There are plenty of good and valid reasons why so many Australians are investing in dual-occupancy homes. Of course, they’re quite trendy at the moment, but are they good for extended family members? The first thing that might come to mind is a traditional granny flat, and these are certainly appealing for multigenerational living, but dual occupancy homes offer several advantages over granny flats and here’s why:
Two Homes, Two Properties
A granny flat is typically a smaller structure built (often in the rear garden) of an existing property with an existing home. While sometimes glamorous and comfortable, they’re certainly a step up from a toolshed, but they aren’t quite as flexible as a dual-occupancy home.
Dual occupancy homes are not two homes built on one property, but instead are two homes built on two legally separate properties. This requires subdivision, which is an extra step that granny flats don’t have to worry about, but doing this from the get-go allows you far more versatility later on as to how the land can be used.
How Suitable are Dual Occupancy Homes for Extended Family?
Dual occupancy homes are so versatile that they’re a great solution for extended family members. You can treat one property as your home and the other as a granny flat, for all intents and purposes, but still have the benefits of having the second property on its own plot of land.
In terms of multigenerational living, dual occupancy homes are a great way to accommodate a new and growing trend that has arisen due to difficult economic times: more and more children are staying at home for longer, and fewer are able to afford their first home at a young age.
For a senior relative, a dual occupancy home can be a great way to downsize whilst remaining physically close to family members, still being independent, and having a cosy place to call home. Considering the cost of care homes, it may end up being much cheaper, too. Unless they suffer from severe mobility impairments, where they probably should be in a care home with nursing staff on hand, living in a dual occupancy home can give them more dignity and independence in their golden years.
Benefits of Dual Occupancy Homes for Extended Family
We’ve already touched on some of the key benefits of extended family living in a dual occupancy home. They can be treated as a sort of granny flat, but without the disadvantage of being on the same legal plot of land.
This means that, in the future, they could be rented out to tenants much more easily than a granny flat. Moreover, they can be occupied by family during periods of vacancy, which can be a convenient way to be close to family for extended periods.
They also give the benefit of proximity to other family members without compromising on privacy. Both homes can be designed to offer great privacy, which can be quite a precious thing indeed.
Lastly, dual occupancy homes offer owners superb versatility in terms of layout and design, especially when you choose to work with a reputable and established specialist in dual occupancy homes, such as Trevor Homes.
Trevor Homes
Pursue your dream and build your ideal dual occupancy home with Trevor Homes.
