maximum of 5 unrelated parties, and a total floor area no larger than 300m2. Whereas Gold Coast City Council has a maximum of 4 lettable areas.

Single Family Homes

(House & Land Packages)

House and Land packages refer to a new (to be built) property with two contracts, one contract for the land and another contract for the home build. There is a land contract that will be with the land vendor and a construction/build contract that will be with the chosen construction/building company.

Standard plans that are pre-packaged on land or custom designs are available.

We offer our clients a fixed price turn-key house and land solution. By having a fixed-price contract with turn-key inclusions, we can ensure that the property is ready to occupy from the day handed over to the purchaser.

We ensure that all of the necessary fixtures and fittings are included on the inside with floor coverings, security screens, window dressings, air conditioning and appliances, and all necessary fittings such as towel rails and toilet roll holders.

Externally we ensure all aspects of landscaping such as fences, lawn and gardens, driveway, paths, clotheslines, letterboxes etc., are taken care of. The site works and foundations are included. 

We work closely with all the relevant parties to make sure that a high-quality outcome is achieved. This includes:

• Working in conjunction with drafting/architectural teams to make sure that an attractive façade and liveable floor plan is achieved;
• Consulting with town-planners and engineers to confirm that the best use of the block is being achieved;
• Contacting and negotiating with Councils and Developers where necessary to ensure that area covenants or guidelines are met.

We have developed important key relationships with experienced consultants over several years, enabling us to provide our clients with high quality and well-priced house and land package solutions.

NDIS / SDA Homes

NDIS - Social Impact Property Investments

Great Yields And A Great Legacy To Leave

Australian Government-Backed Property Investment Opportunities With Gross Yields Up To 10-15%.

The team at New Property and Finance Pty Ltd are helping Social Impact Investors find and build new 'built for a specific purpose' NDIS SDA homes suitable for people with disability.

Can you as a parent imagine what it is like to be forced to place your child into a nursing home and then going into that facility every day fighting to get the rehabilitation support, the nutritional requirements your child needs, and for everything else.

You can help fund the fight for the independence of young people with disabilities, by investing in NDIS/SDA homes and building them where the identified needs are located.

Our team will put the Property Investment deals together for you. We have Registered NDIS Providers to manage the property for you for the long-term.

What do you need?
- A Good Income
- Cash or equity for deposits, etc
- A Heart to make a Social Impact Investment
- Be willing to invest where the need is - it may not be in your desired location (but it might be).

Small-Scale Developments

A Small-Scale Development Project can be a great way for an investor to create cash flow and capital growth. It can include projects such as Duplex Developments, Townhouse Developments, Block Splits, and Subdivisions.

Undertaking a small-scale development can be a great opportunity for an investor; however, it can be a much more complicated and potentially expensive process than many inexperienced investors realise. Our experienced team aim to make the complicated process of developing an easier process and thus enable everyday-Australians the opportunity to profit from this style of investing.

The New Property and Finance team have an extensive team of development professionals at hand to make the development process possible and follow projects from initial conception through to the final finished product.

We can undertake several different small-scale and medium-sized development projects with our clients by combining the following service offerings:

• Sourcing of potential development opportunities
• Development Feasibility and assessments
• Due Diligence and Acquisition
• DA (Development Application) Assessments
• Pre lodgement meetings with Council
• Meetings with Town Planners and Development Consultants
• DA Approvals
• Civil Works
• Construction Drawings

We have an expert team that can assess the development potential of properties and evaluating the different options available. We call upon our expert staff and an extensive network of industry contacts to ensure the development process is run successfully.

This includes:

• Town Planners
• Engineers
• Architects and Drafts People
• Project Managers
• Builders and Developers
• Real estate: buyer and seller agents