With lifestyle needs varying from one homebuyer to another, dual-key and dual-occupancy residences have risen in prominence in recent times.

Dual key refers to a single dwelling with two separate entries operated by different keys.

Appearing from the front as a regular home, a dual-key home could be used as a contemporary granny flat where, rather than having a separate dwelling, it is one split into two.

Dual occupancy presents a similar prospect, but offers two separate dwellings on a single lot.

These emerging house designs first rose in popularity in countries such as Sweden, Japan, England and the United States. More recently in Australia, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne have picked up the trend, with Perth now following suit.

JWH Group General Manager Jay Walter said both options allowed owners to rent out dwellings to multiple sets of tenants or use their property as an Airbnb.

“It’s a great way to further offset mortgage repayments if bought under finance, or increase your income stream from a rental property, as the two tenancies combined can generate more income than one tenancy under the same roof,” he said.

“In most suburbs the majority of what you see built are four-bedroom, two-bathroom homes, but dual-occupancy designs usually offer more variety.

“This brings more housing choice to a suburb, as many people don’t want to live in or own a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home.”

Dual key

Now Living and TERRACE General Manager Paul Spadanuda said dual key was a great option for investors, as it provided the benefit of multiple investment properties under one title.

“This concept requires certain design and construction parameters be met,” he said.

“Recently, the introduction of the ‘Fonzie Flat’, which is a multi-use structure above the garage, has gathered much interest from a wide-range of family types.”

Mr Walter said dual-key homes could evolve to meet a resident’s changing needs.

“If you are single and only need one bedroom, you could live in a one-bedroom, one-bathroom home and rent out a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home under the same roof,” he said.

“If you were to then become a couple and want a bit more space, you could move into the two-bedroom, one-bathroom option and rent out the one-bedroom, one-bathroom component. As an expanding family you could then expand to consume the whole three-bedrooms and two-bathrooms of the dual-key home.

“The whole time you haven’t physically left that address, you have just right-sized according to your life stage and requirements. The de-risk is that you can have a property that is generating an income stream which can help with mortgage repayments or act as a secondary income.

“We’ve seen this be quite popular in areas like Geraldton and Albany, where farmers who are in the rural areas want a property in town that they can use without it sitting empty when they’re gone…

This news article first appeared in The Western Australian, you can read the full article here:

https://thewest.com.au/lifestyle/new-homes/dual-purpose-designs-enable-versatile-living-c-514892