40-Room Boarding House — A Governed Investment

A worked example showing how the Devin Framework delivers a boarding house investment with controlled risk, independent validation, and a transparent path from equity commitment through to stabilised income-producing asset.

Project Summary

$1.5M
Investor Equity
$5.35M
Year 2 Bank Lending
$6.85M
Total Project Cost
40
Self-Contained Rooms
1,350 m²
Gross Floor Area
$3,500/m²
Construction Cost
$983K
Gross Annual Revenue
$725K
Net Operating Income (pa)

100% Investor-Owned. Devin Governed.

The investors own the SPV that holds the asset outright. Devin provides the governance framework — not ownership, not project management, not financial advice. The structure separates capital ownership from operational governance.

🏦 Investors

Provide $1.5M equity. Own 100% of the SPV. All returns, capital growth, and refinancing proceeds flow to investors.

📋 SPV

Single-purpose vehicle holds the land and asset. Contracts directly with builder, QS, PM, and funder. Deploys capital under Devin's governed drawdown process.

🏗️ Delivery

Fixed-price builder at $3,500/m². Independent QS validates milestones. Independent PM manages daily oversight. Triple-signatory escrow release.

🏠 iLive Asset

40-room stabilised boarding house generating $983K pa. Professionally managed under the iLive platform. Refinance-ready asset.

Devin Governance Oversight Framework Licence + Compliance Review

Projected Returns

Conservative projections based on verified market rates for boarding house accommodation in New Zealand secondary cities. All figures in NZD.

Revenue & Operating Model

ItemPer WeekPer Annum
30 rooms × $500/week (90% occupancy) $13,500 $702,000
10 premium rooms × $600/week (90% occupancy) $5,400 $280,800
Gross Revenue $18,900 $982,800
Property management (8% of gross) -$1,512 -$78,624
Rates, insurance, maintenance -$1,200 -$62,400
Utilities & cleaning -$960 -$49,920
iLive platform fee ($1,500/month) -$346 -$18,000
Voids & contingencies (5%) -$945 -$49,140
Net Operating Income $13,937 $724,716
Debt servicing (Year 2+ — $5.35M @ 11% interest-only — 9% base + 2% commission) -$11,317 -$588,500
Net Cashflow to Investors $2,620 $136,216
Note: At $500–600/week rent against 11% second-tier debt on $5.35M, the project delivers $136K/year net cashflow — a 9.1% cash-on-cash return on $1.5M equity. The value creation: $6.85M build cost vs $9.06M stabilised valuation = $2.21M forced appreciation. Refinance at completion unlocks an estimated $3.71M equity position, producing a ~35% IRR over 3 years. iLive platform fee of $1,500/month covers boarding house management software for ongoing operations. Post-completion refinancing to bank debt at 6–7% boosts cash-on-cash to ~17%.

Capital Structure & Construction Budget

PhaseItemAmountNotes
Year 1 Land acquisition $1,000,000 Zoned for boarding house use
Consents, design, professional fees $300,000 Resource consent, building consent, architect, engineer
Early works & site prep $200,000 Earthworks, services connections, foundations
Year 1 Equity Deployed $1,500,000
Year 2 Construction — 1,350 m² @ $3,500/m² $4,725,000 Fixed-price contract, QS-validated milestones
Fit-out & furnishings (40 rooms) $400,000 Beds, appliances, communal furniture
Devin oversight fee Paid monthly over construction period
Contingency $225,000 Held in escrow, released with triple sign-off
Year 2 Bank Lending $5,350,000 Second-tier at 11% IO (9% base + 2% commission). Refinanceable to senior debt post-completion.
Total Project Cost $6,850,000 $1.5M equity + $5.35M debt

Investor Return Metrics

$136K
Annual Cashflow to Investors (post-debt @ 11%)
9.1%
Cash-on-Cash Return (on $1.5M equity)
$9.06M
Estimated Asset Value at 8% Cap Rate
$3.71M
Equity After Refinance (repay $5.35M debt)
2.74×
Equity Multiple (3-year horizon, incl. cashflow)
~35%
Projected IRR (3-year hold, exit at cap rate)
Key: At $500–600/week rent and 11% second-tier debt, operating cashflow is $136K/year (9.1% cash-on-cash). $1.5M equity → $136K/year cashflow + $3.71M equity at refi = 2.74× total return over 3 years. Post-completion refinancing to bank debt at 6–7% boosts cash-on-cash to ~17%. iLive platform ($1,500/month) provides the operational management software for the boarding house post-completion.

Why the Devin SPV Structure

Different ownership structures produce different outcomes for risk, control, and tax efficiency. The Devin-governed SPV provides the strongest alignment of control and protection — critical when capital is deployed in a governed drawdown process.

Direct Individual Ownership

  • Asset ControlFull
  • Liability Protection❌ None
  • Capital Raising❌ Difficult
  • Governance❌ Informal
  • Tax Efficiency⚠️ Limited
  • Exit Flexibility⚠️ Asset sale only

SPV with Devin Governance

  • Asset ControlFull (via SPV)
  • Liability Protection✅ Ring-fenced
  • Capital Raising✅ Structured
  • Governance✅ Devin Framework
  • Tax Efficiency✅ SPV structure
  • Exit Flexibility✅ Share sale or refi

Trust Structure

  • Asset Control⚠️ Trustee discretion
  • Liability Protection✅ Good
  • Capital Raising❌ Limited
  • Governance⚠️ Trustee-dependent
  • Tax Efficiency✅ Good
  • Exit Flexibility⚠️ Constrained

Governance, Not Ownership

Devin does not take equity, does not hold funds, and does not act as project manager or developer. Devin supplies the framework licence, documentation architecture, and independent process compliance review.

Framework Licence

Annual licence to use the Devin governance architecture for the project. Covers documentation templates, milestone protocols, and the escrow validation framework.

Process Compliance

Independent review that drawdowns follow the triple-signatory protocol. Verification that QS, PM, and Owner approvals are in place before any payment release.

iProject Visibility

Real-time project visibility through the iProject portal. Investors and funders can observe progress, documentation, and financial drawdowns as they happen.

Oversight Fee

Fixed oversight fee for the project, paid monthly over the construction period. Covers the framework licence, compliance review, and iProject access for the life of the project. No equity taken. No performance fees. No hidden charges.

Oversight Fee Structure

Devin charges a fixed oversight fee, paid in equal monthly instalments over the construction period. This covers the full governance framework, compliance verification, and iProject portal access. No equity taken. No percentage of revenue. No performance fees. No hidden charges. This is the only fee Devin receives — it is not contingent on project returns, and Devin has no claim on the asset or its income.

Request the Full Investment Case

Includes detailed financial projections, sensitivity analysis, and the complete Devin governance framework documentation.

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Important Notice

This page presents a worked example for illustrative purposes. It is not an investment offer, financial product disclosure, or projection of guaranteed returns. All figures are estimates based on current market conditions and assumptions that may change. Prospective investors must obtain independent legal, financial, and tax advice. Devin provides a governance framework — not development, project management, or financial advice.