




Did you know Henley is one of Australia’s leading knockdown rebuild specialists? Helping you create beautiful, affordable homes in the neighbourhood you already love is part of what we do best!
Did you know Henley is one of Australia’s leading knockdown rebuild specialists? Helping you create beautiful, affordable homes in the neighbourhood you already love is part of what we do best!
By carefully managing our build volume, we ensure every home meets our exacting quality standards. We don’t aim to be the biggest builder, but we do aim to be the best.
We’ll also never ask you to sign a building contract before your house is demolished.
Instead, we do the hard work upfront including thorough site assessments, applying for and securing all necessary permits, and preparing accurate plans based on real conditions.
Our ability to unlock cost savings across construction, materials, and products - sourced from hundreds of trusted suppliers - allows you to personalise your home while staying within budget. This proven business model has stood the test of time, enabling us to consistently deliver exceptional quality, no matter the challenges in the industry.
Building your home is a responsibility we’re honoured to have, and we don’t take it lightly. With a friendly, transparent approach and decades of experience, we guide you through every step of the process. Whether it’s helping you customise your design or offering affordable options, we give you the best of both worlds - big builder affordability with personalised attention.
Knockdown rebuild projects can feel overwhelming, but we’re here to make it simple and stress-free. From the start, we’ll provide all the information you need so you can move forward with confidence. Let’s reimagine your home together.
Still love your street but not your house? Feeling squeezed for space, or frustrated by an outdated layout? If you’ve outgrown your home but not your postcode, a knockdown rebuild could be the smartest move you make.
Ask yourself:
> Do I love my location – the local parks, schools and community – but need a home that suits how I live today?
> Am I considering a renovation, but worried about cost blowouts and compromise?
> Is it hard to find an established home I like in this area, within my budget?
> Could a better design work on the land I already own?
> Do I want a more energy-efficient, lower maintenance home that’s ready for the future?
A knockdown rebuild gives you the best of both worlds: a fresh, modern home designed for your lifestyle – built right where you already belong.
You stay in the neighbourhood you know and love –close to schools, shops, parks and your community –while upgrading to a home that suits your current and future lifestyle. Whether your family is growing, your home feels tired, or buying in your suburb is out of reach, rebuilding is a smart way to get everything you want without giving up where you live.
Choosing to knockdown rebuild is a big decision - and we’re here to make sure it’s the right one for you. Our approach is built on transparency, expertise, and a commitment to doing things properly from day one.
When you rebuild with us, you’re not just getting a new home - you’re getting peace of mind.
Unlike many builders, we won’t ask you to commit to a building contract before your existing home is demolished. Why? Because we believe you deserve certainty, not assumptions.
By waiting until demolition is complete, we can assess your site accurately and ensure your contract reflects real conditions, not estimates or guesswork. This means you won’t be locked into a contract based on unknowns, and you’ll avoid the risk of unexpected costs or lastminute variations.
We do the hard work upfront, including thorough site assessments to understand your land’s true conditions, securing all necessary permits before construction begins, and preparing detailed plans based on actual site data.
This approach ensures your contract is signed with full transparencygiving you confidence in every step of the process.
What this means for you:
> No inflated estimates
> No hidden costs
> No surprises or last-minute charges
Council regulations, zoning laws, and overlays can be complex - but we make them simple. Our experienced team knows how to navigate local requirements with precision and care, so you don’t have to worry about red tape slowing you down.
We take full responsibility for the approval process, including planning permits, dispensation and consent, and build-over easement approvals.
All of this is completed before you sign your building contract, ensuring everything is in place for a smooth, stress-free build. No delays. No surprises. Just a clear path to your new home.
Finding the right design is all about choosing a home that fits your lifestyle, land and future needs. We offer a wide range of home designs to suit different budgets, block sizes and living situations – from compact family homes to large, luxurious double storey builds.
Our flexible floorplans include up to five bedrooms, multiple living zones, generous kitchens with butler’s pantries, and dedicated guest suites for multigenerational living. Some designs even include ensuites for every bedroom – making everyday life easier and more private for everyone under your roof.
