Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/bottega-property-group">Bottega House</a> has secured council approval for its first Brisbane project - a $270 million luxury residential development on an absolute riverfront site in leafy St Lucia.&nbsp;

The 15-storey project, known as <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/st-lucia-by-bottega-house-180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">St Lucia by Bottega House</a> , will occupy a prime north-facing site at 178-180 Macquarie Street, directly fronting the Brisbane River in the established inner-west suburb known for its rowing clubs, golf courses and sprawling University of Queensland campus.&nbsp;

St Lucia by Bottega House will feature a suite of amenities including dedicated wellness spaces, a mineral pool and cold plunge. The project has been positioned to attract affluent owner-occupiers seeking high-quality, house-sized apartments.&nbsp;

Bottega House has been set up by co-directors Nick Malloch, Louis Mennes and Craig Marsh.

Malloch said the project drew inspiration from its Brisbane River setting and leafy inner-west surrounds, while responding to the demands of discerning locals looking to transition from freestanding homes into apartment living.&nbsp;

"With an expansive river frontage and lush green surrounds, we knew we had to create something special that reflects the natural beauty of the location while offering residents masterfully crafted homes," said Malloch.&nbsp;

"Our intent was to complement the project's quiet, private setting by introducing residences that offer a calm retreat and sanctuary from the everyday. The result is a harmonious blend of architecture, interiors and amenity that emphasises wellbeing, comfort and beauty without excess."&nbsp;

Malloch added that project consultants had been carefully selected in alignment with Bottega House's commitment to care, quality and attention to detail. The design team includes architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a>, interiors practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/urbis">Urbis</a>.&nbsp;

Three-bedroom apartments are expected to start around $5 millio. Selling agents Keenan &amp; Byrne said the pricing strategy for the project was anticipated to achieve upwards of $25,500 per square metre.&nbsp;

The project's development approval this week follows the success of Bottega House's inaugural Queensland project - a 22-storey collection of full-floor sky homes at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast which included the sale of a two-storey penthouse at a record price for a beachside residence.&nbsp;

St Lucia by Bottega House is expected to launch to market in November, with construction anticipated to be completed mid 2029.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151826]

Joel Robinson

Bottega House to make Brisbane debut with St Lucia riverfront apartment development

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> is advancing its affordable apartment model into Brisbane with the acquisition of another site at Cordelia Street in South Brisbane for $27 million.

Sherpa, which has a $1.7 billion pipeline across Southeast Queensland, intends to bring a cohort of apartments exclusively for first homebuyers into its proposed 186-apartment project to be built at 2 Cordelia Street.

The Sherpa model has already been incredibly well received from their Gold Coast projects, where Sherpa Group set aside a number of apartments exclusively for first homebuyers.

The new $320 million project marks Sherpa Group's second development in Brisbane, following its $255 million Symphony project, also on Cordelia Street, which is currently under construction.

Symphony will deliver 146 apartments across 28 levels, offering a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. With 114 already sold, construction by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/lps-group">LPS Group</a> is scheduled for completion in 2028.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7574 project_image_fid=351654]

Sherpa Founder, Christie Leet, said the company was excited to be venturing into Brisbane for its second residential project.

“We’re big believers in the future of Brisbane as we lead into the 2032 Olympics and beyond,” Leet said.

“The success of Symphony has guided us into what will be our second project and we look forward to submitting our plans with council soon so we can deliver yet another quality project to the inner city residential market.

“Our Flourish model has been very well received both in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and we’re excited to be able to offer some of these apartments again exclusively to first homebuyers to help get them into the property market.

“The model has been extraordinarily well received in our previous projects and it is something we are committed to moving forward.”

2 Cordelia Street will be designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hal-architects">HAL Architects</a> &amp; Finegrain and will include Sherpa’s signature residential amenities including pool, gym, recreation, wellness and work from home spaces.

The project will feature ground-floor commercial space, creating a vibrant amenity for residents and the surrounding community.

A development application will be lodged with Brisbane City Council in August on the code compliant site and will be launched to the market early 2027.

