Planning Services
INFORMATION SHEET
Confused about the different names used to describe a house and the different types of title? This
information sheet explains the terms used in the Residential Design Codes to described types of
dwellings, and relates these to the different types of ownership.
There are so many different names used to describe a building where people live; townhouse,
apartment, condominium, studio, terrace, villa, granny flat, duplex,
dwelling, semi-detached, house, cottage, flat, bedsit, bungalow, chalet,
cabin, manor, triplex and quadraplex are just some of the terms used.
All dwellings can be simplified into one of three types of dwellings. The three types of dwellings are:
•
•
and
•
.
The definitions of these dwellings and a simplified example of a site plan are shown in the attachment.
All new dwellings and additions to existing dwellings must obtain Planning Approval prior to obtaining
a Building Licence to commence development. For information on the process of applying for
Planning Approval, please refer to the City’s Information Sheet “Applying for Planning Approval”.
There are four types of special dwellings. Each of these special dwellings types are firstly either a
Single House, Grouped Dwelling or Multiple Dwelling. However, there are identified special needs in
the community. Therefore, the following types of dwellings modify the Single House, Grouped
Dwelling and Multiple Dwelling requirements to accommodate the special needs.
Ancillary Accommodation (‘Granny Flat’)
Ancillary Accommodation (commonly referred to as a ‘Granny Flat’):
• is special self contained accommodation for family members of the main dwelling.
• is on the same lot as a Single House (the lot must be at least 450sqm)
• may be attached or detached from the Single House.
• cannot be strata titled or subdivided.
• has limited floor space and additional parking requirements.
Applications for this type of accommodation may be approved in certain zones (see Table 1 of TPS
6). An Application for Planning Approval (form, fee and plans) must be submitted to the City
demonstrating compliance with all normal requirements of the TPS 6, policies and R-Codes relating to
“Single House”, plus special requirements contained in Planning Policy No. P389_T and R-Codes
clause 4.1.1.
Please note that one of the conditions of approval will be that a notification be placed on the Certificate
of Title of the lot which restricts the occupancy of the dwellings to its approved purpose. The
notification is placed on the Certificate of Title under section 70A of the Transfer of Land Act 1893 at
the expense of the developer.
Aged or Dependent Person’s Dwelling
An Aged or Dependent Person’s Dwelling:
• is special self contained accommodation for those aged 55 years or over or persons with a
handicap requiring special accommodation. For a definition see Schedule 1 of TPS 6.
• may be in the form of a Single House, Grouped Dwelling or Multiple Dwelling.
Updated 1 June 2006
Planning Services Information Sheet:
Explanation of types of ‘Dwellings’ and types of ‘Title’
•
•
•
Page 2
may receive a density bonus.
must be developed in groups of at least 5 dwellings.
has limited floor space and special parking requirements.
Applications for this type of accommodation may be approved in certain zones (see Table 1 of TPS 6)
An Application for Planning Approval (form, fee and plans) must be submitted to the City
demonstrating compliance with all normal requirements of TPS 6, policies and the R-Codes, including
specific requirements contained within clause 4.1.3 of the Codes.
Please note that one of the conditions of approval will be that a notification be placed on the Certificate
of Title of the lot which restricts the occupancy of the dwellings to its approved purpose. The
notification is placed on the Certificate of Title under section 70A of the Transfer of Land Act 1893 at
the expense of the developer. Contravention of this requirement is an offence under the Planning and
Development Act 2005.
Single Bedroom Dwelling
A Single Bedroom Dwelling:
• is “a dwelling that contains a living room and no more than one other habitable room that is
capable of use as a bedroom.” (quoted from R-Codes clause 2.2).
• may be in the form of a Single House, Grouped Dwellings or Multiple Dwellings.
• may receive a concession on density.
Applications for this type of accommodation may be approved in certain zones (see Table 1 of TPS 6)
An Application for Planning Approval (form, fee and plans) must be submitted to the City
demonstrating compliance with all normal requirements of TPS 6, policies and the R-Codes, including
specific requirements contained in the clause 4.1.3 of the R-Codes.
Residential Building
A Residential Building:
• is for the purpose of temporary habitation by two or more persons, or permanent habitation by
seven or more persons who do not comprise a single family (for a detailed definition refer to RCodes clause 2.2).
• may be in the form of a Single House, Grouped Dwelling or Multiple Dwelling.