And, what others call upgrades, we often include as standard. Our homes are designed for real life, with high ceilings, premium finishes, 7-star energy efficiency and more choice across our standard inclusions. You can even personalise your home further during your interior design consultation – with clear pricing and expert guidance to help you get the look you want, without the stress.
Whether it’s your first knockdown rebuild or you’re a seasoned professional, our experienced team is here to help you choose the perfect home for your land, budget and lifestyle.
Knockdown rebuilds can feel overwhelming but with us, you’re never alone in the process. We’ve built our approach around clarity, care, and confidence, so you can enjoy the journey to your new home with complete peace of mind.
HERE’S WHAT SETS US APART:
We walk with you - not ahead of you
We understand that building a home is one of life’s biggest decisions. That’s why we’ll never rush you into signing a contract. You’ll have the time and space to explore your options, ask questions, and make informed choices at your own pace – with our team by your side every step of the way.
Your vision comes first, the contract comes later
Before you commit to anything, you’ll meet with our interior designers to finalise your selections. From finishes to fixtures, you’ll know exactly what your home will look like and what it will cost before signing your building contract. No surprises, just certainty.
We help you choose, we don’t sell
Our interior designers are here to guide you, not upsell you. They’re not paid on commission, so their recommendations are based on your style, your needs, and your budget. It’s all about creating a home that feels right for you.
We build like it’s our only project
Your home deserves attention to detail - and that’s exactly what it gets. Our building supervisors manage fewer projects so they can focus on yours. With independent inspections, expert supervision, and rigorous in-house quality checks, your home is built to the highest standard and backed by our 50-year structural guarantee.
We’re still here long after you move in
Our dedicated maintenance and home assurance team is here to support you well beyond handover. Because we don’t just build homes, we build lasting relationships.
Getting started on a knockdown rebuild might feel a little overwhelming - but you’re not alone. Our experienced team has guided thousands of homeowners through the process, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Transparency and care are at the heart of our process, and we’re always ready to answer your questions and help you navigate any challenges.
We’ve created this essential guide to step you through the key stages you can expect – from demolishing your existing home to building your dream one – and to show you how we make the process smoother and more rewarding.
YOU CAN USE THESE VISUAL PROMPTS TO HELP YOU FURTHER
Important information, please take extra note of this.
This symbolises a payment.
1 UNDERSTANDING YOUR BLOCK OF LAND
We assess your land to uncover its potential and any unique considerations.
2
MAKING PLANS FOR YOUR BLOCK OF LAND
Tailored plans that suit your block, lifestyle, and vision.
3 4 PUTTING YOUR PLANS IN MOTION
We handle relevant authority approvals and prepare everything for demolition.
DEMOLISHING YOUR EXISTING HOME
Your existing home is safely and professionally demolished.
5 SIGN YOUR CONTRACT WITH CONFIDENCE
With demolition complete, you can sign an all-inclusive contract, and we’ll take care of your building permit.
6
BRINGING YOUR HOME TO LIFE
Construction begins, with expert supervision and quality checks every step of the way.
7 HERE FOR YOU, LONG AFTER MOVE-IN
Our aftercare team supports you well beyond handover — because we build relationships, not just homes.
Before we begin, it’s important to fully understand your block of land, and identify any factors that could impact construction. Addressing these early helps avoid surprises and keeps your project running smoothly. Our expert team will be there to support you through this research phase.
Speak to your local council about:
> Council zoning regulations and building restrictions that may apply.
> Any easements, heritage overlays or environmental regulations that may impact what can be built on the property.
> VicPlan is a great resource to find out about the zones and overlays on a property. Visit https://mapshare.vic.gov.au/ vicplan/.
Speak to your water authority to find out:
> The location of sewer and storm water lines.
> Whether or not you have clay pipes on your land. Any property established prior to 1989 will generally have clay pipes. In these circumstances, an item will be added to your tender document to cover the costs of converting your clay pipes to PVC connections.
> When sewer lines were installed in your area. This can flag potential future issues such as hidden items in the earth like septic tanks, wells, pools, pipes, etc.
> If your storm water discharges to your kerb. This will impact the kind of LPOD (Legal Point of Discharge) system you need.
Look up:
> Let us know if you have any trees you’d like to keep on your land. You may need an arborist to complete a report on the health of your trees and determine if any protection methods are required. This can be costly depending on the tree and its proximity to the new home.
