Leased holiday apartment run as a guest stay
Lease a furnished apartment with the owner's written consent and run it as a holiday let.
- A$10k-30k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
You lease an apartment, with the owner's written permission to use it for short stays, furnish it and run it as a holiday let. You handle bookings, guests, cleaning and upkeep, and pay the owner a fixed rent.
Your first three steps
- Work out the numbers: local nightly rates, likely occupancy, rent and cleaning costs, so you know your break-even point
- Find an owner or agent open to short-stay use and get a lease that clearly permits it in writing
- Check council and strata rules, then furnish the unit and list it on booking sites
Who pays
Holidaymakers and short-stay visitors, mostly in tourist areas, coastal towns or near city attractions.
How it makes money
Nightly guest fees minus the rent, cleaning and platform fees. You profit only when bookings cover your fixed costs.
Skills that help
- Budgeting and pricing
- Negotiating with landlords
- Guest communication
- Organising cleaners and changeovers
Watch out for
- Fixed rent is owed even in quiet months, so test your numbers with cautious occupancy
- Short-stay use must be allowed by the lease, the owners corporation by-laws and council planning rules, check all three
- Some states and councils require registration or limit the number of nights, check yours
- Public liability and contents insurance suited to short-term guests, and check the owner's building insurance
- Ask an accountant about ABN, income tax and whether GST applies at your turnover
- Damage, noise complaints and bad reviews can quickly affect bookings
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: leased holiday apartment run as a guest stay
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a leased holiday apartment business?
Startup costs are typically around $10,000 to $30,000, depending on furnishing, linen, bond and setup costs for the unit. Treat this as an estimate and test your numbers with cautious occupancy before you sign a lease.
How much revenue can a leased holiday apartment make?
Monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $9,000, depending on location, season and bookings. Expect to spend at least about 8 hours a week. Fixed rent is owed even in quiet months, so plan for slow periods.
What rules should I check before running a leased holiday let?
Check that short-stay use is allowed by your lease, the owners corporation by-laws and council planning rules. Also check any state or council registration or night limits, and insurance suited to short-term guests, including the owner's building insurance.
Other ways to run this business
Similar hospitality ideas
Small bed and breakfast
Welcome guests to a few rooms in your house or property with a cooked breakfast included.
- A$5k-30k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Weekend gig room in a leased hall or shed
Turn a hired hall or warehouse into a gig space for Friday and Saturday shows, keeping your costs lower.
- A$8k-30k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Bush camping site with fishing access
Offer simple powered or unpowered campsites and day passes on land with river, creek or dam fishing.
- A$6k-30k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Leased holiday apartment in a visitor area
Lease one or two apartments with the owner's written consent, furnish them and rent them to holidaymakers.
- A$8k-30k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Pop-up piano bar nights
Run a weekly or monthly piano bar night in a hired room, cafe or hall to test the idea before taking on a lease.
- A$8k-30k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Holiday rental house or unit
Run a whole house or unit as a furnished holiday let for guests staying a few nights.
- A$5k-25k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Photo: jarmoluk on Pixabay