Dual Occupancy for Beginners

Summary:

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                If keeping the existing house- make sure you can  build a 3 metre wide driveway to the                      backyard where the second house will sit.

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                Have enough land in the backyard to provide mandatory open spaces ( think courtyard) in                 the backyard for both houses. These can range from 25sqm. to 80sqm. per dwelling

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              Have space for carparking for both houses 

 

              The cost of the site should result in acceptable development margins

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              The Zoning should allow development.

              The Schedule to the Zoning should be development friendly.

              The Planning overlays (Controls) should not be too restrictive.

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             The property title should be free of a single dwelling covenant (restriction).

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                                     Need these checked by a Registered Planner?

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There are a myriad of things to consider when finding a suitable dual occupancy development site.

 

Some of these are listed below.

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• The site width should allow for two crossovers in the ideal scenario but many Councils in Melbourne are clamping down on this type of duplex developments

• The vehicle accessway to the backyard should be a minimum 3m in width and compliant  to meet the now mandatory safety standards

• The site length and area should allow adequate north facing open space for recreation and landscaping

• The site should be close to infrastructure, schools, shops and transport

• The title should be clear of development restrictions like single dwelling covenant and preferably without any easements

• All the essential services should be available onsite or in close proximity and run in the most advantageous position

• The site orientation should be perfect so that the amenities of neighbouring properties are not adversely affected

• The zoning of your land and it's associated Schedule should not be too restrictive

• The planning overlays on your land should not be too restrictive

• The site should be fairly level as sloping blocks may cost more to build. However sites with great views benefit from sloping land

• There should be little or no significant vegetation on the site and on abutting sites within say 5 m of the common boundaries

• A soil test should demonstrate the foundations will not require additional strengthening

• There should be no encroachments on your title boundary or by your property on adjoining allotments

• There should preferably be precedents for similar development in your neighbourhood

• There should be no planning overlays burden development

• Your local Council should encourage development to meet their housing stock forecast

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Ready to start your project? 

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Contact Swarup our Founder for an obligation free, high level opinion of the development potential for your land.

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Swarup turned his first home into a successful dual occupancy subdivision.

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He experienced stiff opposition from the local Council and neighbours who had heritage mansions with tennis courts and swimming pools. His property even had a listed (Heritage) tree! But his persistence, knowledge and design skills won at the end of the day.

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His second project was 3000sqm.of absolute waterfront land no one wanted for three decades due to the difficult land zoning. He turned this "lemon" into a residential zoned land in 2 years.

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