> Do you have overhead powerlines? If your power connection is currently overhead, you’ll need to arrange for an electricity pit to be installed by your energy distributor. It’s handy to remember, your energy retailer (where your bills come from) is different to the distributor. See page 24.
Look around:
> Do you want to keep your fencing? For fences to be retained, they must be in good condition. You will only be permitted to retain your front fencing if the site access width allows for all machinery and vehicles required for construction. If your garage is on the boundary, it’s your responsibility to organise for the removal and reinstallation of any affected fences with your neighbours.
> Is there slope on your block? Too much slope may make your block ineligible for a knockdown rebuild with us. If you’re concerned, check with your new home consultant.
> What sort of road is your block on? Parking restrictions and traffic conditions need to be considered as well.
Pinpointing these details prior to construction gives us more transparency of site requirements before demolition begins, and allows our drafting and estimating teams to provide accurate plans and costs for your new home. This means you will have a clear picture of the home we can build and how much it will cost, before your contract. Other builders may wait longer to do this research, resulting in your new home plans and costs changing unexpectedly.
With your site information in hand, it’s time to start making plans for your new home. You’ll meet with one of our knockdown rebuild specialists to review your block and confirm what’s possible, before exploring floorplans and façades to maximise your land’s potential.
Quote preparation
We’ll provide you with a detailed quote that locks in your base price, façade, inclusions, and any current promotions, then secure it with your initial deposit,
Preliminary quotes do not include site costs and OH&S costs.
$2,500 initial deposit due.
Refundable for a period of 45 days (unless soil test and site surveys have been ordered).
A taste of the next steps
You’ll be invited to explore our design showroom at a design discovery session and begin curating your interior and exterior selections online via our MyHomeHQ portal. You’ll also get visibility of pricing for your upgrade options, so you can understand what’s within your budget as early as possible.
Finalising your quote
After your initial deposit, we’ll continue adjusting your quote as your plans evolve. Once you’re happy with everything, and do not require any further structural changes, you’ll attend a finalisation appointment to guide you through all the required paperwork, and place your second deposit.
Your project details will then be handed to our head office team to commence the next step!
$1,000 second deposit due.
In the background we will…
> Confirm all the information about your block.
> Order soil tests, site survey, and other requirements to guide the construction of your home (if access to your land is available).
Your deposit is to cover the external and internal expenses involved in undertaking these steps.
> Book your upcoming appointments.
> Appoint you with a pre-site project planner who will be your main point of contact for the next stages.
Provide Section 32 or other confirmation of land ownership.
Engage with a broker or bank to ensure finance is available.
Explore home designs on our website.
Complete your sales paperwork within 60 days of initial deposit.
Start researching demolition companies. The demolition process can vary between companies in terms of procedures and timeframes so it’s important to ask about these things when you’re getting quotes.
Confirm demolition costs and any potential unexpected costs.
This stage is all about preparation. Your project will be handed over to our head office team, who will get to work reviewing the results of soil tests, site surveys, and inspections. We’ll also manage authority approvals, dispensations, and approvals required to get your build underway. See page 20 for details.
Unlike some builders, we won’t ask you to sign a contract until every detail is clear and accounted for. This is why we ensure your colour selections, tender appointment and demolition are all completed before contract stage.
Design
You’ll attend your interior design consultation in our Mount Waverley showroom, where you’ll personalise your colour schemes, materials, fittings, and fixtures for your entire home, inside and out. You’ll have access to an expansive range of standard inclusions and upgrades, all guided by a qualified interior designer - not incentivised to upsell.
Appointments are available Monday to Friday only, and you’ll need to allow 4-5 hours to complete your selections. You are welcome to come and visit the design showroom as many times as you like before your interior design consultation, to prepare.
Design showroom opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 9am - 4pm By appointment only
Saturday & Sunday: 9am - 3.30pm
Open to public
An optional electrical design consultation is available to customise your electrical plan. Some larger home designs may also require a separate cabinetry design consultation.
Before your design consultations we ask that you:
Finalise your choice of façade and all structural changes with your new home consultant.
