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.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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> 
&nbsp;

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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

Rent.com.au

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The ASX-listed Rent.com.au have successfully raised $1.5 million in their recent capital raise.
Shares were issued at 4.5c per share, 22 per cent less than their current 5.8c share price.
Lazarus Corporate Finance was the lead manager of the placement, which saw over 33 million new fully paid ordinary shares.
Rent.com.au advised the funding, raised from both existing and new investors, will help market and launch RentPay, their flagship "tenancy period" product.
Rent.com.au's chief executive Greg Bader said he is pleased with how smoothly the placement was undertaken.
"[We] look forward to updating both existing and new shareholders on progress of this next phase of the company’s growth via RentPay", Bader said.
Rent Pay allows tenants to make and track payments, view rental history and set-up reminders.
 
 
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Rent.com.au complete $1.5 million capital raise

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Property prices have fallen in most major centres, but there seems to be little relief in sight for struggling tenants as rents continue to increase, according to new data. 
Analysis by rent.com.au shows rents in February increased in all capital cities except Brisbane and Perth, but experts say that may change soon. 
The increase follows a trend of growing rental prices within the past 12 months as the nation grappled with a lack of affordable housing. 
In 2018, house prices dropped by an average of 4.8% across the nation, prompting Deutsche Bank to identify a potential Australian housing crash as one of the top 30 risks to the global economy. 
While the current rise in rents seems out of step with the downward trend in house prices, experts say it is to be expected.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/3/14/RENTS.png" alt="">
Source: Rent.com.au
Static incomes, rising interest rates for existing borrowers and population growth are offsetting lower renting costs across cities. 
“Rents and house prices can move in different directions at the same time,” University of New South Wales City Futures research fellow Chris Martin said. 
“This is because house prices have a speculative component that rents do not have. Rents more directly reflect demand for, and supply of, housing as housing. By contrast, house prices also reflect a degree of speculation – that is, housing as an asset, that someone else might pay more for later.”
For the past decade, housing prices across the major capitals have risen well above the trend in rents due to low interest rates and “rampant speculation” from investors keen to capitalise on the skyrocketing prices. 
Now, would-be buyers have lost confidence and are pulling out of the market, resulting in the price drop. 
“This also means that construction commencements have also contracted, as developers are less confident about finding buyers. If this persists, this may result in supply pressures on rents,” Martin said.
Greg Bader, the CEO of rent.com.au, says the recent increase has also been influenced by an influx of demand in the market, as students seek suitable accommodation. 
“In isolation, falling house prices don’t tend to impact rents directly. However, a market downturn can lead to an oversupply of properties, which does then flow through to an eventual drop in rental prices,” Bader said.
“But this can be a slow burn.”
While the February market snapshot shows a small lift in rental prices across the peak season, Bader stresses that renters are “yet to see the impact of a housing downturn”.
There are more than 2.1 million Australians living in rental properties, with the 2016 census showing that the nation’s cohort of renters is on the rise with almost as many Australians renting, as those that own their houses.
In November, the latest Rental Affordability Index – an indicator of rental affordability relative to household incomes – found that “renters currently spend an average of 20% of their income on housing costs, while owners with a mortgage pay 16%”.
Bader said that potential renters looking for the downturn to influence cheaper rents will have to wait a while. 
“With the number of properties available increasing in many areas, it’s likely that the market will see some softening as demand teeters off – most likely in areas where there’s some oversupply [apartments] and in outer suburbs where there’s more choice,” he said. 
The best thing that renters can do in the meantime is to narrow down locations, research lifestyle options and be prepared to compromise, he said.
“Don’t be afraid to look at neighbouring suburbs which can offer just as many lifestyle options but can come at a significant discount and save you money,” Bader said.
“Be flexible. You may need to compromise on some things, but go in with an idea of what’s most important to you, e.g. a good kitchen over parking space.”
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Rents continue to rise despite fall in property prices

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Rental platform Rent.com.au grew its annual revenue by 121 percent to $1.65 million over the previous financial year but made a net operating loss after tax of more than $8.5 million for the year ended June 30.
The group, which allows renters to make online rental applications, said its short-term goal was for the cashflow to break even. 
It also guided for positive revenue growth expected to be derived from renter products and third party arrangements.
It aims to achieve that by focussing on its Renter Resume online rental application system and cost cuts.
Renter Resume was launched in October 2016 and is a user-managed online profile that allows renters to automatically generate property enquiries and applications.
Agents and landlords can check the applicant’s rental history, ID verification and a tenancy database screening (via RENT’s RentCheck product).
Rent.com.au said its resume creation averaged a 500 resumes per day, totalling nearly 130,000 by June 30.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/24/RentEarnings.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/24/RentEarnings.png" alt="">
Net operating loss after tax was $8,513,631, down from $12,820,585 in the previous financial year. The loss included included a non-cash share based payments expense of $2.24 million associated with performance based convertible securities issued to advisors, shareholders and employees. 
Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortisation (and excluding non-cash share based payments) was a loss of $5.8 million, down from $7.2 million in the previous year.
Cash reserves decreased from $6,080,209 at 30 June 2016 to $3,254,380 at 30 June 2017.
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prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