Applications for this type of accommodation may be approved in certain zones (see Table 1 of TPS 6)
An Application for Planning Approval (form, fee and plans) must be submitted to the City
demonstrating compliance with all normal requirements of TPS 6, policies and the R-Codes.
A “title” is evidence of ownership of land. A “Certificate of Title” identifies the parcel of land, the owner
of the parcel of land, and encumbrances on the land. Certificates of Title are kept by the Department
of Land Information (DLI). Copies of Certificates of Title can be purchased from the DLI.
Freehold title is commonly referred to as a “green title”. A freehold lot may be divided into “strata lots”
or “survey strata lots”. Generally a:
• “Strata lot” is the building or portion of a building and often includes land surrounding the building.
o Please note that some older strata’s may have all land as common property (whether it is
fenced and used privately or not). Refer to the Strata Plan for the property (held by DLI) to
confirm the situation.
o A strata lot is often created after the buildings have been constructed, and in this situation is
commonly referred to as a “built strata”.
• “Survey-strata lot” simply divides the green title lot into strata lots.
o The survey-strata plan only shows the boundary of the strata lots in relation to the ‘parent’ lot,
it does not show the buildings.
o A Survey-strata plan may or may not include “common property”.
o A Survey-strata lot can be created before or after the construction of buildings.
o “Strata lots” may be able to be converted to “survey-strata lots”.
For further explanation of “strata’s” and “survey strata’s” and how to do a title search, refer to the DLI’s
website, or contact an officer at the DLI by phone.
Updated 1 June 2006
Planning Services Information Sheet:
Explanation of types of ‘Dwellings’ and types of ‘Title’
Page 3
Other types of title, which are either uncommon or not found in the district of the City of South Perth,
are Leasehold, Pastoral Leases and Native Title.
City of South Perth documents (available at www.southperth.wa.gov.au, look under Environmental
Management, Built Environment, Town Planning & Building Information)
•
City of South Perth Town Planning Scheme No. 6
•
Policies
•
“Applying for Planning Approval” Information Sheet
Other documents
•
Residential Design Codes of WA 2002 (R-Codes) www.wapc.wa.gov.au/Publications/37.aspx
•
Guide to Strata Titles www.dli.wa.gov.au (use search to find “strata title information”).
•
How to a Search www.dli.wa.gov.au (use search to find “how to do a title search”)
•
Australian Standards “Adaptable Housing” www.standards.com.au (use search to find “adaptable
housing”)
Should you have any further questions regarding this or any other matter, you are welcome to
contact one of the City’s officers by telephone or make an appointment to see an officer in
person.
City’s Offices: Civic Centre, cnr South Terrace and Sandgate Street, South Perth
Telephone: 9474 0777
Email: enquiries@southperth.wa.gov.au
Facsimile: 9474 2425
Web: www.southperth.wa.gov.au
Updated 1 June 2006
Planning Services Information Sheet: Explanation of types of ‘Dwellings’ and types of ‘Title’ - ATTACHMENT
Type of Dwelling
Definition
from the
Residential Design
Codes of Western
Australia 2002
(R-Codes)
Type of title the
dwelling can be
built on.
A dwelling standing wholly on its own green title
or survey-strata lot, together with any easement
over adjoining land for support of a wall or for
access or services and excludes dwellings on
titles with areas held in common property.
A dwelling that is one of a group of two or more
dwellings on the same lot such that no dwelling
is placed wholly or partly vertically above
another, except where special conditions of
landscape or topography dictate otherwise, and
includes a dwelling on a survey strata with
common property.
A dwelling in a group of more than one dwelling
on a lot where any part of a dwelling is vertically
above part of any other but does not include a
Grouped Dwelling.
a.
b.
c.
f.
Green Title.
Survey Strata, where there is no common
property.
d.
e.
Green title, except all the dwellings can only
be in one ownership.
Built Strata (build the dwellings first and
strata title later).
Survey Strata, where there is common
property. (NB: Common Property does not have
g.
Green title, except all the dwellings can only
be in one ownership.
Built Strata (build the dwellings first and
strata title later).
to be located as shown in example.)
Simplified
examples:
Elevations
Strata Lot 1
Strata Lot 1
b.
c.
d.
Common Property
Site plan
a.
Strata Lot 2
Strata Lot 2
Strata Lot 2
Common Property
Strata Lot 1
e.
f.
g.
Updated 1 June 2006