Dual Occupancies

As Councils re-zone sites to allow for increased density, dual occupancies are springing up everywhere and are Great for investors and for homeowners alike. More than ever, Complying Development Certificate approval is now also possible for dual occupancy developments, allowing for a faster process from design to construction.

Designing a dual occupancy entails designing a space that caters to universal tastes, whilst also offering a contemporary layout and facade. We design dual occupancies that maximise your site’s potential.

Typical Dual Occupancy Types

There are several types of dual occupancy types, that differ in design based on the shape of the lot:

  • Parallel lots: these are attached dwellings that usually face one street, and are designed as mirror images of one another, with separate or common driveways.

  • Corner lots: these dual occupancies have two street frontages, often with different floor plan layouts to take advantage of the lot, and separate driveways.

  • One dwelling at the front, one dwelling at the back: these detached dual occupancies are great for long sites that are slightly too narrow to fit two dwellings side by side. This type of design usually has a shared driveway, to allow access to the rear dwelling.

  • One dual occupancy dwelling above the other: this is another design option for large, narrow sites. This type of design is common for sites that face valuable water views, allowing both dwellings to see these views. This type of design commonly features a basement garage.

Is my dual occupancy eligible for Complying Development Certificate approval?

In most cases, dual occupancies can get approval under Complying Development Certificate, saving a lot of time by avoiding Council. The introduction of the government’s Medium Density Residential code has enabled for these types of developments to avoid having to go through Council.

A certifier, town planner, or architect is required in order to ascertain whether the site is eligible for CDC approval, and whether the proposed brief will meet CDC design regulations.

We’ve helped numerous investors and homeowners looking to design a dual occupancy that appeals to the Australian way of living. With an entourage of consultants, planners and expert architect advice at your disposal, your dual occupancy is in good hands.

 

Dual Occupancy Projects

Frank had purchased his corner site in Matraville. The shape of the site was mostly square, which meant that the dwellings could not be a mirror image of another. Further challenges such as protected trees, and a flood zone, provided additional design constraints.

Two dwellings, joined by one wall, with different layouts, were designsed. As each dwelling faced a different street, each dwelling presents as a separate dwelling from the other.

Complying Development Certificate was possible for the site, which saved Frank time by avoiding Council. Frank plans on living in one of the dwellings, and selling the other.

 

As a developer who had recently purchased the site, David was keen to obtain approval his dual occupancy as quickly as possible.

Regulations under Complying Development allowed David to get more out of his design, allowing him to get five bedrooms out of each dwelling.

The streamlined nature of the Complying Development Certificate (CDC) approval process provided David with a clear timeline for commencing construction. This enabled him to secure a builder for the project without being placed in a queue.

The best type of design for the lot shape was a front facing attached dual occupancy. Located within a beach suburb, the facade and interiors were a mix between Hamptons style and contemporary.

We’ve helped countless homeowners and investors obtain clarity to find out whether their site is eligible for Complying Development Certificate.

 

Dual Occupancy Subdivision Types

 

Strata Title

Individual ownership of the dwelling, with shared ownership of common property such as driveways.

Company Title

The property is a company owned by shareholders. Common for owners who aren’t eligible for Torrens title subdivision who don’t want strata title.

Torrens Title

The most common land title system, whereby the land and building is owned by the landowner.

 
 

Discover your best next steps for designing the house you’ve always wanted.

-Discuss your brief and gain full clarity about design guidelines that apply to your property

-Connect with an architect who has experience designing home additions under various councils

-Walk away with a roadmap to re-design your home to reflect your lifestyle

 

FAQ

  • From the design brief to the type of approval, there is a lot that needs to be considered when designing a renovation. With the help of an architect by your side, you’ll have the right advice, knowledge and guidance for a design that meets your brief and uses the right method of approval.

  • Depending on the design, and the site itself, there are pros and cons of going down either path of approval.

    At Urban Den Architects, we start off by reviewing the site and the best method of approval, keeping the brief in mind.

  • Some aspects to consider before hiring an architect are:

    -your budget (even if it is approximate)

    -your timeline

    -whether you plan on living in the house during the renovation.