Property types explained

A freestanding house stands apart from neighbouring dwellings. In a house-and-land purchase, the land and a proposed or completed home are considered together, but the contract, build stage and inclusions differ between properties.

The example shows a home with four bedrooms, two bathrooms including an ensuite, and a shared kitchen, dining and living area. Real homes may have different sizes, storeys, room layouts and other spaces. A house that looks separate does not, by itself, explain the title or the land.

People ordinarily enter through the home's main entrance and move between rooms in the one home. The example has no separate living area with its own access. Confirm the entrances and any side or rear access on a property's plans.

Bedrooms and bathrooms serve the household; the kitchen and living areas are used in common. The example has four bedrooms and two bathrooms, including an ensuite, but bedroom privacy, room sizes and the position of shared areas vary by design.

A freestanding home may have a yard, courtyard or other outdoor area, depending on the lot and site plan. A floor plan cannot establish lot boundaries, setbacks, easements or exclusive-use rights. Check the survey, site plan and property documents.

The example has a double garage. Parking capacity, storage, laundry and utility locations vary. A room shown on a plan does not establish service connections, metering, inclusions or rights over a shared driveway.

What sets this example apart is that the house stands apart from neighbouring dwellings. It is not shown as one of two adjoining dwellings, and it does not centre on separate living areas or private rooms around shared facilities.

Buyers looking for a separate house and some outdoor space may wish to explore this choice. Suitability depends on the actual site, design, budget and how you want to live.

A separate house may offer flexibility in how a household uses its rooms and outdoor space. The site may also bring maintenance, access or construction considerations. Neither space nor flexibility is guaranteed by the label.

The illustration shows a home with four bedrooms, two bathrooms including an ensuite, a kitchen, dining and living area, entrances and a double garage. It explains the rooms and how you move through them. It cannot establish land boundaries, title, contractual inclusions, storey count or planning approval. It is not a sales plan for a specific property. Confirm any property's actual layout and other details in its documents.

Check the land and building contracts, actual site and floor plans, title, approvals, specifications, inclusions, build stage, access and any restrictions affecting the land. Requirements differ across states, councils and approvals. Seek appropriate professional advice on the documents that matter to your purchase.

Browse available properties to see current inventory. The browse page covers more than freestanding houses. Check each listing and its documents for the actual arrangement. A listing label does not verify any of the matters above.

A duplex generally places two dwellings together in one built arrangement. A house-and-land offering may describe a proposed or completed duplex, but its contracts, title and approvals must be checked for the actual property.

In the example, two three-bedroom dwellings adjoin side by side on a continuous shared wall, with no internal connection between them. Other designs may place the dwellings front and rear or vary their size and physical separation. Two visible living areas do not prove two separately titled properties.

Each example dwelling has its own front entry and internal circulation. The example has no internal door or other internal connection between the two dwellings. In an actual duplex, entrances, shared paths, connecting structures and emergency access need to be read from the relevant plans.

Each example dwelling has its own bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen and living area. The shared wall and any common access or structures remain part of the physical arrangement. Actual designs may allocate outdoor areas and other facilities differently.

Outdoor space may be divided, shared or subject to a particular title or exclusive-use arrangement. A floor plan cannot establish the legal boundary or rights to a yard or driveway. Inspect the site plan and title documents.

The example gives each dwelling a single garage and its own laundry, but real parking, storage, laundry and utility arrangements vary. Separate facilities in a drawing do not prove separate meters, accounts or legal allocations.

Two adjoining dwellings and their points of separation are central to a duplex. That differs from the one-home example, a dual-key layout of distinct zones, and a co-living layout built around shared common rooms.

Buyers interested in two distinct living spaces within one overall development may explore duplex properties. Whether the arrangement meets a household, ownership or use need depends on the specific design and documents.

Separate entries and facilities may give households more physical independence. Shared walls, access, land allocation and maintenance arrangements may add complexity. Do not assume separate ownership, occupancy rights or financial outcomes.

The illustration shows two adjoining three-bedroom dwellings side by side, their continuous shared wall, no internal connection between them, separate entries, kitchens, one bathroom in each dwelling, laundries and single garages. It explains physical separation, not subdivision, separate titles, approvals, contractual inclusions or permitted use. Confirm these matters in the documents for any property you consider.

Check the approved plans, titles or proposed subdivision, contracts, shared walls and access, parking, outdoor allocation, services, inclusions and build stage. Applicable requirements differ by state, council and approval. Obtain professional advice where appropriate.

Browse available properties and examine each property's description and documents. A duplex tag is a description supplied with a listing. It does not prove two titles, a particular floor plan or approval.

