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.

Tidy furnished apartment bedroom ready for holidaymakers arriving for a short stay.
Startup costA$8k to A$30k
Monthly revenueA$3k to A$12k
Time needed8+ h/week
First incomeMonths
  • A$8k-30k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises

Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.

What it is

You lease an apartment from an owner who agrees to short-stay use, furnish it well and run it as a holiday rental near a beach, city centre or attraction. You may add a second apartment once the first works.

Your first three steps

  1. Shortlist buildings in a visitor area, then check the strata by-laws and local council rules on short-term stays
  2. Agree a lease with the owner that clearly allows short-term holiday use, and have a solicitor review it
  3. Furnish the apartment, set up listings and a cleaning and key-handover routine, then test it with a few bookings
Who pays

Holidaymakers, small groups, business travellers and event visitors booking nightly or weekly stays.

How it makes money

Nightly rates and cleaning fees, minus rent, utilities, linen, cleaning and platform fees. Occupancy and pricing across seasons drive the margin.

Skills that help
  • Pricing and budgeting across seasons
  • Organising cleaners and linen changeovers
  • Customer service and quick problem-solving
Watch out for
  • Strata by-laws can ban or limit short stays, so check before signing any lease
  • State or council registration and planning rules for short-term rentals, which differ across Australia
  • Fixed rent still has to be paid in slow months, so test your numbers on low occupancy
  • Public liability and contents insurance for short-stay use, and the lease terms about damage
  • Guest damage, noise complaints and neighbour disputes
  • GST and income tax obligations, so speak to an accountant

Deep research report · Australia

Everything you need to start: leased holiday apartment in a visitor area

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
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a leased holiday apartment?

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $30,000, depending on how much furnishing and linen you need and the lease terms. Fixed rent still applies in slow months, so test your numbers on low occupancy.

How much can a leased holiday apartment earn?

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on the location, season and how often the apartment is booked. This is revenue before rent, cleaning and other costs, so check your margins.

What should I check before leasing an apartment for holiday stays?

Check strata by-laws, which can ban or limit short stays, before signing any lease. Also check state or council registration and planning rules, insurance for short-stay use, the lease terms on damage, and GST and tax obligations.

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