In India, duplex homes are quite popular in many urban areas and often described as having two units on two separate floors inside a single building. Owing to their distinct design, they offer the comfort of independent living with the benefits of a shared space. This makes their investment potential higher than other properties. A duplex house is often mistaken for a two-storey house, but these are two different types of residential properties. In this article, we explain what a duplex house is, their different types, advantages and downsides to help property buyers make a sound decision.
What is duplex house?
A duplex house is a residential building with living spaces constructed on two floors usually connected by a staircase. While there are two floors in duplex houses, it is sold together and owned by an individual. It may have separate entry points for both floors. In India, a duplex house design generally has kitchen, hall and bedrooms on the lower floor while the upper floor houses the master bedroom.
As suggested by the name, duplex homes have two floors and never three or four floors, in which case it would be called a multiplex. Typically, the cost of duplex homes is on the higher side as compared to the prices of other properties in the same area. Duplex houses may be owned by an individual who may or may not live in one of the units. They can rent out one unit of the duplex or both.
See also: Details about 2 BHK and other configurations
Duplex houses floor plan
Source: Pinterest
Types of Duplex house
Duplex house design can comprise of living units side-by-side or as two floors. Usually, types of duplex houses include:
- Standard duplex house: Duplex house designed as a two-storey house, where one floor is connected to the second floor by stairs. In a duplex flat, the lower floor comprises the living room and the kitchen while the upper floors include bedrooms and the kids’ rooms.
- Ground duplex house: Duplex house designed such that they are built on the ground floors of apartments, wherein the lower floors face a garden and include the bedrooms. The upper floor of the duplex apartment comprises the living room and kitchen. These types of duplex houses are suited for home owners who prefer gardens and have pets.
- Low-rise duplex: This duplex house design includes spacious balconies and an attic on the second floor. Usually, duplex houses are built over a smaller area, as compared to other types of duplex houses and making these small duplex house designs and pictures require much deliberation by the architects.
See also: All about penthouse
Factors affecting the rooms in duplex houses
The number of rooms in a duplex house depends on several factors.
- Location of the property: Generally, types of duplex houses located in cosmopolitan cities are smaller in size than the ones located in the outskirts of the city. The smaller the size of a duplex house, the lesser will be the number of rooms.
- Layout of the duplex: Generally, duplex house design follows a uniform layout with bedrooms, kitchen, dining room and a living room in one floor and a master bedroom in the other. However, individuals can choose a different duplex house design layout where the number of rooms is greater with each room having a smaller area.
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Duplex house advantages and disadvantages
| Duplex house advantages | Duplex house disadvantages |
| Duplex homes are spacious with more rooms and ample space | More rooms like bathrooms may mean more repair and maintenance |
| Separate living spaces on different floors offers more privacy | Common walls could lead to more noise transmission |
| Scope for earning rental income by renting out one floor to tenants | Occupants have to cooperate with each when sharing common spaces |
Duplex house advantages
A duplex house has several benefits and here are some reasons why you should choose it as your first home:
- A duplex house provides individuals with tax benefits and fetches added revenue. Owners can buy a duplex house, live in one side and rent the other. This increases the owner’s returns from the investment they made on the property.
- Both, the buyers and tenants of a duplex house, enjoy greater mortgage facilities in a duplex house. The owner can recoup some of the interest paid on the mortgage, if he rents a portion of it, rather than owning the entire property on his own.
- A duplex house design can serve many purposes. In case you want to set up an office, you can simply set it up on one floor and have a home-office. As duplex house are huge and spacious, one gets access to privacy in such apartments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when work from home became the norm, spaces in duplex house served as place for office, school, etc., among other work.
- Duplex house is an ideal solution for a joint family where families want to stay together but also like to have their privacy.
See also: All about condominium houses
Duplex house disadvantages
- Common walls in a duplex houses may lead to transmission of noise. This might cause disturbance for the residents.
- Duplex houses are not common in India. So, of you are looking for one, you might not find many options.
- If you plan to rent out a part of your property, sharing the duplex house could be a tricky situation, because of the commonality of the space involved. It is also true that you would find it hard to get a tenant for a duplex house.
- A duplex house is often an aspirational lifestyle choice but if you are looking to reap returns from it, you must be careful. Duplex houses in India are more common in places where there is considerable land bank. Most Indian cities have now given way to high-rises due to limited land bank.
- If you are looking to construct or invest in a duplex house, you may have to look at the suburbs and peripheries. The risk sets in if you are looking to earn a handsome rent out of it, which may not be possible in the peripheral areas. Note that southern cities, most noticeably, parts of Kerala, Hyderabad and Bangalore, still have duplex houses
See also: All about stilt houses including stilt house materials used in India
What is the construction cost of a duplex house in India?
| Construction aspect | Cost |
| Approvals of home layout | Rs 30,000 or above (based on factors like built-up area, dimension, etc.) |
| Architect charges | Rs 250 per sqft |
| Labour costs | Rs 20,000 or above (for a 1,000-sqft home) |
| Construction costs | Rs 12 lakh or above (for a 1,000-sqft home) |
Depending on the exact location and city, a duplex house design and construction may cost anywhere above Rs 1,500 per sq ft if you go in for basic finishing materials. Check out duplex house in your city only on Housing.com
Is it easy to find buyers for a duplex house?
Most property buyers who opt for duplex houses, prefer to invest in it for end-use. For some reason, if they wish to resell the unit, finding the right buyer may be tough. The exact location, demand for such homes, pricing and the city, also matter. However, this does not mean that selling a duplex house in the secondary market is impossible. There are many buyers looking for properties other than apartments.
