Holiday apartment in a property you already have
Furnish a spare apartment, granny flat or unit and rent it to holidaymakers by the night.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A furnished apartment, unit or self-contained flat that you already own or have access to, set up for short holiday stays. You list it on booking sites, welcome guests, and arrange cleaning and linen between stays.
Your first three steps
- Check with your local council and your state's short-term rental rules whether you can host, and whether you need to register or have a night limit
- Furnish and photograph the apartment, then compare nearby listings to set your nightly rate
- Create a listing on a booking platform, set house rules, and line up a reliable cleaner for changeovers
Who pays
Holidaymakers, weekend visitors, and people travelling for events or family visits.
How it makes money
Nightly rate paid by guests, sometimes with a cleaning fee. Rates usually rise in school holidays, long weekends and local events.
Skills that help
- Quick, friendly communication with guests
- Organising bookings and cleaners
- Good eye for making a space comfortable
- Writing clear listings and taking decent photos
Watch out for
- Council approval or development consent may be needed, and rules differ by state and council area, so check before you list
- Some states or councils have a registration scheme or a cap on nights per year, check yours
- Strata or owners corporation by-laws can ban or limit short stays, check them
- Standard home insurance often does not cover paying guests, so check for short-term rental or public liability cover
- Income is taxable, so ask the ATO or an accountant about deductions, ABN and whether GST applies at your turnover
- Quiet periods and neighbour complaints can hit income
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: holiday apartment in a property you already have
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 holiday apartment rental in Australia?
Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on furnishing, linen, photos and any cover you arrange for short stays. Treat this as an estimate and price your fit-out before you list.
How much revenue can a holiday apartment make?
Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on your location, season and how often it's booked. Expect to spend at least about 5 hours a week. Quiet periods and neighbour complaints can hit income.
What rules should I check before renting out a holiday apartment?
Check whether council approval or development consent is needed, as rules differ by state and council area. Also check any state or council registration scheme or night cap, strata or owners corporation by-laws, and whether your insurance covers paying guests.
Other ways to run this business
Similar hospitality ideas
Holiday stay in your granny flat or spare unit
Furnish a self-contained unit at your property and rent it to holidaymakers by the night.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- From home
Oxygen cocktail pop-up stall
Serve novelty oxygen-foam drinks from a small stall at markets, festivals and private events.
- A$4k-15k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Pop-up wine bar nights
Run a wine bar for a night at markets, galleries and venues, without leasing your own space.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Pop-up cat cafe sessions
Run pop-up cat cafe days in hired venues with a rescue group, testing demand before committing to a lease.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Farm or paddock motorhome stopover
Turn spare land into a simple overnight stop for motorhomes, with a few basic sites and a friendly welcome.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Farm paddock camping
Open a paddock on your farm to campers who pay per night for a simple, no-frills bush or farm stay.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Photo: jarmoluk on Pixabay