Granny flats built for Melbourne's eastern suburbs
Melbourne's east has the cleanest planning path in the state, the highest household equity, and the city's strongest multigenerational demand. From Box Hill to Ringwood, there are few better places in Victoria to build a second dwelling.
We've been building in the east since 2003. Prestige Living is the second dwelling arm of Katana Building Services, working under Domestic Builder (Unlimited) registration DBU-20641 — and the east isn't a market we expanded into, it's where the business started.
Why Melbourne's east leads the state
From a planning and demand perspective, the eastern suburbs are the most straightforward place in Victoria to build a second dwelling — from the multicultural heart of Whitehorse and Monash to the high-equity blocks of Manningham and Boroondara.
No planning permit under 60m² — across most eastern residential zones, on blocks over 300m², under Victoria's 2023 reforms.
Largely overlay-free — much of Monash, Whitehorse, Manningham and Maroondah is free of flood, heritage and bushfire overlays, which makes for one of the cleanest and fastest build paths in Melbourne.
The strongest multigenerational demographic in metro Melbourne — extended-family living is culturally embedded from Box Hill to Glen Waverley, and the demand for a quality second dwelling on the family block is genuine rather than speculative.
Premium education precincts — the Balwyn, Glen Waverley, Box Hill and Camberwell catchments create consistent demand from long-term tenants where the investment angle matters.
High equity, long holds — median values of $1.5M to $2.3M mean owners have both the means and the motivation to invest in a premium build rather than a budget one.
Where multigenerational living is simply how families live
Melbourne's east is home to the city's largest multicultural and multigenerational communities — Box Hill, Doncaster, Glen Waverley and Springvale among them — where housing parents or grandparents on the family block isn't a compromise, it's normal family structure.
What changes is the standard of what gets built. A second dwelling that feels like a home rather than an afterthought is what makes the arrangement work for everyone: the parents keep their independence, the family keeps its proximity, and nobody feels they've been put in a shed.
Where we build in the east
City of Whitehorse — Box Hill, Blackburn Melbourne's largest Chinese community, with deeply embedded multigenerational living. Box Hill records 46.6% Chinese ancestry.
City of Manningham — Doncaster, Templestowe Large blocks, high household equity, and strong downsizer and multigenerational demand. Median house value around $1,575,000, among the highest in the mid-east.
City of Monash — Glen Waverley, Mount Waverley Our strongest-performing market to date. An overlay-free build path, an elite education precinct, and Melbourne's best all-round second-dwelling demographic. Median house value around $1,751,500.
City of Boroondara — Balwyn, Camberwell, Kew, Hawthorn The highest median values in the east, at up to $2.3M, with heritage and neighbourhood character considerations that shape where a second dwelling can sit.
City of Maroondah — Ringwood, Croydon, Heathmont Larger blocks on average and fewer character overlays, with more room to place a home where it makes sense rather than where it merely fits.
City of Knox — Wantirna, Rowville, Ferntree Gully Generous block sizes through the outer east, and a straightforward planning path on most sites.
Common questions about building in the east
Can I build a granny flat in the east without a planning permit?
In most eastern-suburb residential zones — across Monash, Whitehorse, Manningham, Maroondah and Boroondara — a secondary dwelling under 60m² can be built without a planning permit under Victoria's 2023 reforms, provided the block is over 300m² and free of flood, heritage or environmental overlays. A building permit is still required, and Prestige Living manages all permits and approvals on your behalf.
How do I know if my block is eligible?
If your block is over 300m² in a standard residential zone without a heritage or flood overlay, you are very likely eligible for a secondary dwelling under 60m² with no planning permit. Melbourne's established eastern housing stock overwhelmingly clears the 300m² threshold. Our desktop site assessment confirms your block's status — title, overlays and easements — before you commit to anything, and it costs nothing.
How much does a granny flat cost in Melbourne's east?
Builds start from $135,000 for a turn-key small secondary dwelling. Our flagship designs start from $185,500. Set against eastern median house values of $1.5M to $2.3M, a second dwelling is a modest investment that adds meaningful value to the property. Site connections are priced separately after the site survey, because they genuinely can't be known in advance.
Which eastern suburbs does Prestige Living build in?
All of Melbourne's east — Box Hill, Blackburn and Nunawading in Whitehorse; Doncaster, Templestowe and Bulleen in Manningham; Glen Waverley, Mount Waverley and Wheelers Hill in Monash; Ringwood, Croydon and Heathmont in Maroondah; and Balwyn, Camberwell and Kew in Boroondara. If your suburb isn't listed, ask — the boundary isn't a hard line.
What is the best design for a multigenerational family?
The Capel Sound and Sorrento designs suit multigenerational households best. Both are two-bedroom homes with full kitchens, private entries and generous living spaces, and both include Livable Housing Design features such as step-free entry and wider doorways as standard — which matters when the dwelling is for parents or grandparents and you want the arrangement to still work in ten years.
How long does the build take?
Construction runs 12 to 14 weeks on site for most designs, from the point where layouts, finishes and fixtures are signed off and the deposit is paid. Design, site testing, documentation and approvals come first — how long those take depends on your block and your council.
Find out what your block can take
Send us your address and we'll run a desktop check — title, overlays, easements and which permit pathway your council will want. It costs nothing, there's no obligation, and you'll get a straight answer.