Dual Occupancy now a necessity as housing costs squeeze Australian families
- Posted By Sam May
Adult children locked out of the property market and ageing parents who can’t live alone are reshaping what the Australian family home looks like.
The shift reflects a housing market where affordability pressures and family needs are forcing households to rethink what a home is designed to do, with dual occupancy emerging as a clear answer.
New national research by Resolve Finance shows nearly half of Aussies (49 per cent) expect to house an adult child or ageing parent within the next decade.
More than one in 10 (12 per cent) homebuyers were very likely to look for a property with existing dual occupancy, or a property with the potential to convert or build.
Resolve Finance director Don Crellin said dual occupancy was shifting from aspiration to necessity for families balancing finances and care.
“Families are under pressure from both directions,” he said. “Kids are staying home longer, and parents are living longer. Housing needs to adapt, and so does the way it’s financed.”
Mr Crellin said the traditional idea of the family home is being redefined.
Drivers for the shift were both financial and personal, nearly half (46 per cent) said dual occupancy helps improve affordability, while 41 per cent also see it as a way to generate income.
Demand is highest from the midlife “sandwich generation” who are either supporting kids who stay home longer, or preparing to care for ageing parents.
More than half of 25 to 34-year-olds (55 per cent) and 35 to 44-year-olds (52 per cent) say they would consider dual occupancy, alongside 40 per cent of those aged 45 to 54.
By state, intent is strongest in Queensland (45 per cent), Victoria (42 per cent) and NSW (40 per cent), compared with 27 per cent in Western Australia.
Since 2010, Meridien Group has been helping clients secure high-performing Dual-key Homes across Southeast QLD, NSW, Victoria, and Perth. These properties have consistently delivered strong rental returns while also addressing Australia’s growing housing affordability issue.
What is a Dual-key Home?
They come with all different names - dual-occupancy, dual-living, secondary dwelling, granny flats, dual-occ but all fall under the same category.
- Two separate homes under one title.
- Primary Dwelling | 3–4 bedrooms plus 2 bathrooms.
- Secondary Dwelling | 1–2 bedrooms with 1 bathroom.
- Both homes are completely private and self-contained, with their own entrances, kitchens, bathrooms, and living spaces.
- Looks like a standard house from the front.
- Separate electricity and water metering.
- One set of council rates payable by the owner.
- A single lock-up garage for each unit.
- Separate letterboxes.
- Fire wall between dwellings and a dividing fence in the backyard.
Why Dual Key as an investment?
- With standard dwellings now yielding under 4%, dual key properties are becoming increasingly attractive.
- They deliver higher rental yields.
- They are in limited supply due to planning restrictions, which increases buyer demand and long-term investment potential.
We have more stock available that is not always advertised, or we can help source one to be built for you.
If you would like to know more, please feel free to reach out.