Sherpa acquires new site for second Brisbane apartment tower

One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

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fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

&nbsp;

FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Rental Bonds

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With renting increasingly the new normal for many, an innovative fintech company has come up with a way to reduce the pesky rental bond payment.
The product, called Trustbond and created by the startup Traity, lets tenants avoid paying a traditional bond and instead pay a premium, which is a proportion of the rent paid for the term of the lease.
The innovative fintech company has partnered with landlord insurance specialist Terri Scheer Insurance to launch Trustbond.
Trustbond provides security to landlord without freezing the savings of tenants in a rental bond using world-first technology that "will ensure trustworthy Australians save thousands of dollars."
A traditional bond is a large sum that is tied up for the duration of the lease while Trustbond will allows tenant to pay a relatively small fee upfront to cover the protection their landlord required.
The Trustbond system will also allow estate agents and landlords to determine a person’s suitability as a tenant while providing landlords with the same level of protection as a traditional cash bond.
Trustbond is being launched initially in South Australia and it is expected will roll out to other states in the coming months. In NSW around 80,000 residential rental bonds, totalling $1.31 billion are held by the NSW Rental Bond Board.
The new product is marketed as a five step process:
<ul>
<li>Go to <a href="https://www.trustbond.com" target="_blank">www.trustbond.com</a>
</li>
<li>Prove you are a trustworthy tenant by building your reputation profile</li>
<li>Replace the cash bond with a Trustbond</li>
<li>Share the Trustbond with your real estate agent or landlord for their agreement</li>
<li>Keep your cash in your pocket for when you need it most</li>
</ul>
Trustbond measures trustworthiness using online data including networks, ratings and reviews from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Airbnb, eBay and Uber to determine a tenant’s TrustScore.
Once eligibility has been established, the tenant pays an upfront fee that is a percentage of what a conventional rental bond would cost.
As a traditional cash bond might require a tenant to pay $2000, with Trustbond, the tenant might pay around $250 that still covers their landlord for the $2000, freeing up $1750 for the tenant.
The most recent census data revealed the trend towards renting as Australians renting increased from 29.6 to 30.9 per cent in 2016.
The inspiration for Trustbond came from the Traity CEO, Juan Cartagena's own experience of renting property.
As a new resident of the United States with no local rental or employment history, landlords were requesting rental cash bonds of up to $14,000.
He was untrusted as a foreigner, and his landlords requested very expensive bonds as they did not have enough information to trust him.
“Trustbond recognises a person’s digital profile as an asset, putting money back in tenants’ pockets to spend on the things that matter to them,” Traity executive Will Soutar, said.
“It allows people who may have an unconventional working life, such as freelancing, or who have no rental history, greater access to the property rental market.
“In addition to the financial incentives, Trustbond is a better way for tenants to show who they really are.
“It’s a way to build stronger relationships between tenants, landlords and property managers based on trust.”
Terri Scheer Insurance executive manager, Ms Carolyn Parrella, said there were key incentives for landlords to choose tenants who are eligible for Trustbond.
“Trustbond is based on the premise that good online citizens will also be good tenants. Only tenants with a high TrustScore are eligible,” Ms Parrella said.
“Trustbond gives landlords and property managers the ability to rate and review tenants.
“This encourages tenants to be responsible and motivates them to take care of their landlord’s property, in order to keep their TrustScore high.
“Landlords who use Trustbond can save time with automatic verification and screening, fill their properties faster by appealing to a broader pool of tenants and make better decisions for tenant selection.
“These benefits can be achieved with the same level of protection as a conventional cash bond.
“Trustbond covers the same breaches of a tenancy agreement including unpaid rent, damage, broken leases and associated costs, without the need to go to a tribunal.
“We want to take the stress out of investing for landlords, support tenants to feel trusted and remove barriers to entry for renting,” Ms Parrella said.
Visit <a href="https://www.trustbond.com" target="_blank">www.trustbond.com </a>to check your TrustScore and Trustbond eligibility.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Costly rental bond outlay foregone in fintech Trustbond revolution 

