A duplex rental home is a residential building divided into two units, each with its own entrance, living space, kitchen, and bathroom. These units can be side-by-side or stacked on top of each other.
It’s a cross between an apartment and a house — generally with more living space than the former and a little less than the latter.
Typically, the property housing the duplex has a single owner. The owner may live in one half of the duplex and rent out the other, or they may rent out both halves. The interior layouts are usually identical and have a shared wall.
If each unit’s front door faces the street, the building is usually divided in half, right down the middle of the structure. If one apartment faces the front and one has its entrance in the back of the structure, the shared wall is between them. The shared wall is usually in the stairwell if the units have more than one floor.
An external staircase may lead to the upper unit in a one-up, one-down. In side-by-side duplexes, the two garages may be in the center of the structure, with each unit on the end.
What Duplexes Are Not
Duplexes are not the same as accessory dwelling units (ADUs). An ADU can be attached to the primary residence (but with its own entrance) —or it can be a small, detached structure on the property lot.
With both duplexes and ADUs, there’s only one owner of record. The main difference is that an ADU is considered an extension of the primary residence — even if it’s separated from it physically — while a duplex is a residence divided into two separate abodes. As such, they’re considered distinct properties.
It’s also important to note the difference between duplex buildings and twin homes, which are often confused. A duplex is a property on a single lot, while twin homes are two half-sized houses connected by a shared wall yet lying on their own respective lots.
Choosing a Duplex Over a Single-Family Home
In high-density cities like New York, Boston, and Chicago, detached single-family homes are not an option for most people (renters or buyers) due to their prohibitively high cost and lack of inventory. Duplexes can offer a desirable middle ground between a detached home and a multi-unit apartment building, but like all housing, they come with trade-offs.
Advantages of Living in a Duplex
- Affordability: Duplexes are often more affordable than single-family homes in terms of purchase price and maintenance costs.
- Rental Income: If you own the duplex, you can live in one unit and rent out the other, helping to offset your mortgage or generate additional income.
- Community Feel: Living close to your neighbor can foster community and security. A duplex offers proximity to just one unit rather than being surrounded by multiple other units in an apartment building. This means fewer chances of conflict or annoyance.
- More Space: Unlike apartments, duplexes typically offer more living space, including yards or gardens.
Disadvantages of Living in a Duplex
- Noise: Shared walls can lead to noise issues, especially if the units are not well-insulated.
- Privacy: While you do have your unit, the proximity to neighbors can sometimes feel intrusive.
- Maintenance Responsibility: If you own the duplex, you are responsible for all maintenance and repairs, which can be time-consuming and costly.
- Tenant Issues: If you rent out one unit, finding and managing tenants can be challenging and may lead to disputes.
- Lawn Care: You are responsible for maintaining the yard, which can require significant time and effort.
- Sharing Common Areas: Sharing a backyard, patio, or garage area with a neighbor may be challenging if you have different lifestyles.
Why Choose a Duplex
Duplex units are well-suited for roommates and families—small groups of people who share a home and want a house-like setup with more square footage and outdoor space than a typical apartment. Duplexes are also more affordable than detached single-family homes, so they can be a better way to live in a great neighborhood for less.
While some new duplexes are being constructed, they’re more likely to be found in residential neighborhoods where most properties were built at least 60 years ago.
It’s unlikely you’ll spot duplexes in a downtown location. If you hope to live in a recently built property, it might be harder to find duplexes that fit your criteria.
For more on how to find the right place to live for your needs, visit our Renters Blog.