Decide on your cabinetry and vanity design options for your kitchen, butler’s pantry and wet areas.
Have a solid idea of your interior style. Take note of your favourite Henley displays, use our Visualiser tool, and spend time on MyHomeHQMySelections.
• Browse the different areas of your home that you will need to make selections for.
• Explore thousands of options and make all your preliminary selections.
• MySelections will lock 24 hours before your consultation to allow your interior designer time to prepare for your appointment. Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to make changes to your selections during your consultation.
Save plenty of new home inspiration and bring it to your appointment.
Some title covenants and councils have certain requirements around the materials and colours you can use. Make sure you’re aware of these before your consultation to avoid disappointment.
Review your sales quote to make sure you are familiar with all your promotions, inclusions and customisations.
With your selections locked in, we’ll prepare your tender – a detailed document that captures your chosen home design, customisations, showroom selections, preliminary site costs and drawings. The tender appointment is your moment to check every detail and ensure it’s exactly as you expected. This a full day appointment available Monday to Friday. We can host you in our Mount Waverley office, or virtually from the comfort of your home.
Once you’ve signed your tender, there are no further changes allowed, and we’ll start finalising your contract documentation and a set of drawings.
A third, non-refundable deposit of $2,000 is due.
Final site costs are confirmed after demolition, ensuring precision in your final contract.
Following the tender appointment, we will complete a Part 5 Check, where a building surveyor looks over our drawings and documents, to confirm we’re compliant with council requirements. If, for any reason we’re not compliant, we can apply for the relevant permits and approvals outlined on page 22.
We’ll require upfront payment for these, plus any arborist reports that need to be submitted for your project.
We will also issue you a Domestic Building Insurance (DMI) policy through the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA). This is a legal requirement to protect you from financial losses arising from incomplete or defective work carried out by a builder who has died, disappeared or become insolvent.
Permits, Dispensations and Approvals
All knockdown rebuild projects will need:
Asset Protection Permit (APP)
This is required by local councils to protect public assets like footpaths during construction on private property. It confirms that if any council assets are damaged during the building process, the responsible party will fix them.
You typically pay a fee for the permit plus a bond to cover potential damages. An APP is required for both the demolition and construction stages of your knockdown rebuilt project. You will need to take out a separate APP for the demolition process, whilst we will take care of the APP for the home build process. To save money on permit fees, you can choose to take out a single APP for demolition and construction. However, a bigger bond is likely with this option.
Demolition Permit
This is required to demolish a building or structure and is organised by your demolition company.
Building Permit
When you get to the building stage, we’ll take care of any building permits required.
Following a Part 5 Check, we will determine if the following permits/approvals are also required.
Town Planning Permit
This may be needed where a property has a planning overlay, especially if you are increasing the size of your home, changing its footprint or if your property is in a heritage or environmentally sensitive area.
Council Report and Consent (also known as dispensations)
If the new home design doesn’t fully comply with local building regulations such as setback requirements or overshadowing rules, you may need to apply for a Council Report and Consent. If approved, council will grant a dispensation - an exemption for specific parts of the project.
Build Over Easement Approval
An easement is a section of your land used by another party such as the local water authority. Build over easement approval ensures the knockdown rebuild won’t interfere with the easement’s intended use, such as utility access, drainage, or public services.
Before we can build your new home, your existing one must be safely removed. This involves arranging an underground electricity pit, if required, and disconnecting services such as power and gas with at least 60 days’ notice. You’ll also need to engage a demolition company to complete the works.
Although we don’t manage the demolition of your property, we’re here to support you every step of the way. We’ll stay in touch to check on your progress and answer any questions you might have throughout the process.
Applying for underground electricity pit
If your power connection is currently overhead, you’ll need to arrange for an electricity pit to be installed by your energy distributor. We recommend you organise the installation of an underground pit as early as possible as it can be time consuming. If this is not installed before construction, you may have to pay more to hire a generator. To organise installation, speak to the new connections department of your energy distributor (not retailer). Let them know you need an underground power pit installed and obtain the ‘request for underground power’ form.
When filling out the form it’s useful to know the following:
> Amps: In most cases you will require less than 100 amps per phase.
> Single phase/three phase: With new homes now allelectric, three phase power will be required.
