Serviced apartment in a leased unit
Lease a furnished flat or house with the owner's written consent and rent it to business travellers and visitors.
- A$5k-20k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
You lease a property from an owner who agrees in writing to short stays, furnish it well, and rent it by the night or week. You handle bookings, cleaning, linen and guest support.
Your first three steps
- Research nightly rates and occupancy in your target suburb, then work out if the numbers cover rent and costs
- Find an owner or agent open to a lease that allows short stays and get that permission in writing
- Furnish the place, set up listings with good photos and line up a reliable cleaner
Who pays
Business travellers, contractors on short projects, people between homes, visiting families and holidaymakers.
How it makes money
Nightly or weekly rates through booking sites and direct bookings. You keep what is left after rent, utilities, cleaning, linen, platform fees and supplies.
Skills that help
- Hospitality and guest communication
- Organising cleaning and changeovers
- Basic budgeting and pricing
Watch out for
- Check your state or territory's short-stay rules and whether registration is needed
- Check council planning rules and any strata by-laws that may restrict short stays
- Public liability and contents insurance suited to short-stay use, since standard landlord or home policies may not cover it
- Empty weeks still mean paying rent, so keep a cash buffer
- Check tax obligations, including GST once you reach the threshold, and get an ABN
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: serviced apartment in a leased unit
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 serviced apartment business in Australia?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $5,000 to $20,000, depending on the quality of furnishings, linen and setup you choose. Empty weeks still mean paying rent, so it helps to keep a cash buffer on top.
What rules should I check before running short stays in a leased flat?
Check your state or territory's short-stay rules and whether registration is needed. Also check council planning rules, any strata by-laws, insurance suited to short stays, and tax obligations including an ABN and GST once you reach the threshold.
How much can a leased serviced apartment earn each month?
Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $9,000, depending on location, nightly rates and how often it is booked. That is before rent and other costs. The estimates suggest at least about 10 hours a week.
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Photo: jarmoluk on Pixabay