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A jail term has been suspended for a real estate leasing agent in Sydney after he pleaded guilty to stealing more than $210,000 worth of rental bonds refunds while the tenants were still in occupation.
Matthew Thomas Williams was sentenced to two 15-month jail terms for dishonestly claiming the refunds of 42 rental bonds from the NSW Rental Bond Board. 
The jail term was suspended on the condition that the 36-year-old enter a good behaviour bond.
He was disqualified from holding a real estate licence for a period of 10 years.
As a real estate licence holder, Williams had access to the Rental Bonds Online system that enabled him to lodge rental bonds on behalf of his agency’s tenants, which he later refunded into his own account during ongoing leases.
Williams fraudulently accessed the bonds while working at different real estate agencies based initially in Glebe and then Double Bay.
The Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean told Fairfax Media that Williams had used his position of trust to claim the rental bonds of tenants, and used the money primarily for gambling.
His deception was uncovered and reported to Fair Trading by his employer after a tenant requested a bond refund.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Jail term suspended for Sydney inner west leasing agent after rental bond fraud

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Rental community platform startup, Snug.com, is set to launch a surety bond which it says will free up renters’ cash while also providing protection to landlords. 
The surety bond, BondCover, swaps the traditional cash rental bond with a certificate of guarantee, backed by Snug. 
This guarantees that the owner will be paid for a valid claim against the rental bond using the same claims process, rights, and obligations for renters and owners – but without tying up thousands in cash. 
Owner claims are paid within two business days by entering the Tribunal order number.
Snug says its product is designed to free up $4 billion worth of rental bonds.
Snug founder said that the current cash bond system is outdated, and the “resulting liquidity and opportunity cost for renters is astronomical”.
“With 2.5 million renters across Australia, it’s time to recognise good renting,” he said.  
“BondCover provides the necessary protection to owners, but in a way that doesn’t lock down renters’ precious cash for no good reason – a win-win for all parties. And imagine the returns if renters had invested $4 billion in the Sydney property market, paid off debt, or invested in Amazon shares over the past 5 years instead!”
Renters can purchase BondCover for around 5 per cent of the face value of the rental bond, and are provided with a certificate of guarantee to give the owner or agent to replace a cash bond. So, a current renter with a $2,000 bond could obtain BondCover for around $100 per annum, and receive $1,900 in cash back.
Snug will open BondCover applications to renters on September 1.
BondCover was conceived after Snug research found that 99 per cent of renters do the right thing: around 80 per cent of rental bonds are refunded without claim, and almost all of the remaining 20 per cent is largely negotiated then resolved between parties. 
In building its platform, Snug conducted legal and actuarial research, and engaged with state governments. 
Its focus group research on hundreds of renters found that renters are most concerned about their rental reputation and ability to rent their next property, driving their good behaviour.
“Snug’s BondCover product has been designed to comply with existing rental tenancy legislation and relevant financial services and insurance regulations. This is digital innovation in housing, that’s good news for affordability, and it’s a stimulus to the economy with strong consumer benefits,” continued Justin Butterworth.
“The world has changed since the cash bond system was designed. It’s 2017, we have the technology to better manage identity, reputation, and recourse to create a more efficient securitised rental bond system. The days of the cash bond are over,” concluded Justin Butterworth.
Snug was one of the first startups to be housed in IAG’s onsite accelerator, Firemark Labs.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Startup Snug to launch surety bond to unlock renters’ bond cash

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The new strata building bond and inspection scheme in New South Wales will start 1 January 2018 following a change to the original commencement date of 1 July 2017.
This scheme will only apply to construction contracts signed (or where there is no contract and building work commences) from 1 January 2018 according to NSW Fair Trading and will not require developers of new strata schemes to lodge defect bonds before 31 December 2017.
The starting date has been due to put procedural and professional requirements in place before commencement.
This includes:
<ul>
<li>the new standards and procedures relating to strata-specific building inspections</li>
<li>new digital business processes to support bond lodgement and processing of the scheme. </li>
</ul>
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Date change for NSW strata building bond scheme

