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Need Some Advice for Your Property Development?

Whether you're a first timer or an experienced developer, we're here to offer our support, advice and expertise.

Get in touch and we can help get started with a feasibility & risk assessment, block yield calculations and a buyer demand analysis.

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House behind a house
House behind a house
House behind a house

House Behind a House Property Development

Providing your existing home is located in such a position that it complies with the residential design codes, or R-Codes as they are often referred to, building a new house behind an existing house is a great way to get into property development.

We will manage the entire subdivision process on your behalf, creating two separate blocks, one for your existing property and one for the new dwelling.

We can also assist with arranging finance for the development, which is often quite straightforward if you already own the land and have built up some equity over the years.

With so much to consider it pays to speak to an expert right from the start. At Vision One Projects we have 25 years of experience in the subdivision process and will ensure we guide you through every step of the way.

Once your zoning is confirmed the first thing to do is ensure your block can actually fit a house behind your existing house. There are a couple of simple rules of thumb to follow, as outlined in the following paragraphs.

Firstly, is there a 3 metre access between the existing house and the side boundary? This ensures you can fit the driveway down to the rear property. If you have rear lane access to your property then you do not need to worry about the 3 metre side access and instead just need to ensure you have 1 metre wide access to allow for a pedestrian entrance to the street front.

The final, and most obvious, question is will your backyard fit another dwelling? To build a house behind a house we suggest pacing out a cricket pitch (roughly 15-20 metres) from the back of your existing home to the rear boundary. If you have this amount of space, it is safe to assume you are going to be able to fit a new property behind your existing home.

If you need help with financing your subdivision we can help you unlock the equity in your backyard. Read more about our ‘Unlock Your Block’ service.

Further information

A successful property development will always require careful planning and attention to detail. That's why at Vision One Projects, we work with you every step of the way to make sure that you have the information and resources you need to construct the perfect build. 

Our expert advisers will guide you through the process of learning everything you need to know about zoning permits and residential legislation, so that you can avoid any compliance issues further down the line. With the help of a contour and feature survey, we can even provide you with an accurate insight into how much each dwelling might cost, to help you calculate your ROI. 

Consider the table below for more information on the common zoning calculations for Perth properties. Keep in mind that driveway access needs to be factored into the equation for complete compliance.

Zoning Total Required Land Area Minimum Site Area For Each Property
R20 900m2 350m2
R25 700m2 300m2
R30 600m2 260m2
R40 440m2 180m2

A house behind house property development can be a complicated project. Fortunately, with Vision One Projects, you'll have all the support you need for construction success. Here are just some of the areas that we can help you with when it comes to your design experience:

  • Driveways to the rear dwelling are usually required to be 4m wide, however if the existing home is kept, the distance between it and the side boundary may be reduced to less than 4m.
  • If the property has a laneway at the rear it may be possible to keep the front house and build a new unit or townhouse behind which can face the laneway with its own entry and garage. With this type of development it is usually necessary to provide a 1.5m wide access leg to the front street for service run-ins and rubbish bin pickups.
  • Minimum site areas, minimum courtyard areas and store rooms for both homes also need to be taken into consideration.
  • If you intend on keeping both homes it may be possible to develop the existing development site and build an additional unit or townhouse without having to complete the subdivision process or secure a title for each property until you wish to sell one or the other.
  • Both the new and existing property will need to comply with the local council planning policies. This may result in the need for renovations and additions to the existing house such as a new garage, carport and/or store room.

For a more comprehensive guide into your house behind house design, please feel free to reach out to the experts here at Vision One Projects for all the Perth-based building guidance you need.

When it comes to designing and constructing a successful property development, it's important to make sure that the numbers add up. We provide the peace of mind of offering a single confirmed quotation letter, that includes all the costs you need to know about. Each fee is listed in an itemised bill, for absolute transparency. 

If you're ready to begin your project, get in touch today to find out more from our local experts. We can help with everything from block yield calculations for your project, to analysis for buyer demand.