Comparing Two Home Types

Multiplex vs Half Duplex: Which to Buy in Vancouver?

A half duplex is one of the two homes in a duplex. A multiplex home is one of three or more homes in a building, such as a triplex or fourplex. Both are usually strata homes with their own front door. On October 13, 2026, the median asking price of the 327 Vancouver homes for sale listed as half duplexes on MLS® was $1,798,000, and the median for the 75 homes for sale in four-home buildings was $1,649,000. The biggest differences are size, how decisions are made, and how shared costs are split.

MultiLiving Editorial|Updated October 2026

Questions about this guide: Gary Paul, REALTOR®, Personal Real Estate Corporation, Grand Central Realty, 778-828-7476

$1,798,000Median asking price, Vancouver half duplex listings (327, October 13, 2026)

$1,649,000Median asking price, Vancouver homes in four-home buildings (75, October 13, 2026)

BothOwners who must agree on most decisions in a duplex strata, if both vote

What You'll Learn

Key Topics

Two homes, or more

A half duplex shares the building with one other home. A triplex or fourplex home shares it with two or three. The homes can sit side by side or one above the other.

Decisions with one neighbour

Each home has one vote. With two owners, a majority or a 3/4 vote both need the two of you to agree. In a fourplex, three of four owners can pass a bylaw change or a special levy.

Costs split fewer ways

A shared repair in a duplex is split two ways, by unit entitlement. In a fourplex it is split four ways, though a larger building may have more shared parts to look after.

No published benchmark

Greater Vancouver REALTORS publishes no benchmark for half duplex or multiplex homes. Its nearest category, the townhouse, was $1,016,700 in September 2026.

Repair planning

A strata of 4 or fewer homes does not have to get a depreciation report, so in both a duplex and a fourplex, ask how the owners plan and save for repairs.

Same rules on renting

A strata cannot restrict the rental of a strata home (section 141), so you can rent out either one later. Owning a half duplex does not let you rent the other half.

Counted October 13, 2026

Homes for Sale in Vancouver Today

Median asking prices of active MLS® listings in the City of Vancouver, from our own copy of the listings. Sold homes are not included.

Home type	Median asking price	Homes for sale
Listed as half duplex	$1,798,000	327
Home in a four-home building	$1,649,000	75

Source: MultiLiving count of active MLS® listings in the City of Vancouver on October 13, 2026. "Listed as half duplex" is the MLS® property type; "four-home building" is the number of homes the listing gives for its development. Asking prices are not sale prices.

Our view

The rule that every duplex decision needs both owners is the one buyers notice last. If you get along with the other owner, it is no problem; if you do not, there is no third vote. Meet them if you can.

Browse multiplex homes for sale, or talk to our team about the homes you are comparing.

Where these rules come from

Greater Vancouver REALTORS monthly market report and MLS® Home Price Index, September 2026, Greater Vancouver REALTORS. Released October 2, 2026, accessed October 9, 2026.
Strata Property Act, Part 4: Governance (sections 25 to 65), BC Laws. Current consolidation, accessed October 8, 2026.
Strata Property Act, Part 6: Finances (sections 91 to 118), BC Laws. Current consolidation, accessed October 8, 2026.
Strata Property Act, Part 8: Rentals (section 141), BC Laws. Current consolidation, accessed October 8, 2026.
Strata depreciation report requirements, Government of British Columbia. Published November 12, 2025, accessed October 8, 2026.
Strata Property Act, Schedule of Standard Bylaws (bylaw 9, council size), BC Laws. Current consolidation, accessed October 8, 2026.
Asking prices: MultiLiving count of active MLS® listings in the City of Vancouver, October 13, 2026.

General information only. The asking prices on this page are counted from active listings on the date shown and change daily; they are not sale prices or an estimate of what any home is worth. The strata rules are as published in BC's Strata Property Act. None of this is financial or legal advice. Talk to a licensed realtor and an independent real estate lawyer before you make any purchase decision.

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Summary

Key Takeaways

A half duplex shares its building with one home; a multiplex home with two or more.
In a duplex strata, both owners must agree on most decisions if both vote.
In a fourplex, three of four owners can pass a bylaw change or a special levy.
No public benchmark covers half duplex or multiplex homes; compare the exact homes.
Neither a duplex nor a fourplex strata has to get a depreciation report.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a half duplex and a multiplex home?

A half duplex is one of the two homes in a duplex building, so you share the building with one other owner. A multiplex home is one of three or more homes in a building, such as a triplex, fourplex or sixplex, so you share it with more owners. Both are usually strata homes with their own title and front door, and the homes can sit side by side or one above the other.

Is a half duplex more expensive than a multiplex home in Vancouver?

On October 13, 2026, the median asking price of the 327 Vancouver homes for sale listed as half duplexes on MLS® was $1,798,000, and the median for the 75 homes for sale in four-home buildings was $1,649,000. These are asking prices of homes for sale, counted from our copy of MLS® listings, and they vary widely with size and location. No public benchmark covers either type, so compare the price and floor area of the exact homes you are considering.

How are decisions made in a duplex strata compared with a fourplex?

Each home has one vote at owners' meetings. In a duplex with both owners voting, a majority needs both of you, and so does a 3/4 vote for a bylaw change or a special levy, so every decision needs agreement. In a fourplex, a majority is three of four and so is a 3/4 vote. In a duplex both owners are on the council; a fourplex with four owners elects its council at the annual general meeting.

Do half duplexes have strata fees?

Most half duplexes for sale in Vancouver and Burnaby list a strata fee of $0. Our strata fees guide shows the current count, taken from MLS® listings. A $0 fee means no monthly money is collected for shared costs, so ask how the two owners pay for the building insurance and for repairs to the roof and outside walls before you make an offer.

Can I rent out the other half of a duplex?

Only if you buy both halves. A half duplex is one strata home, and the other half belongs to its own owner. You can rent out your own half, since section 141 of BC's Strata Property Act says a strata must not restrict the rental of a strata lot, but renting the second home requires owning it.

Does a half duplex or a fourplex need a depreciation report?

Neither has to get one. Since July 1, 2024, BC requires a depreciation report every 5 years only for a strata of 5 or more homes. A duplex, triplex or fourplex is exempt, so ask the seller how the owners plan for repairs such as a new roof, and read the minutes of recent meetings and the balance of the contingency reserve fund.

Which is better for a family, a half duplex or a fourplex home?

In our view, a half duplex suits a family that wants more space and is comfortable making every building decision with one neighbour. A fourplex home suits a family that values a lower share of each repair and decisions that can pass with three of four owners. Compare the floor plans, the outdoor space and the strata documents of the exact homes before you choose.

What should I check before buying either one?

Check the strata plan for what belongs to your home, the bylaws on pets and alterations, the budget and the contingency reserve fund, the insurance summary and its deductible, and recent meeting minutes for planned repairs and any disagreement between owners. Make your offer subject to reading these documents, so you can cancel if they show a problem.

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