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A financial product allowing renters an option to pay rental bonds off in instalments is being offered through BondSure.
Tenants can apply online to have rental bonds up to $5,000 paid on their behalf by BondSure, to be repaid over 6 or 12 months.
Australian lawyer and insurance entrepreneur, Michael Wood, created BondSure and said recouping bonds can also be a real nightmare for some tenants when accidents or disputes over cleaning put the bond in jeopardy.
“BondSure aims to help address these issues by providing consumers with a viable alternative to paying a bond by cash or credit card, and is the only product on the market that helps tenants protect their bonds against financial erosion,” he said.
“BondSure is a compelling alternative to Payday Lenders which we believe have been exploiting the residential bond market by offering loans to consumers with comparison rates of over 150 percent and repayment terms as small as four weeks in some instances.
The bond can be taken without the insurances and the insurances without the bond. The insurance can be continued if the lease runs longer than 12 months.
Former general manager of CENTURY 21 Australia, Paul Mylott, has been appointed chief executive officer. He said the insurance component of BONDSURE will lead to less bond disputes for tenants, property managers and landlords
“BondSure utilises identity and credit check providers and an online credit worthiness assessment to qualify  tenants, which is an aspect of the product that we expect will be warmly received by landlords,” said Paul Mylott.
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“Estate agents need only register once, providing bank details for the bond transfer, and then check the rental address inserted on the site at the time of signing the lease. Otherwise it’s all done by the tenant and BondSure. 
<a href="https://www.bondsure.com.au" target="_blank">Click here</a> to find out more.
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Property 101: Households can now insure rental bonds

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Rental Bonds Online is a new service helping tenants, agents and private landlords lodge and refund bond money securely and easily.
Tenants can now pay their bond direct to NSW Fair Trading using credit card or BPAY. Agents or landlords can lodge bonds in minutes, at any time, without having to post lodgement forms.
All parties are kept informed through SMS phone notifications and email updates.
Understand how Rental Bonds Online makes bond transactions more convenient. Watch our 3-minute introduction to the service:
<a href="https://youtu.be/5rRUdOgQEnY" target="_blank" title="Rental Bonds Online - the smart way to manage your bond (video)"><img src="https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/biz_res/ftweb/Images/About_us/Online_services/Rental_bonds_online_video.jpg" alt="Rental Bonds Online video" width="225" height="175"></a> Watch the video - Rental Bonds Online: the smart way to manage your bond (Internet Explorer users please right click on the video and select ‘Open link’ to watch.)  
The video is also available in the following languages:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEXcnl6sjLI" target="_blank">Rental Bonds Online: the smart way to manage your bond (video in Arabic) </a> 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ane7EYv-uSA" target="_blank">Rental Bonds Online: the smart way to manage your bond </a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ane7EYv-uSA" target="_blank">(video in Chinese)</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL6a9ujyDSI" target="_blank">Rental Bonds Online: the smart way to manage your bond</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL6a9ujyDSI" target="_blank"> (video in Korean)</a>
</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzpKX9XQUnE" target="_blank">Rental Bonds Online: the smart way to manage your bond (video in Vietnamese)</a></li>
</ul>
Agents, private landlords and tenants can access the Rental Bonds Online site using a desktop computer or any mobile device such as a tablet or mobile phone.
<ul>
<li>A new feature released in late 2015 directs tenants using their smartphone to a version of the Rental Bonds Online site optimised for smaller devices.  This gives tenants access to all the core functions on Rental Bonds Online so they can create an account, lodge and claim bond money, and check the status of their bond. They can also navigate to the full site if they need to access other functions within Rental Bonds Online.</li>
</ul>
How to register and find out more
Visit the relevant page to you to learn more, including how to register as a Rental Bonds Online user:
<a href="https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/About_us/Online_services/Rental_bonds_online/For_property_agents.page" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">For property agents</a> <a href="https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/About_us/Online_services/Rental_bonds_online/For_tenants.page" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">For tenants</a> <a href="https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/About_us/Online_services/Rental_bonds_online/For_private_landlords.page" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">For private landlords</a>
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