Transforming a Compact Apartment into a High-Performing Short-Stay Asset
90%+ Occupancy | $130 Avg. Nightly Rate | Council-Approved Short-Stay
The Challenge
No short-term rental approval initially: The property was not STR-approved at the outset, requiring council approval and compliance navigation before short-stay operation.
Non–blue-chip Airbnb location: Located in Osborne Park, between the Perth CBD and Scarborough, the property sits outside traditional Airbnb “hotspots,” requiring careful positioning to drive consistent demand.
Demand positioning & occupancy risk: Without obvious leisure anchors (beachfront, CBD core, tourist precinct), achieving high occupancy relied on targeting the right guest segments rather than relying on location alone.
Small internal footprint: Compact size (≈ <50 sqm) meant space efficiency, layout, and functionality were critical - with no margin for wasted space or poor design choices.
Perception vs performance challenge: Smaller properties in non-tourist suburbs often face lower perceived value, making listing quality, pricing strategy, and guest experience essential to compete.
Balancing affordability with yield: The challenge was maximising revenue while remaining competitively priced for short-stay guests seeking convenience, value, and comfort rather than luxury scale.
What We Did
Positioned for Demand
Repositioned for value-driven short stays
Targeted professionals, students & contractors
Leveraged low local Airbnb supply
Optimised Listing
Professionally optimised listing copy & imagery
Dynamic pricing based on demand, seasonality & events
Continuous performance monitoring & rate adjustments
Improved visibility and conversion on booking platforms
Guest Experience
24/7 guest communication & support
Clear check-in, house rules & local guidance
Proactive issue resolution before it impacts reviews
Experience-led approach based on guest feedback
Strict Cleaning
Hotel-grade cleaning standards
Detailed quality inspections after every stay
Consistent linen, towels & consumables
Fast turnaround processes to support high occupancy
The Property Story
Osborne Oasis presented a very different opportunity to our other short-stay properties - and that was exactly the point.
At face value, the apartment was a compact, sub-50sqm 1 bedroom property located in Osborne Park, an area not traditionally associated with short-term accommodation demand. Under a conventional long-term leasing model, the property aligned with a $400 per week rental benchmark, offering stability but limited upside.
The challenge and opportunity was to reposition the asset entirely.
The first step was securing short-term rental approval, transforming the property from a standard residential apartment into a legitimate short-stay asset in an area with very limited approved supply.
Rather than competing in saturated leisure or holiday markets, the strategy focused on underserved guest segments already operating in and around Osborne Park.
Osborne Oasis was deliberately positioned for:
FIFO and project-based workers
Students and relocating professionals
Business travellers seeking convenience, comfort, and value
Guests needing medium-length stays rather than holiday-style accommodation
This positioning proved critical. By aligning the property to functional demand rather than tourism-driven demand, the apartment achieved consistent occupancy (90%+) at a mid-$100s nightly rate, materially outperforming the traditional rental model while maintaining pricing discipline suited to the demographic.
High utilisation of a compact space required precision execution. Layout, furnishing, storage, and amenities were optimised so every square metre worked hard. At the same time, our cleaning and turnover processes were refined to suit a different type of guest - longer stays, repeat bookings, and higher expectations around reliability and cleanliness rather than luxury presentation.
Operating Osborne Oasis also generated valuable guest data distinct from leisure-focused listings. We gained insight into what this demographic values most - fast communication, clarity, consistency, and practicality - and embedded those learnings into our broader operating systems.
Over time, the property evolved into a proven, income-producing short-stay asset in a location many would overlook. Its performance demonstrated that:
Short-stay success is not limited to blue-chip or tourist-heavy suburbs
Smaller apartments can deliver strong outcomes when strategically positioned
Compliance, systems, and guest alignment drive value — not size alone
Ultimately, Osborne Oasis showed what is possible when use, location, and demand are intelligently matched. The result was not only improved cash flow, but a clear, demonstrated use case for the property — one that broadened buyer appeal and highlighted the untapped potential of similar assets.
The Results
Before
No approved short-term rental use
Aligned to a traditional long-term rental model ($400 per week range)
Location not recognised as a short-stay “hotspot”
Compact apartment with limited perceived income potential
No structured short-stay systems or defined guest strategy
After
Council-approved short-stay accommodation, enabling compliant operation
Consistent 90%+ occupancy through targeted guest positioning
Averaging $130-$145 nightly rates, outperforming long-term leasing
Repositioned as a proven short-stay asset despite size and location
Defined operating systems, guest insights, and maintenance processes
