Planning your home
Building FAQ
These are the questions Sydney homeowners ask us most often before they build, from council approvals and demolition to duplexes, architects and where the budget goes.
Each answer is checked against current NSW rules and published sources, then dated so you can see when it was last reviewed.
Custom homes
Design and build
Building designer or architect: what's the difference?
Only registered architects can use the title in NSW, although anyone can legally design a freestanding house, so the right choice depends on the site and the brief.
What are the disadvantages of design and build?
No independent check on the builder, no tendered price and an early commitment to one firm are the main trade-offs of design and build, with ways to manage each one.
Duplexes and dual occupancy
Can a dual occupancy be sold separately in NSW?
A dual occupancy can be sold as two homes once it is subdivided into Torrens or strata lots, which is why the title is best planned with the design.
Duplex or townhouse: which is better?
A duplex fits a single Sydney block and keeps each home on the street, while townhouses suit larger development sites built around a shared driveway.
What is dual occupancy?
Dual occupancy is the NSW planning term for two homes on one lot, attached or detached, which most people simply call a duplex.
Knockdown rebuild
Do you need council approval to demolish a house in NSW?
Demolishing a house in NSW needs a complying development certificate or a development application to council, with heritage listings usually deciding which one applies.
How much does it cost to demolish a house in Sydney?
Sydney demolition guides put a house at $15,000 to $55,000 in 2026, with asbestos removal, slab removal and tight access usually priced on top.
