Good questions, straight answers.

Most standard Sydney and NSW blocks do. As a rough guide you'll need a lot of at least 450 m², at least 12 m of street frontage, and clear setbacks. Heritage listings, steep slopes, or extreme bushfire ratings (BAL-40+) can complicate things. The only way to know for sure is a check of your specific address - we do that for free.

It depends on your site. Typically it's a matter of weeks - a straightforward block can move quickly, while complications like slope, heritage or tight setbacks add time. We check your block first, confirm the exact timeline in writing before you commit, then manage the whole process and keep you updated.

We check your block upfront. If anything complicates the approval, we tell you before you commit - what it means, what the path is, and whether it changes the price or timeline. You're never surprised mid-process.

The OC is the legal sign-off that your home is built to standard and can be occupied. Without it you can't legally rent the home, add it to your insurance, or include it in a property valuation. We manage the whole process through to the OC being issued - it's part of our service (the certifier and council fees are quoted separately, at cost).

We'll give you a written schedule before you sign anything - timing depends on your block, council, and factory scheduling. Once approval is granted, site prep and factory production run at the same time so nothing waits unnecessarily.

The home - structure, walls, cladding, roof, windows, internal fit-out - is manufactured in the factory as a flat-pack kit and shipped in standard containers. On site, our builders prepare the foundation (engineered footings as standard, or a permanent concrete slab if you choose that upgrade), run waterproofing and all services (plumbing, electrical, drainage), then assemble and install the kit. The home is fixed permanently to its foundation.

No - you don't need to be present. We coordinate everything directly with the site and keep you updated. If something does require your input we'll reach out with a clear question rather than a surprise.

As standard, your home sits on engineered footings - the same approach most prefab granny flats use. You can also upgrade to a permanent poured concrete slab, the same type of foundation as a standard house. A slab is worth considering if you're building for the long term: it matters for bank valuations, insurance, and durability. Most competitors don't offer the choice.

The starting price is the supply and build of the home: the complete kit (structure, walls, roof, windows, internal fit-out, kitchen, bathroom), engineered footings, installation, waterproofing and standard service connections. A permanent concrete slab foundation is an available upgrade. Two things sit outside the starting price and are quoted separately in writing before you sign: your approval costs - we manage the whole approval end to end for you, but the certifier or council fees and any engineering or design certificates are billed at cost and vary by your site and council - and site works like long service runs, difficult access or significant slope.

Yes - two ways. The standard designs can be adapted within their footprint. Beyond that, we offer custom sizing: the same engineered kit system, manufactured to your dimensions instead of a standard plan - same materials, same process, priced to your drawings. Fully bespoke one-off builds are also possible, designed by Rivela and constructed by a licensed builder, priced individually at a premium. See Custom for how both work.

NSW secondary dwellings cap out at 60 m². Our Granny flat model is built to exactly that limit. The Studio is 30 m² and the Cabana is 20 m² (non-habitable).

Our first homes are being built now. Once completed, we can arrange site visits to finished homes with the owner's permission. In the meantime we can walk you through detailed plans, renders and the full specification - and we're happy to answer any questions on a call.

NSW statutory warranties apply: six years structural, two years non-structural. The build is backed by our structural engineering sign-off and all mandatory inspections through to Occupation Certificate.

The starting price covers the home itself - its supply and build. Two things are assessed and quoted in writing before you sign: your approval costs (we manage the approval end to end, but the certifier, council and any engineering or design certificates are billed at cost and vary by site and council) and site-specific variables like unusually long service runs, challenging access or significant slope. You won't be surprised after you commit.

We handle the entire approval for you end to end - preparing, lodging and managing it through to your Occupation Certificate - and that management is part of our service, not a separate fee. The approval costs themselves, though, aren't included in the starting price: the certifier or council fees, engineering and design certificates, and an architect where a bespoke design needs one all depend on your design, area, site and council, so they're quoted separately in writing. It's the same principle as site works - we take the work off your plate, and you see every number before you commit.

A standard site has a mostly flat backyard (the ground falls less than 1 m across the build area), typical soil - Class M reactive clay or better - a sewer connection within 8 m of where the bathroom goes, and a side passage wide enough for a delivery truck. Most suburban Sydney and NSW blocks qualify. The common extras are a steep slope needing retaining work, highly reactive clay needing an engineered slab, or a sewer run that's further than usual. We identify all of this at your site assessment and give you the numbers before you sign anything.

Payment is staged against clear build milestones, and the full schedule is set out in your contract before you sign - so there are no surprises. We walk you through the exact terms when we prepare your quote.

Yes - a secondary dwelling can be rented independently once it has its Occupation Certificate. In a good Sydney area a two-bedroom secondary dwelling typically rents for $550-650 a week, location-dependent - a gross yield of around 16-18% on build cost, versus about 2.6% for a standard Sydney house. Check current local listings and your own tax situation.

Prefab-friendly lending has improved significantly. Several lenders now release progress payments before the home is fixed to the land. We can point you toward the current options for your situation - it's worth a conversation with a broker who understands the prefab space.