Rent.com.au posts loss, but grows revenue on renter resumes

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Rent.com.au has compiled a report based on property leasing data from the month of January.
It illustrates the shift in median rental property prices (both metro and regional), rental affordability (the median room price metric) and the luxury property measure, evaluating change in days on market for properties above $1,000/pw.
Metro Rents
The average metropolitan rent across Australia spiked up 2.38 per cent at $430/pw in January.
Canberra and Hobart metro areas were the only two states to record a decrease in median rent, while all but two of the remaining capitals saw an increase in the month.
An 8.24 per cent increase in asking median rents in Darwin was the sharpest rise across the country, contrasted by a similar decline in prices (7.89 per cent) in Hobart metro.
Darwin’s price rise to $460/pw makes the Northern Territory capital the second most expensive for house hunters.
Darwin sits just under Sydney in New South Wales, continuing its rank as the most expensive city for Australian renters; median rents stayed consistent at $550/pw in January.
Sydney’s asking rents are comparable to the country’s most affordable city in January, Adelaide ($350/pw).
Considering the rental affordability measure, price per room (PPR); Sydney also topped the ranking at $267/pw (up 2.56 per cent on December 2016).
Meanwhile Perth metro was the most affordable capital city for renters – a median price per room of $127/pw (up 1.33 per cent), putting Adelaide at a close second ($133/pw, up 1.92 per cent).
By looking at dwelling type, Sydney’s property makeup continued to skew towards apartments, comprising 69 per cent, while Perth’s property makeup in January was 75 per cent houses.
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"><tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="5" valign="top" width="291">
Change in median rent and price per room as at 31 January 2017
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="102">
LOCATIONS
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
Median rent
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
Monthly change
</td>
<td valign="top" width="54">
Price per room
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
Monthly change
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="102">
Sydney metro
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
$550/pw
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
0%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="54">
$267
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
↑2.56%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="102">
Brisbane metro
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
$420/pw
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
↑2.44%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="54">
$167
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
↑4.67%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="102">
Melbourne metro
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
$400/pw
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
↑2.56%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="54">
$170
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
↑6.25%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="102">
Perth metro
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
$360/pw
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
↑2.86%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="54">
$127
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
↑1.33%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="102">
Adelaide metro
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
$350/pw
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
↑2.94%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="54">
$133
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
↑1.92%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="102">
Canberra metro
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
$450/pw
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
↓2.17%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="54">
$197
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
↑3.51%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="102">
Darwin metro
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
$460/pw
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
↑8.24%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="54">
$167
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
↓1.96%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="102">
Hobart metro
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
$350/pw
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
↓7.89%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="54">
$163
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
↑8.33%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="102">
Regionals (combined)
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
$340/pw
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
0%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="top" width="99">
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="102">
National
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
$430/pw
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
↑2.38%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="54">
 
</td>
<td valign="top" width="45">
 
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Regional Rents
At a regional level, Tasmania and Western Australia were the only Australian states to record a decrease in median rent from December 2016 to January, down 1.89 per cent and 3.03 per cent respectively.
Median rents increased across the regions in the Northern Territory (up 9.76 per cent), South Australia (up 2 per cent) and Queensland (up 1.52 per cent).
Rents remained healthy in Australian Capital Territory ($450/pw), New South Wales ($380/pw) and Victoria ($280/pw), with no price changes recorded, consistent with records in December last year.
SA was once again the state with the cheapest regional rentals, with a median rent for the state of $255/pw (up 2 per cent).
Looking at dwelling type, regional houses in NT experienced the highest increase in median rent overall (up 8.89 per cent to $490/pw) and TAS houses up 9.09 per cent to $210/pw.
Conversely, the cost of regional houses in ACT dropped 6.09 per cent to $463/pw. WA, however, was the only state to record a decrease in the price of apartments, down 3.57 per cent to $270/pw.
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Average metropolitan rental income sits at $430 a week for landlords