One of the common concerns about the purchase of duplex houses is the safety factor. Unless it is within a gated community, you should take some efforts to ensure safety in and around your property.
Duplex house comparisons
Difference between Duplex house and a two-storey house
Duplex house meaning translates to always a two-storeyed structure but all two-storeyed buildings may not be categorised as duplex houses. While types of duplex houses are many, in duplex house design, the floors are connected through a staircase, while two-storeyed properties may be independent of each other and may or may not be connected.
Difference between Duplex house and villa
A villa may or may not be a two-storeyed property and is usually larger than a duplex house. Both are used for residential purposes but a villa is considered as a plush purchase, when compared to a duplex. A villa is generally the first choice for those who want total privacy. In fact, the villa concept dates back to the Roman era, when the rich and the famous moved to the countryside during the summers. Today, villas may be independently owned homes in a plot of land but yet are within a gated community. Villas also offer amenities such as a clubhouse, gym, pool, etc., unlike a duplex.
Difference between Duplex and townhouse
A townhouse can have more living spaces but a duplex house typically has only two. Further, a duplex house is first purchased by an owner and then rented by a tenant. This is not the case for a town house as individuals directly own the property. Thus, owners of a townhouse can bring about changes in the property but a tenant in a duplex house cannot do so without the permission of the owner. So, the property owner should will be responsible for the duplex house construction cost and renovation cost.
Difference between Duplex house and penthouse
Unlike a duplex house whose meaning is a two-storeyed property, a penthouse is always located in the top floor of a multi-storey building or apartment. These units are expensive, as they offer a good view and are generally the only unit on that particular floor design. All the units that were supposed to be on this floor, are consolidated into one.
Difference between Duplex house and independent house
The term ‘independent home’ is used interchangeably to refer to villas, duplex houses and the like. An independent house may have as many floors as desired but a duplex house design essentially has two floors.
Duplex house versus flat
While both kinds of properties have their own pros and cons, a duplex house will come with more responsibilities than a flat. The duplex house would need more maintenance and upkeep and this means more expenses. For flats, while the maintenance would be less and there will be fewer responsibilities, the experience would be limited to the space inside, as open spaces will have to be shared with other society members. Nevertheless, liquidating an apartment property would be easier than selling a duplex house.
Which is better duplex house or bungalow?
While a duplex house is a double-storey structure, a bungalow is a single-level building where all the living spaces are on a single level. A bungalow may be ideal for those who prefer not to have stairs and value independence. Moreover, bungalows come with more open spaces and outdoor areas compared to a duplex house. On the other hand, a duplex house is a more cost-effective option and provides the option of rooms on two levels.
Different meanings in different places
The meaning of a duplex house differs across countries. In India and the United States, a duplex typically refers to a two-storeyed residential building comprising separate living spaces and internally connected through a staircase. It may or may not be occupied by one or two families. In western countries, duplex house may even house two families, where each floor is a separate dwelling altogether. In the United Kingdom, these types of homes are often known as Maisonette, which include independent units under one roof. In Australia and New Zealand, duplexes typically include two dwellings sharing a common wall, built side-by-side on the same plot.
What is a half duplex?
A half duplex refers to the single side of a duplex. In this structure, different owners own each side of the duplex. Moreover, half-duplex houses can be built one above another or side-by-side. However, these structures are not popular owing to privacy issues. Usually, a duplex house includes a living space on one floor and bedrooms on the other.
Is duplex good as per Vastu?
According to Vastu Shastra, one can invest in a Duplex house while ensuring all Vastu principles are followed.
- When designing a Duplex, the master bedroom should be placed on the first floor in the southwest corner.
- Make sure the staircase is also located in the southwest corner and oriented in the clockwise direction, that is, from east to west or north to south.
- If you are designing a pooja room, place it facing the northeast direction.
- According to Vastu, the balcony in a duplex house should be in the northeast direction.
Housing.com News Viewpoint
There is a growing demand for duplex homes in India. When planning to invest in a duplex house, a prospective buyer should understand its pros and cons, including a comparison of the property purchase costs and the maintenance costs. Duplex homes can be a great option for those who look forward to a growing family and more space needs. It can also be a great investment if the owner decides to rent out one of the floors to earn rental income.
FAQs
What is the difference between apartment and duplex house?
Apartment units are usually part of a high-rise, unlike a duplex house which is essentially a two-storeyed structure, which may have two living units and two different entry points, as well.
What is the difference between a two-storey house and a duplex house?
A duplex house is always a two-storeyed structure but all two-storeyed buildings may not be categorised as duplex houses. In duplex houses, the floors are connected through a staircase while two-storeyed properties may be independent of each other and may or may not be connected.
Is duplex a bungalow?
Duplex homes are comparatively smaller than a bungalow or a villa. Unlike a bungalow, the inhabitants of a duplex have to share the amenities with other apartment owner. They are also less expensive than bungalow.
What is the difference between two-storey house and a duplex?
A duplex house is a two-storeyed structure. However, not all two-storeyed structures are duplexes. Unlike two-storeyed structure, the floors in a duplex house are connected through a staircase.
What is the construction cost of a duplex house?
The house construction cost in Indian ranges between Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500 per sqft of construction area, depending on the location and other factors. So, the cost of building a ground plus one storey house can range from Rs 30 to Rs 40 lakh.
Why should you live in a duplex?
A duplex is a house that offers additional space compared to an apartment. It ensures more privacy and access to amenities. Moreover, it provides avenues to earn higher rental income.
How many room is in a duplex?
A duplex house may include a living and dining room, a kitchen, bathrooms and two-four bedrooms.
| Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com |