You Don't Need a Beach House to Make Money on Airbnb

Almost every time we tell someone we list our home on Airbnb, we hear the same thing.

“Oh, but our place isn't near the beach”, “We don't have a pool”, “Our house is too old.”

We get it ~ because we used to think the same way. When you scroll through Airbnb, it can feel like every listing is a renovated coastal stunner with an infinity pool and a view. So it's easy to assume that's what you need to make any of it worth your while.

Here's the honest truth: you don't.

When we first started, we assumed our guests would be holidaymakers chasing sun and sand. Some are. But a surprising number aren't. People book an ordinary home for all sorts of ordinary reasons:

~    visiting family for Christmas or a milestone birthday

~    in town for a wedding, a funeral, or a graduation

~    needing room for the extended family that won't fit in a hotel

None of those people care whether you have a resort-style pool or outdoor kitchen. They care whether your home is clean, comfortable, has enough beds, and feels easy to settle into. An everyday family home in an everyday suburb does that perfectly.

So what can a home like ours actually earn?

This is where we'll be straight with you, what your home earns depends on a lot of things ~ where you are, how many people it sleeps, the time of year, and how busy your area gets during school holidays and peak periods. There's no single figure.

To give you a sense of how it adds up: a home that books for around $400 a night, hosted for a single week, brings in roughly $2,800 before expenses. After cleaning, platform fees and tax, you keep less than that, but it's still a meaningful amount. And nightly rates tend to climb during the busy periods when families are travelling anyway.

The point isn't a number on a screen. The point is, renting your home for just one or two weeks a year ~ often the weeks you're away on your own holiday, can cover a big chunk of a family trip. That's the whole idea behind Host & Holiday. Your home funds your holiday.

“That sounds like a lot.”

It honestly isn't as much as you'd think. Getting your home guest-ready is mostly a good declutter and a deep clean ~ the kind of reset you've probably been meaning to do anyway. And there's an unexpected bonus: your home feels absolutely amazing once you've done it. Decluttered, spotless, styled a little. You get to come home to that.

We've put together a free Pre-Listing Checklist that walks you through exactly what to do, room by room, so the “a lot of work” feeling turns into a clear, tickable list. No guesswork and no wondering if you've missed something.

You don't need a beach house. You don't need a pool. You don't need to renovate. You need a clean, comfortable home with a bit of space ~ and a clear idea of where to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an older house still do well on Airbnb?

Yes. Age matters far less than how clean, comfortable and well-presented a home is. Space, good beds and a welcoming feel matter more to most guests than how new or stylish the property is.

How much can an ordinary Australian home earn on Airbnb?

It varies a lot by location, size, season and local demand, so there's no single figure. As a rough example, a home booking around $400 a night earns about $2,800 for a week before expenses. Renting for just one or two peak weeks a year can cover a significant part of a family holiday.

Is hosting on Airbnb a lot of work?

Getting your home guest-ready is mostly a thorough declutter and deep clean ~ a reset many people have been meaning to do anyway. A clear checklist makes the process far more manageable than it first sounds.

Do I have to use a property manager?

No. Plenty of everyday Australian families self-manage their own listing rather than handing a percentage to a property manager. With the right systems in place, managing it yourself is so doable.

Is Airbnb income taxable in Australia?

Yes. Income you earn from hosting on Airbnb is taxable and needs to be declared in your tax return. The good news is you can also claim a range of hosting expenses ~ things like cleaning, linen, a portion of your utilities and more, which reduce the tax you pay. If you live in your home and only rent it out part of the time, you claim for the portion of time and space used for hosting, not the whole home. The ATO now receives your income data directly from Airbnb, so keeping good records matters. For advice specific to your situation, it's always best to have a quick chat with your accountant. Check out our Pricing and Tax Toolkit to help with managing your income and expenses.