Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers on approvals, delivery, finance, and compliance.
Will my council approve it?
This is the #1 question we get, and rightfully so. The answer: we handle the entire council process for you. Our cabins are designed and manufactured to meet NCC standards, and qualify for complying development or Section 68 approvals on many properties across Australia. Eligibility depends on your specific site — zoning, lot size, overlays, and constraints — which is exactly what our feasibility assessment determines.
We also offer a Site Feasibility Service — a qualified planner assesses whether a cabin is allowable on your specific block before you commit. For the fully installed pathway, this is included in the $2,000 deposit. See Terms & Conditions for full details.
How long does the whole process take?
From order to delivery: approximately 10 weeks. The timeline is: deposit → site feasibility → selections → 70-day manufacturing → delivery & installation.
On-site installation takes approximately 2 days — one day for foundations and one day for cabin placement via crane.
How does it get delivered?
Your cabin is crane-delivered to your property. Site works typically take around 2 days. We handle the entire process — from council approval through to installation and connection.
The cabin sits on piers or screw-piles (no concrete slab needed), which means minimal earthworks and a fully reversible installation. If you ever want to move it, you can.
Important note: if a crane can't physically access your property, delivery may not be possible. Our site feasibility assessment checks this.
I don't own land yet. Can I still get one?
You'll need access to land (either your own, a family member's, or a land lease) to place a cabin. However, land lease communities offer 30-year terms where you own the cabin but lease the land.
If you're planning to purchase land, we can help you understand what to look for in terms of access, zoning, and suitability. Get in touch to discuss your situation.
What does the base price include?
Every Aluxria cabin price includes the complete cabin designed and manufactured to meet NCC standards — galvanised steel frame, 2.5mm aluminium shell, full insulation, triple-glazed windows, flooring, and internal fitout (kitchen, bathroom, and laundry where applicable).
Cabin-only pricing includes the cabin plus delivery within 250km of Port Botany (Sydney). You manage site prep, approvals, and installation.
Fully installed pricing adds site assessment, council approvals, foundations (piers or screw-piles), crane delivery, and on-site installation. Water, power, and waste connections are quoted separately based on your site conditions.
What's a site feasibility vs a site inspection?
Site feasibility is a desktop assessment where a qualified planner checks your property's zoning, overlays, lot size, and basic constraints to confirm whether a cabin is allowable. This is the first step and happens before anyone visits your property.
Site inspection is the physical visit — checking access for crane delivery, ground conditions, service connection points, and exact placement options. This confirms the practical details that desktop assessment can't cover.
Both are covered by the $2,000 deposit when you choose the fully installed pathway.
How does the $2,000 deposit work?
The $2,000 deposit locks in your pricing for 3 months and initiates the feasibility process. It covers the desktop site feasibility assessment and, for the fully installed pathway, the physical site inspection.
A 5 business day cooling-off period applies from the date of deposit. This right cannot be waived. If you cancel within this period, any admin costs deducted will not exceed $200.
If you cancel within 30 days (before design work begins), your deposit is refunded less a documented admin fee of no more than $500. If the site assessment reveals your property is unsuitable, the deposit is refunded less any costs already incurred for feasibility work.
Full terms are in our Terms & Conditions.
What if I change my mind or need to cancel?
Within 5 business days: You have an automatic cooling-off right. Cancellation may incur admin costs up to $200.
Within 30 days (before design starts): Deposit refunded less a documented admin fee up to $500.
After 30 days or once work begins: Deposit may be forfeited, and additional costs for completed work may apply. All costs will be documented and itemised.
If our feasibility assessment finds your property is unsuitable, the deposit is refunded less documented costs incurred. Our goods come with guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law — you are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure. See our Terms & Conditions for full details.
What's the difference between Supply Only and Supply & Install?
Supply Only (cabin only): You receive the completed cabin delivered to Port Botany (Sydney) or within 250km. You arrange transport to your site, site preparation, approvals, foundations, and installation yourself.
Supply & Install (turnkey): We manage everything — site assessment, council approvals, foundations, crane delivery, and installation. The cabin is delivered ready for connection to water, power, and waste (connections quoted separately).
Most customers choose Supply & Install because it removes the complexity of managing approvals, crane access, and foundation engineering. See the pricing breakdown on the cabins page for both options.
When do I sign a formal contract?
The $2,000 deposit is a pre-contractual commitment that secures your pricing and initiates feasibility. A formal building contract — compliant with applicable legislation including the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) where relevant — will be issued before any construction or manufacturing work begins.
The formal contract will confirm final specifications, inclusions, pricing, timeline, warranty terms, and all legal obligations. We recommend seeking independent legal advice before signing. See our Terms & Conditions.
Who insures the cabin during delivery and after installation?
Supply & Install: Risk transfers to you upon practical completion of installation. Until that point, Aluxria manages the delivery and installation risk.
