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Duplex Builder in Brisbane

A duplex puts two homes on one block under a single title, two rentals, or one to live in and one to lease. Iconic Homes & Construction designs and builds duplexes across Brisbane and the Redlands, handling feasibility, council approvals and construction with one team from start to finish.

  • 70+ Years of Combined Experience
  • Seamless Support from Start to Finish
  • Custom Homes Designed Around You
Townhouse Builder In Brisbane

Built Around You

Two Homes, One Block, Done Properly

A duplex is one of the smartest moves you can make with a decent-sized block. Live in one side and rent the other, build both to sell, or keep one for family. Whatever the plan, the build needs to be done by someone who knows how your type of block behaves.
But before contacting a builder, an owner must have three things in place before we can give you any advice or ideas

  • Get finance pre-approval
  • Find and buy your land
  • Check council planning rules for the block

Once an owner has these sorted, we can handle the full process feasibility, design, council approvals and construction.
One team, one point of contact, from the first site visit through to handover.

WHY BUILD A DUPLEX

Why a Duplex Makes Sense

  • Maximise your land: On 600 sqm or more in Brisbane or the Redlands, there’s a fair chance you’re sitting on a duplex opportunity. Two dwellings, each with its own entrance, yard and street presence.
  • Dual income: Two rental incomes from one property, in a market where rental demand keeps climbing.
  • Live and invest: Build a home you’d want to live in and let the other side cover a decent chunk of the mortgage.
  • Often simpler than subdividing: A duplex on one title skips much of the separate driveways, service connections and surveyor fees that come with a full subdivision.
  • Future flexibility: Sell one side later, move family in, or switch from owner-occupied to fully tenanted.

Dual-Occupancy Approvals

Whether a duplex is straightforward on your block comes down to your zoning and the overlays that apply. Council looks at minimum lot size, frontage, setbacks, private open space and car parking. Some sites are approved through a code-assessable pathway; others need impact assessment. We assess your site against the current planning scheme first, so you know the approval pathway before you spend money on a full design.

What Drives the Cost of a Duplex Build

  • Block size, slope and soil: The site works needed before you build up.
  • Existing structures and services: Any demolition, service relocation or new connections.
  • Design and specification:The finish level you build to for your market.
  • Approval pathway: A more complex assessment adds time and consultant input.

We lay these out early so you’re deciding with the real numbers, not a rough estimate.

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Duplexes Built with Certainty.
Delivered With Confidence.

Our six-step process is the result of years spent delivering finely crafted custom homes across Brisbane.
It’s structured, deliberate, and built to give you clarity, confidence, and a standard of care that mirrors the quality of the home itself.

Site and Yield Assessment

Before anything gets drawn up, we come out to your block and do a proper check. Zoning, lot dimensions, slope, easements, flood overlays, neighbourhood character codes, we look at the lot of it. If a duplex is viable, we’ll tell you exactly what’s achievable.

Design and Planning Strategy

We design custom floor plans that suit your block, meet council requirements, and give both dwellings the space and privacy they need to feel like proper standalone homes. We work with you on layout, orientation, finishes, and flow

Development Approvals and Compliance

We manage the full development application process with Redland City Council or Brisbane City Council, depending on your location. That includes any overlay responses, neighbourhood character assessments, engineering reports, and whatever else the planners ask for.

Construction and Site Delivery

One dedicated site supervisor runs your build from slab to lock-up to finishing. You’ll get regular updates, clear timelines, and no surprises on cost. We use trusted local trades we’ve worked with for years, and we hold them to the same standard we hold ourselves.

Subdivision and Project Finalisation

We take care of titling, final inspections, and final certification, giving you the paperwork and preparation needed to rent, sell, or retain each home.

Handover with Market-Ready Finish

We walk through every room with you. Full defect inspection, all compliance certificates sorted, and a home, or two, that you’re genuinely proud to own. We don’t disappear after handover either. If something needs attention, we’re ten minutes down the road.