Disconnecting power and gas
It’s important to allow plenty of time for utility disconnections before demolition begins. If you’re currently living in the home, you’ll need to give your utility providers - such as water, electricity, and gas - at least 60 days’ notice to cease services. In some cases, these requests can take longer to process, so it’s wise to plan ahead.
If you’re moving into a rental property during the rebuild, factoring in this notice period can help you avoid paying extra rental costs due to delays in disconnection. Early planning ensures a smoother transition and keeps your timeline on track.
Engaging a demolition company
You’ll need to engage a demolition company who will assist you to organise the demolition permit and approval to remove your existing home. You will need some documentation for the demolition process including evidence of land ownership.
Ask your demolition company to complete the following:
> Cap sewer connection and remove line from house.
> Cap water meter and tap and remove line from house (water tap and meter to remain on site).
> Cap storm water (Legal Point of Discharge) and remove line from house.
> Install riser pipes to mark drainage locations.
> Remove any septic tanks.
Proceeding with demolition
One of the biggest risks associated with a knockdown rebuild is council approvals not being guaranteed. For this reason, we recommend waiting for all council approvals prior to completing the demolition.
Once all required permits and approvals are in place, works by the building surveyor are complete, and we’ve received your demolition permit, we’ll confirm when demolition can proceed, paving the way for the exciting build stage to begin.
After demolition
When demolition is complete, we’ll ask you to supply an asbestos clearance certificate from your demolition company, and sign a demolition complete letter, provided by us, confirming all the relevant site preparation tasks are complete. We’ll also need you to send us photos of the cleared site.
With your block of land now clear, we can complete the picture by conducting a re-establishment survey and postdemolition inspections.
Re-establishment survey
We organise for a re-establishment survey to be carried out by a licensed surveyor, to determine the location of your property’s title boundary lines and any encroachments from existing structures or fence lines into the lot. We will only build from title boundaries.
Post-demolition inspections
> Post demolition pre-site inspection completed by a supervisor.
> Contour survey to assess the new levels of the land now that the house has been removed.
> OH&S post demolition and pre-site inspection completed by our OH&S team, including wiring and electricals.
> Further soil testing including testing for asbestos residue from the demolition process.
> Arborist report (if not already completed).
> Drainage inspection completed by plumbers.
Unlike many builders, we don’t rush you into signing. We wait until demolition is complete and all approvals, inspections, and tests have been finalised. This means there are no hidden risks, no unexpected changes, and no chance of being let down at the last minute. The home you sign for is the home we’ll build.
Contract
You’ll be presented with a personalised version of the industry standard HIA new home contract. Your contract will incorporate final site costs, council requirements, and your custom selections. With everything locked in, you can sign your contract knowing exactly what to expect. Each person listed on the contract must attend the contract appointment to sign the document.
5% of contract value due at contract signing (less deposits already paid)
The contract must be signed within 300 days from initial deposit unless there is an earlier promotional time frame for holding a price or promotional offer, in which case the contract must be signed within that time frame to secure that offer.
We’ll require confirmation of finance including a current unconditional letter of offer and written confirmation from your finance provider that funds are ready to be released for construction progress payments.
If you don’t require a bank loan we request an up-to-date bank statement showing sufficient funding to cover the build project.
Once the contract is signed, and we have confirmation of your financing and all relevant paperwork, we’ll move forward. This includes:
> Conducting an energy assessment.
> Finalising your construction drawings.
> Applying for a building permit through our appointed building surveyor.
> Ordering the materials required for your home.
Your new home journey is about to shift into its most exciting stage - construction! Before work begins, please ensure your block is fully prepared. This includes removing rubbish, bins, or excess soil, cutting grass, and clearing any temporary fencing.
Once your site is ready, you’ll meet your dedicated construction supervisor, who will guide you through the building process and provide updates via our online MyHomeHQ portal. From site start through to handover, your supervisor and on-site project planners will be your two points of contact, ensuring quality and consistency every step of the way.
Below, is an overview of the building process and the payment stages required to keep everything on track.
1. Base stage
Your block of land will be prepped to build on, with temporary fencing installed, site excavation and underground connections laid. The base stage is complete once the concrete slab is poured.
