Boarding houses prop up in Canterbury-Bankstown in time of need

AS SYDNEY’S housing affordability crisis continues to exacerbate, developers are jumping on the opportunity to make money by delivering higher-occupancy, cheaper-rent developments.

An artist's impression of a boarding house proposal at 17 Arthur St, Punchbowl.

• State Government reviews rules that sparked boarding house boom
• Parramatta Council fights to block boarding houses across the local government area

AS SYDNEY’S housing affordability crisis continues to exacerbate, developers are jumping on the opportunity to make money by delivering higher-occupancy, cheaper-rent developments.

Sometimes controversial, boarding houses provide affordable, low-grade accommodation where occupants usually have a private bedroom and shared bathroom and laundry facilities.

A Canterbury-Bankstown Council spokeswoman said since the two councils merged one year ago, it had approved two boarding house proposals while one was rejected. A further six were in progress.

In November, The Express reported on boarding houses planned for Roselands and Wiley Park.

Most recently an application for a four-storey boarding house with 42 rooms in Punchbowl has been placed on public exhibition until May 9.

The 17 Arthur St proposal, with an estimated cost of $3.4 million, features 27 single rooms and 15 double rooms ranging in size from 18sq m to 26.53sq m.

At 11.1m high, the proposal would sneak under the council’s Height of Buildings Map maximum for that area by 40cm.

It would also contain 10 parking spaces, one of which is disabled, and nine further ones for motorbikes.

The site of 17 Arthur St, Punchbowl from the sky. Picture: Google Earth

Applicant Hamada Alameddine said the development would be beneficial to the area.

“Having a structure of that nature with reduced rent prices is a no-brainer,” Mr Alameddine said.

“It allows those from lower socio-economic circumstances to live 20 to 30 minutes from the city at a budget price.”

In April, a six-level, 44-room boarding house in 285 Canterbury Rd, Canterbury, was approved by the council.

Urban Development Institute of Australia NSW chief executive Steve Mann said developers were capitalising on the need for more affordable housing.

“Sydney has an affordability crisis that’s not confined to first-home buyers. The crisis also affects social and affordable housing stocks,” Mr Mann said.

“There is a gap in the market for affordable rental homes that is being addressed via the increase in boarding houses.”

The applicant of a boarding house proposal in Condell Park, which was knocked back by the former Bankstown Council, had an appeal dismissed in the Land and Environment Court last month.

The court found the proposal at 326 Marion St breached size restrictions as per the State Environmental Planning Policy. The proposal featured five single rooms and four two-person rooms. The rooms ranged in size from 12.62sq m to 23.86sq m. The applicant, Sofia Karahalios, declined to comment to The Express.

A Canterbury-Bankstown Council spokeswoman said, when compliant, boarding houses had a place in the city.

“Boarding house developments contribute to the available housing stock within the Canterbury-Bankstown area and provide housing choice and affordability for residents,” she said. “Like any other development application, boarding houses must meet strict legislative requirements, which undergo a rigorous assessment process.”

To see the plans for the boarding house at 17 Arthur St, Punchbowl, visit Canterbury-Bankstown Council’s customer service centre at 137 Beamish St, Campsie.