A dual-key home has distinct living areas within the one home. The form, connection and permitted use vary. The name does not establish two legal dwellings or a right to occupy or let the areas separately.

The example combines a three-bedroom main area and a smaller one-bedroom zone with a bathroom and kitchenette. Actual designs differ in room count, facilities, physical connection and whether the smaller area is fully self-contained.

The example has separate external entries and an internal connecting door. Some properties have different access or no such connection. Check the actual plan and documents before assuming that either zone can function independently.

The example's bedrooms and bathrooms sit within their respective zones. The main kitchen and living room belong to the larger area. The smaller zone has a kitchenette. Any shared areas, access or services must be established for the particular design.

Distinct internal zones do not imply distinct lots or separate outdoor entitlements. A yard or courtyard may be used jointly or allocated in a particular way. Site plans and title documents, not the name “dual-key,” answer that question.

This illustration does not show parking. It shows a laundry in the main home. Parking, storage and utility arrangements vary. Do not assume a garage, a car space, or that the smaller zone shares a laundry with the main home. The presence of two entries or two cooking areas does not prove separate meters or contracted inclusions.

The defining question is how the zones relate within the overall home: their entries, facilities and any internal connection. A duplex centres on adjoining dwellings. Co-living centres on private rooms and shared common facilities.

Households wanting connected but distinct spaces may find the arrangement worth investigating. The actual property's design and approval determine whether it can meet a particular living need.

Distinct zones may offer flexibility and privacy, while internal connections and shared services can limit separation. Approval, occupancy and contractual arrangements may be more complex than the drawing suggests. Do not assume rental rights or returns.

The illustration shows a three-bedroom main home and a one-bedroom smaller living zone, separate external entries, an internal connecting door, one bathroom in each zone, a main kitchen, a smaller kitchenette, and a laundry in the main home. It does not show a laundry in the smaller zone, and it does not show parking. It cannot establish approval for separate dwellings, title, lawful separate occupancy or use rights. Confirm the actual property's layout and permitted use in its documents.

Verify the approved use, actual entries and connections, cooking and bathroom facilities, services, parking, title, inclusions, contracts and build stage. Rules for secondary dwellings or separate occupancy differ by state, council, approval and use. Seek appropriate professional advice.

Browse available properties and read each listing's underlying documents. A dual-key tag is not evidence of approved independent occupation or a fixed configuration.

Co-living describes a layout with private spaces and facilities used in common. The number of rooms, level of privacy, management and permitted occupancy vary greatly from property to property.

The example has four private bedrooms around a shared kitchen, living area and circulation space. Each example bedroom has a bathroom and an external window. An ensuite is a feature of this example, not a universal co-living requirement. A co-living label alone does not describe the entire design or legal use.

In the example, private rooms are reached from a shared hall. Other layouts may have different access and exits. Check the actual entry and safety arrangements on the property's documents.

Bedrooms and their example bathrooms provide private space. The kitchen and living room are shared. Laundry, storage and outdoor use may also be shared or allocated differently. Confirm which facilities each occupant can use.

The example does not allocate separate outdoor areas to rooms. A particular property's courtyard or yard may be communal or subject to another arrangement. A floor plan does not establish title boundaries or occupancy rights.

This illustration shows shared laundry and storage and does not show parking. Actual parking and utility arrangements vary. The drawing cannot establish allocation, metering, costs or what a particular contract includes.

Co-living centres on private bedrooms and shared facilities. That differs from a separate house, two adjoining duplex dwellings, or the larger and smaller living areas in the dual-key example.

Buyers exploring a home with individual private rooms and shared communal areas may wish to investigate this choice. Whether it suits an intended household or use depends on the actual property and relevant rules.

Private rooms beside communal facilities may provide a balance of privacy and shared use. Shared-space management, access, safety and occupancy rules can add practical complexity. Do not infer lawful room-by-room letting or a financial outcome.

The illustration shows four private bedrooms and ensuites, an external window to every bedroom, reached from a shared hall, with shared kitchen, dining, living, laundry and storage. Ensuites are a feature of this example. The illustration does not show parking. It cannot establish lawful rooming use, safety compliance, management duties, title or permitted occupancy. Confirm these matters in the documents for any property you consider.

Check the actual facilities, access and exits, occupancy and management arrangements, safety requirements, planning approval, title, contracts and inclusions. Rules for rooming or shared accommodation differ by state, council, approval and use. Obtain appropriate professional advice.

Browse available properties and assess the actual layout and documents. A co-living tag does not establish a particular set of facilities or permission for room-by-room occupation.