Client Testimonials

What Our Clients Are Saying

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Kieran Hearley profile picture
Kieran Hearley
20 October 2024
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We were referred to Steve & Brent by a friend and were told they were amazing. After talking to several mainstream building companies, we talked to Steve & Brent and were immediately impressed with their communication and professionalism. We have just finished building our dream home with Iconic and we could not be happier. The whole process was seamless and the team guided us through every single step. Steve's vast building experience really shines through at every point in the process and he helped us design the most amazing home for our family. Iconic use only the best contractors in the business, so you know the people they are using to build your home are the best in Brisbane. Steve and Brent were there for us at every possible decision making point in the process of designing our home and were always available to answer questions and give advice on how to approach any kind of issue. The Iconic team are simply amazing. One of the guys Cam was just fantastic on site, great bloke and nothing was ever an issue. Right up to handover day, the guys were meticulously going through the house to ensure when we took ownership everything was 100% perfect for us. I highly recommend Iconic to anyone looking to build their dream home. In my opinion there isn't any team that is better. Thanks Steve, Brent & Cam for building our dream home!
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Cindy Jeeves
19 August 2024
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We have built four homes, and working with Steve & Brent from Iconic Homes has been the best experience by far. Steve & Brent built our beautiful home on Long street and watching our dream turn into a really was so exciting. From the very beginning, they approached our build as if they were building their own home. Their attention to detail and commitment to quality were evident in every suggestion they made, all of which greatly improved the final result. They took the time to thoroughly understand our vision, making sure every detail was exactly what we wanted. There were no hidden costs—everything was transparent from start to finish. The workmanship was exceptional, and the entire process was smooth and stress-free. I highly recommend Iconic Homes to anyone looking to build. Their dedication, expertise, and personal touch make all the difference. We couldn't be happier with our new home, it is absolutely stunning!
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Gavin hursthouse profile picture
Gavin hursthouse
20 February 2022
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We can highly recommend Iconic Homes and Construction without reservation. They are highly professional and we couldn’t be happier with the service, workmanship and craftsmanship delivered. Being in another state had no conflict with our build as Steve and Brent would make regular phone calls and as the project progressed, they would make regular video calls to go over finer details and/or ways project details could be improved or refined. They are always available and happy for catch ups/ discussions on the project whether it be a late evening or weekend to discuss things if need be. We were always kept informed with mile stone marks of the building. They have a large range of qualified tradesmen at hand that deliver quality workmanship. The attention to detail is second to none, completing works with care and precision. We are extremely happy that we have had no hesitation in starting our next project with them. Gavin & Sheridan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Matt Cranitch profile picture
Matt Cranitch
14 January 2022
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For people as fussy as us, using Steve and Brent for our Hamptons style new build was an obvious choice from first meeting. Having been burnt by previous stressful and frustrating building/renovation experiences, Steve and Brent allayed our fears and concerns by working closely with us from the start to ensure we could achieve our dream within budget. They even invited us into their private homes that they built themselves to inspect the finished product. During construction Steve and Brent updated us regularly and we did not have to worry about a thing - it was such a good feeling to know that we were in good hands. Even when we made minor changes on the fly, Steve and Brent were extremely accommodating! Their professionalism, attention to detail, knowledge, communication, friendliness and courtesy won us over and has us speaking their praises. We most appreciated their hands on approach (literally on site on the tools everyday!) and the fact that we knew what we were getting was exactly what we wanted. Thanks again Steve and Brent! We hope you'll still be building when we're ready to do our next one!
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Brisbane Duplex Build FAQ’s

Got another question? Please reach out to us!
After 20 years of building homes in Brisbane, we have built all sorts of homes and dealt with all planning, design and approval scenarios!

It depends on your zoning, block size and shape, and the overlays that apply. Councils set minimum lot sizes, frontage, setbacks and car parking for dual-occupancy. The reliable way to know is a site assessment against the current planning scheme — which is where we start, before you commit to a design. If the block doesn’t suit a duplex, we’ll say so early rather than after you’ve spent on plans.

Yes. From feasibility and design through council approvals to construction and handover, you deal with one team and one point of contact, no lining up separate contractors or managing timelines yourself.

Every project is different depending on the size of each dwelling, site conditions, slope, access, and the level of finishes you’re after. We’ll give you a detailed, itemised quote after the design phase so you know exactly where every dollar’s going. No ballpark figures that blow out later. 

Often, yes. A duplex on a single title avoids much of the cost that comes with a full subdivision — separate driveways, individual service connections, infrastructure charges and surveyor fees. You still end up with two dwellings, usually with less red tape and lower upfront cost. Whether that holds true for your site depends on the block and your goals, which we work through in the feasibility stage.

We offer a range of custom duplex designs including side-by-side, over-under (two-storey vertical splits), and detached dual-living homes. Each design is tailored to your block, goals, and the local market-whether you’re building to hold, rent, or sell.

Typically 10 to 16 months from design to handover, depending on council timeframes and the complexity of the build. 

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