Supply Only: Risk transfers upon collection or delivery to port. You are responsible for arranging transport insurance from port to your site. Aluxria can provide competitive transport pricing including insurance if needed.
After installation, the cabin qualifies for standard home insurance because it meets NCC dwelling standards (unlike caravans or tiny homes on wheels, which require specialist insurance). You should arrange adequate coverage from the point risk transfers to you. See our comparison page for insurance differences between housing options.
Will I be able to sell it? What's the resale value like?
Aluxria cabins have a strong resale market. Because they're designed to meet NCC dwelling standards, are relocatable, and sold while still under warranty, they hold value exceptionally well.
This is core to our 5–7 year ownership strategy: live in your cabin, build equity, then sell it and use the capital as a deposit for a traditional home. You've halved the timeline to home ownership.
How do I finance it? Can I get a loan?
Because Aluxria cabins are designed to meet NCC standards as habitable dwellings (not caravans or tiny homes on wheels), they can qualify for residential mortgage lending rather than personal loans when permanently sited on owned land. This means longer terms, lower rates, and higher borrowing capacity compared to financing a non-compliant structure. Eligibility depends on lender policy, the specific model, foundation type, and your overall application profile.
Our finance partner Mortgage Supply (Rose Renouf, ACL 389329) can guide you through the lending options for your specific situation, including how rental yield from the cabin can support your application.
Is it big enough to actually live in?
Yes. Every Aluxria cabin includes a full kitchen, separate bathroom, laundry, and habitable living space. These aren't sheds or glorified shipping containers — they're precision-engineered homes that meet the same compliance standards as any house.
They are designed to meet NCC Class 1a dwelling standards. Subject to local planning approval, people live in them full-time as either primary or secondary dwellings.
Can I use it as my main home, not just a granny flat?
Yes. Under the NCC, there is no minimum floor area that prevents a compliant cabin from being classified as a primary dwelling. However, some local council development control plans do set minimum dwelling sizes (often 35–60sqm), so this depends on your specific council area. Our feasibility service checks this for your property.
You can even swap dwelling designations via a planning application — make the cabin your primary residence and reclassify your existing house as the secondary dwelling. In South Australia, a homeowner in Noarlunga did exactly this, reclassifying their 126sqm home as the ancillary dwelling. The same principle applies across Australian states, though the specific process and terminology vary by jurisdiction.
Is it suitable for bushfire or cyclone-prone areas?
Yes. Our cabins feature non-combustible aluminium cladding that can be specified to meet BAL requirements up to BAL-40 under AS 3959 as part of a compliant wall system. The galvanised steel frame can be engineered for cyclonic wind classifications up to C4 under AS 4055, with appropriate foundation tie-down design for the specific site.
Sealed waterproof roofing and flooring membranes, heavy-duty steel subfloor, and Australian-standard plumbing and electrical systems. BAL and wind classification compliance depends on the complete building system and foundation, not just individual components — our feasibility assessment confirms what's achievable on your property.
Will the builder still be around if I need support?
Aluxria is backed by Rock Solid Design & Construction, which has been operating for over 20 years. In an era where thousands of Australian builders have gone under, that track record is the credibility that matters.
Every cabin comes with a 7-year structural warranty covering the frame, envelope, windows, seals, and roof membrane — exceeding the 6-year statutory period for major structural defects in most states. Fixtures, fittings, and appliances are covered by their respective manufacturer warranties. Full warranty terms are detailed in the formal purchase contract.
What power does the cabin run on?
Standard 230/240V single-phase mains power — the same as any Australian home. If your property has a mains connection within reach, we connect to it.
For remote or off-grid properties, the cabin is solar-ready and can run entirely off a solar and battery system installed on the flyover roof structure. Generator backup is also an option. The insulated envelope and triple-glazed windows keep energy consumption low.
Can the cabin go on sloped or uneven land?
Yes. Cabins sit on adjustable piers or screw-piles, not concrete slabs, which means they can be levelled on sloped or uneven ground. The foundation system is designed for Australian conditions and is fully reversible.
Steeper sites may require additional engineering or longer piles, which affects cost on a case-by-case basis. Our site inspection assesses slope, access, and ground conditions before confirming a price.
Where is the cabin manufactured?
Aluxria cabins are manufactured by Luban Cabin in a purpose-built facility in China with 100+ units per month allocated to the Australian market. The factory operates automated production lines across 200,000+ square metres.
Every cabin is designed and manufactured to meet Australian NCC requirements, with site-specific compliance certified at installation. Each unit carries a unique manufacturer serial number for traceability. Australian compliance, approvals, and installation are managed entirely by Aluxria and Rock Solid Design & Construction here in Australia.
Can I customise the layout or finishes?
Yes. Internal layout changes — such as repositioning the bathroom, bedroom, or living areas — are available and typically don't change the base price. Windows can be swapped for sliding doors or aluminium panels in some configurations.
Structural modifications or custom exterior colours beyond the standard range may incur additional costs. All customisation is done in the factory during manufacturing, not after delivery.