<html><body>
Melbourne is one of the cheapest places in Australia to rent an apartment or house - but not an individual room, according to a new rental price metric by Rent.com.au.
The Rent.com.au median room price metric shows that Sydney has the highest rental prices per room at almost $250 a week, followed by Canberra, Darwin and Melbourne.
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="142">
City (metro area)
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
Median Room/wk
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
Median Property/wk
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="142">
Sydney
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
$248
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
$520
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="142">
Canberra
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
$183
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
$430
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="142">
Darwin
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
$175
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
$470
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="142">
Melbourne
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
$163
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
$380
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="142">
Brisbane
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
$150
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
$400
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="142">
Hobart
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
$135
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
$330
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="142">
Perth
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
$130
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
$380
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="142">
Adelaide
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
$125
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
$340
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Rent.com.au CEO Greg Bader said the new price metric was a different way to look at the cost of a Rental, more accurate in a sense for people that share a home with others
“Much of the existing data about rental properties and prices is based on metrics developed for homeowners, like dwelling price. We’ve introduced the median room price metric, it goes someway to levelling the distortion around the type of property (flat, unit, house) and hope it provides another view that can be used by Australian renters,” he said.
“There are significant differences. For example, the data based on dwellings shows that it costs the same to rent per week in Perth and Melbourne. But that’s not really true. The reality is that it costs renters more than $30 extra per room in Melbourne each week.
“The difference between Adelaide and Sydney is more than $120 per room. That extra cost per room has a serious impact for families as well as people who are looking to share a home with other renters. These are the sort numbers - designed specifically for renters, not homeowners - that have so far been hidden from view.”
Mr Bader said Rent.com.au was dedicated to developing new services designed specifically for Australia’s growing number of renters.
“So much of the public discussion around real estate in Australia is focused on owning property, but there’s about 7 million people in Australia who rent their homes and we want them to be represented as well,” he said.
A recent Rent.com.au survey found that long-term security and rental affordability were two of the biggest concerns held by Australian renters, and that families were the most common kind of renters - accounting for 40 percent of tenants.
Corrabare, NSW mother of three Tabatha, 43, said she had to move further out from the city as rental prices in metro areas increased.
“I’m in a position now where I’ve got a roof over my head, but for how long?” she said.
“I’ve moved 19 times since 2006. I moved house the day my 7-year-old was born. She’s never had stability. I’ve taught my kids to respect where they live and I take care of the property, but I don’t have a chance compared to renters with no kids.”
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Rent.com.au new metric shows Melbourne as cheapest place to rent an apartment or house

<html><body>
The founding managing director of Rent.com.au, Mark Woschnak, has announced his decision to leave a year after its after its float on the ASX.
Woschnak has taken the decision to step down to facilitate new leadership ahead of the company's next phase of commercialisation and growth. Plans include the launch of lease.com.au as a commercial/industrial rental portal.
“I am extremely proud of what RENT has achieved and my role in its success, from founding the business in 2007, through to successfully listing the Company on the ASX in June last year,” Mr Woschnak said.
Woschnak will step down immediately with Greg Bader, who has been providing strategic consulting services to RENT, to assume the interim CEO role while a thorough recruitment process is undertaken by the board.
<img src="/images/2016/07/26/Unknown.jpeg" alt="">
Bader has worked in the Information and Communication Technology industry for more than 20 years, most recently as a key member of iiNet’s executive team, holding the respective positions of Chief Business Officer and Chief Technology Officer. 
Rent.com.au Limited continued its rapid growth in agent and landlord registrations during June, with 651,419 unique visitors.
The Nielsen Company reported RENT jumped to the second highest time on site position within the Australian portal industry. But the website revenue has not matched sharemarket expectations despite increasing its monthly unique visitors. 
In the March quarter, it generated $223,000 in revenue with reported $1.6 million costs. 
“Following the surge in new agent and landlord registrations over recent months, we now have approximately 90% of all real estate agent rental property listings and a record number of private landlord listings,” Woschnak said.
“We’ve had 2,105 real estate agents who registered with www.rent.com.au since the start of March, including 450 in June."
It is aiming for one million renters to visit the site per month within five years, with transactions between $15 and $40 per service.
Rent.com.au is the only national web portal in Australia that focuses solely on the rental property market and includes listings from both property agents and non-agent private landlords.
Rent.com.au was established in 2007 by experienced real estate and new media entrepreneur Mark Woschnak.
It floated in June last year on the Australia Securities Exchange after a backdoor takeover of former copper, gold and nickel explorer Select Exploration.
Rent.com.au raised $5 million in new equity, at 20¢ a share. In opening morning trade it was at 21 cents, peaking late last year at 54 cents, and now trading at 14 cents.
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