Upon completion of the base stage, a 10% progress payment is due.
2. Frame stage
This is the stage where your home truly begins to take shape. Walls are marked out according to your final drawings, and the construction of walls, windows, door frames, and roof trusses gets underway. The frame stage is considered complete once the structure is fully installed, inspected, and approved by a qualified building surveyor.
Upon completion of the frame stage, a 15% progress payment is due.
3. Lock-up stage
Reaching the lock-up stage is an exciting milestone as your home takes shape and becomes secure. During this phase, we install brickwork, wall cladding, roofing, and insulation. Temporary external doors may also be hung and fixed into place to safeguard your home.
At the completion of the lock-up stage, a 35% progress payment is required.
4. Fixing stage
This stage involves installing and fixing internal elements into position. We’ll complete the internal plastering, architraves, and skirting boards (excluding the garage). Additionally, we’ll install cabinets and cupboards in your kitchen, adding functional style to your home.
At the end of the fixing stage, a 25% progress payment is due.
5. Fit-off stage
The fit-off stage brings your chosen design elements to life. We’ll paint your home and install tiles, benchtops, shower screens, mirrors, and door furniture. Plumbing and electrical connections will also be completed, bringing everything together for a polished finish.
6. Pre-handover walkthrough
Your build is now essentially complete and it’s time to meet your supervisor on-site, to be presented with your new home for the first time. They will explain the various features of your home and how everything works. This is your opportunity to check everything has been completed in line with your contract and expectations.
Our quality assurance team will also visit your home at this stage, as well as your private inspector (if you have one). Any items identified by you, the quality assurance team or the private inspector will then be listed out and addressed before your final inspection.
7. Final inspection
At the Final Inspection, you’ll meet with your construction supervisor to review the home and ensure any items identified at your pre-handover walkthrough have been addressed.
If your final invoice payment has cleared by the time of this appointment, then congratulations, settlement and handover of keys can occur on the same day!
10% plus any post-contract variations
Congratulations! Your brand-new home is complete, and ready for you to move in.
We follow a rigorous quality schedule during construction to make sure every detail is just right. Our supervisors undertake quality checks at six major milestones of the build – pre slab pour, post slab pour, frame completion, lock up, pre-paint/fix, and final completion.
Your supervisor’s manager will also undertake two quality checks before the final stages of construction are completed. In a separate process, inspections are carried out by our quality assurance team at the pre-paint and completion stages. These quality inspections are in addition to the statutory building surveyor inspections at pre-pour, frame and final stages.
The best part – moving in! We’re confident you’ll love every minute in your new home, however if you do experience any issues, you can relax knowing our dedicated home assurance team is here if you need us, supported by an impressive 50-year structural guarantee.
Our home assurance team can support you with any urgent maintenance concerns during and after business hours. To contact our team, call the number below, follow the prompts and a member of our team will assist you as soon as possible.
If you have a matter that requires immediate attention, please contact the SES or your insurance company.
A maintenance inspection is available three months after settlement. Please contact our home assurance team if you would like to book one in.
P: (03) 9574 5333
E: homeassurance@henley.com.au
VICPLAN
VicPlan is a valuable tool that lets you view, query, and create your property report.
You can refer to this website for information on planning zone overlay and heritage overlay.
W: mapshare.vic.gov.au/vicplan
No matter what stage of the knockdown rebuild journey you’re currently in, you’re always welcome to visit us at our Glen Waverley display centre and chat with our knockdown rebuild specialists.
W: henley.com.au
LANDATA
LANDATA is where you can get information on covenants, the title, the plan, and other documentation (applicable fees apply).
W: landata.vic.gov.au
ENERGY
A handy website to keep in your bookmarks, Victorian Energy Compare is a great tool to help you compare energy plans.
W: compare.energy.vic.gov.au
We believe building a home should feel excitingnot overwhelming. That’s why we’re committed to making the experience easy, transparent, exciting and genuinely supportive.
WE’RE HARD TO BEAT STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
PRIDE IN EVERY HOME FUTURE READY
HOMES WITH HEART OUR DOOR’S ALWAYS OPEN EVERYTHING UPFRONT WHERE AUSTRALIA LIVES