Owning a dual occupancy home can certainly be great for generating rental income and/or having a unit to call home for yourself. While dual occupancy developments are quite trendy and more and more developers and councils have cosied up to the concept, they still pose a few unique challenges post-construction that owners should be aware of.
Naturally, repairs and maintenance go hand in hand with property ownership of any sort, whether that be a traditional single-family detached dwelling, apartment block, or even a cabin in the woods or a quaint little houseboat. There’s no avoiding it.
That being said, what are some of the more complex and perhaps more expensive repairs a dual occupancy home owner may encounter? Here is a brief overview for your consideration:
Why Are Dual Occupancy Homes Unique for Maintenance?
First and foremost, dual occupancy homes can have all sorts of arrangements in terms of design, from material choices down to how plots are subdivided. Importantly, many dual occupancy homes are physically connected whereas some are not. Those that are connected have one or more shared walls and these partition walls must meet their own specific standards and regulations, primarily for fire safety but also for privacy (sound insulation).
Performing works on this particular element, the partition wall, requires skill and expertise as well as full regulatory compliance. Moreover, works affecting one unit may require occupants of both units to vacate during works or to make alternative arrangements, e.g. electricity or water may need to be turned off.
Structural Repairs, Including Foundation
Now in terms of repairs and maintenance, it should come as little surprise that the most expensive repairs tend to be anything related to structural works, especially the building foundation.
Concrete foundations can suffer from cracking (e.g. tree roots), subsidence, or even shifting about. This can affect just one unit, but it can certainly affect both at once. Depending on the issue and the complexity of repairs required, remediating a foundation or other structural works can easily cost well over $10,000 and perhaps up to the $100,000 range.
Roofing
Regular roof inspections and maintenance can go a long way towards extending the lifespan of a roof, but even great roofs have a lifespan. Generally, you get what you pay for with a roof, so beautiful slate can last well over a lifetime (hundreds of years, even), but slate is quite expensive. Metal and synthetic tile roofing can still last you the better part of a lifetime, but if subjected to heavy damage (e.g. severe storm or tree branches falling) or neglect, a full replacement may be necessary.
Roofing replacement again may affect both units if connected, and the general cost range can vary from around $20,000 to $50,000 or more.
Plumbing & Drainage
Plumbing repairs can be even more variable in terms of cost and complexity than those mentioned above, and just like the other types of repairs, plumbing issues commonly affect both properties simultaneously.
If each unit has a dedicated meter and connection to mains supply, repairs and costs may be more manageable, but there is still the possibility that things like improper drainage will affect both properties. Rough costs for plumbing repairs can go from around $5,000 for pipe replacement work to around $30,000 for more comprehensive works involving excavation, for example.
Electrical Wiring & Upgrades
A little like roofing, electrical wiring can last for many decades without needing replacement. A big difference, however, is that older homes (e.g. pre-1990s) may have significantly deteriorated wiring and a full rewiring may be necessary. This can cost up to around $40,000 depending on desired upgrades, added fixtures, and overall complexity. Partial wiring and switchboard upgrades can still cost a fair bit.
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