What approval pathway applies to my property?
Every state and territory in Australia has its own planning framework, but the general pattern is similar: a fast-track pathway for straightforward projects and a full development application for anything more complex. Our cabins are designed to meet NCC standards nationally, so the question is always about your specific site, not the cabin itself.
In NSW (our most common market), the three main pathways are:
Complying Development (CDC): A fast-track approval assessed by council or an accredited certifier, typically determined within 10–20 business days. Available for secondary dwellings where requirements are met, including minimum lot size (typically 450m² under the Housing SEPP).
Development Application (DA): Required when complying development requirements aren't met (e.g. lot size constraints, heritage overlays, or flood/bushfire zones). Assessed by your local council, typically 60–90+ days.
Section 68 Approval: An additional approval under the Local Government Act 1993 for installing manufactured homes, moveable dwellings, and associated structures. Covers sewerage, stormwater, and on-site sewage systems (OSMS). Unlike CDCs, Section 68 approvals can only be issued by council (not private certifiers).
Other states have equivalent pathways — for example, Victoria uses building permits via the Victorian Building Authority, Queensland has code-assessable and impact-assessable streams, and South Australia has its own Planning, Development and Infrastructure framework. We handle the approvals process regardless of your state.
Our feasibility service determines which pathway applies to your specific property and jurisdiction. Check your property suitability.
What is a secondary dwelling (granny flat)?
A secondary dwelling (often called a granny flat or ancillary dwelling) is a self-contained dwelling on the same lot as a principal dwelling. Every state has its own rules — in NSW under the Housing SEPP, secondary dwellings are permitted in residential zones (R1–R5), cannot be subdivided, are limited to one per site, and are capped at 60sqm (unless a local LEP permits more). Other states use different terminology: Victoria calls them "dependent person's units" or secondary dwellings, South Australia uses "ancillary accommodation", and Queensland permits secondary dwellings under specific planning scheme codes.
Aluxria cabins qualify as secondary dwellings when placed on an eligible property in any state. You can even swap designations via a planning application — making your cabin the primary dwelling and your existing house the secondary.
What about sewer, septic, and on-site waste systems?
Sewerage, stormwater, and on-site waste are handled differently depending on your state and local council. In NSW, Section 68 of the Local Government Act explicitly covers these as separate approvals. Other states have equivalent requirements through their building and plumbing regulations.
If your property is on mains sewer, we prepare connection documentation and coordinate with your local water authority. If you're on septic/OSMS, we prepare the waste management plan and ensure the system meets council requirements.
Our feasibility assessment identifies which scenario applies to your property and what documentation is needed, regardless of which state you're in.
What if my property is bushfire or flood prone?
Bushfire: Australia uses the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) system under AS 3959, based on vegetation type, slope, and distance from hazard. Our cabins are engineered with non-combustible aluminium cladding and can be specified to meet requirements up to BAL-40. Each state has its own bushfire planning framework — in NSW it's Planning for Bush Fire Protection (PBP), in Victoria it's the Bushfire Management Overlay, and other states have equivalent processes.
Flood: Flood-prone lots have specific requirements that vary by state and council. In some cases a fast-track approval pathway may not be available and a full development application is required instead. We check flood mapping as part of our feasibility assessment.
Neither constraint necessarily prevents you from placing a cabin — it changes the pathway and may require additional documentation. Our feasibility service checks all overlays for your specific property.
Can I list my cabin on Airbnb or Stayz?
Yes, but short-term rental accommodation (STRA) is regulated in every Australian state and territory. Rules vary significantly by jurisdiction and sometimes by local council area.
In NSW: You must register via the NSW Planning Portal, display your STRA property ID on all listings, and comply with a 180-day annual cap for non-hosted stays in Greater Sydney, Ballina, and parts of Clarence Valley and Muswellbrook. Byron Shire has a stricter 60-day cap. Fire safety standards and a Code of Conduct also apply.
Key exceptions: If you live on the property and rent out the granny flat/cabin, this counts as hosted STRA and is exempt from the day cap entirely (365 days). Bookings of 21+ consecutive days also don't count toward the cap.
Other states: Victoria requires STRA registration and has specific planning permit rules. Queensland and Tasmania have local government-level regulation. South Australia and Western Australia are developing their own frameworks. Check your local council requirements.
Even if you advertise informally (e.g. Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace), the underlying planning rules still apply. Major platforms increasingly enforce registration ID display. We can guide you through what applies in your area during a consultation.
What if we have a dispute or complaint?
Contact us first at inspiredspaces@aluxria.com or +61 414 350 205. We commit to attempting resolution in good faith within 14 days before any formal proceedings.
NSW Fair Trading offers free mediation services available to both parties. Our goods also come with guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law — you are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage.
Full dispute resolution and consumer guarantee terms are in our Terms & Conditions.
Still Have Questions?
Check if your property is suitable, or talk to the team about your project.