The Process
A detailed walkthrough of every step — from the moment you submit your free assessment through to receiving ongoing lease income. We manage the complexity. You make the key decisions.
What We Do
The five-step process covers assessment, design, approval, construction, and lease documentation. Buy My Backyard manages steps two through four entirely. You receive updates, make key decisions, and end up with a built secondary dwelling and a documented income stream.
Submit your details through the assessment form on our website. We'll review your property — lot size, backyard configuration, council zone, setback requirements, and local planning rules — and advise you on whether your property qualifies for the Buy My Backyard programme.
The assessment is completely free. There is no fee at this stage, no obligation to proceed, and no pressure to make any decision. We'll contact you within 48 hours of receiving your submission with a clear recommendation.
If your property qualifies, Buy My Backyard prepares an architectural design for the secondary dwelling — taking into account your backyard configuration, council requirements, and the intended rental outcome. You'll review and approve the design before anything is submitted to council.
We then prepare and lodge any required council approval — whether that's a Development Application (DA), a Complying Development Certificate (CDC), or another state-specific approval pathway. Many properties qualify for the faster CDC pathway, which significantly reduces the approval timeline.
| Approval type | DA (Development Application) or CDC — determined by property zone |
| Typical CDC timeline | 2–6 weeks from lodgement |
| Typical DA timeline | 8–16 weeks — varies by council |
| Who manages this | Buy My Backyard — all paperwork, liaison, and responses |
| Your involvement | Design review and sign-off only |
Once approval is granted, Buy My Backyard manages the full construction of the secondary dwelling. You do not need to source a builder, manage contractors, coordinate inspections, or deal with the construction process in any way.
We work with our network of licensed builders and trades to deliver the dwelling to council specifications and to the quality standard required for a long-term leased secondary dwelling. You'll receive regular progress updates throughout the construction period and will be consulted on any key decisions that affect your property.
Following construction, a 99-year land lease is formally prepared, reviewed by all parties, and executed. The lease documents the specific portion of land being leased, the term, the rent, the rights and obligations of both parties, and any conditions applying to the land and dwelling.
You are strongly encouraged to have the lease reviewed by your own independent solicitor before signing. We will provide you with a draft for review well in advance of execution.
| Lease term | Up to 99 years — as agreed between parties |
| Rent structure | Agreed at lease execution — typically reviewed periodically |
| Your title | Unchanged — you own the land, the dwelling, and everything on it |
| Registered | The lease is registered appropriately to protect your interests |
| Legal advice | Independent legal review strongly recommended and encouraged |
The tenant pays rent under the 99-year lease. You receive regular income from land that was previously sitting idle. The arrangement is legally documented, the income is structured, and the term is long — this is not a short-term rental situation.
The income generated is yours. Depending on the terms of the lease, the arrangement may also be passed on through your estate, creating a multi-generational income asset from land you already own.
The free assessment is the first step. No cost, no commitment — just a clear answer on whether your property qualifies.
Get my free assessment →Timeline
Every property and council is different — but this is a representative timeline for a standard metro property on the complying development pathway.
Eligibility
Many properties that homeowners assume won't qualify actually do. The free assessment is the definitive answer for your specific property — but here are the general markers that suggest a property is suitable.
We assess council requirements upfront and only proceed where approval is achievable. Some zones have a complying development pathway that bypasses the full DA process. We identify this at assessment.
A land lease does not require a change to your mortgage in the same way a subdivision sale would. We recommend disclosing the arrangement to your lender, and we can assist with this process.
The build structure is discussed during the assessment process. Several models are available — including arrangements where the build cost is structured against the lease income.
If you already have a secondary dwelling on your property, we may be able to help you structure a 99-year lease over that portion to formalise and generate ongoing income. Submit an assessment and note this in your enquiry.