Rental cash-back like paid to be on holiday

FOR many Sunshine Coast families, an extra $230 a week would solve their financial troubles.

THE GOOD LIFE: Colin and Madeline Anderson make money being on holidays, renting out their Adelaide home for $700 a week and paying $470 in Maroochydore. Picture: Patrick Woods

FOR many Sunshine Coast families, an extra $230 a week would solve their financial troubles.

But for Adelaide's Colin and Madeline Anderson, that amount is how much they make just by being here.

"The longer I stay on holidays, the more money I make," Mr Anderson said.

The couple rent out their seaside home at Glenelg for about $700 a week, and pay just $470 a week to live in a luxurious two-bedroom apartment at the Sebel in Maroochydore.

But Mr Anderson said it wasn't the money keeping them here.

The couple have travelled north for the past four to five years to escape bitterly cold winters in South Australia.

This time, they decided to extend their stay to 18 months to see if they could handle living in a unit permanently.

"I love unit living," Mr Anderson said.

"There's no lawns to mow, there's a pool, a rubbish chute and reception offers service 24/7.

"The financial gain is just a by-product of it.

"We think this is a great unit for a very reasonable amount of money."

The Andersons sold their bar and backpackers accommodation in Adelaide's CBD about 10 years ago and have enjoyed semi-retirement ever since.

They have fallen in love with the Coast's lifestyle, with Mr Anderson being a keen golfer and Mrs Anderson a budding artist.

"It's a great location," Mrs Anderson said.

"It's only a short walk to Cotton Tree and Alexandra Headland."

It appears it's no longer just southern states making the trek north to escape the chill, with an influx of New Zealanders now making the journey.

Gorman and Gray Property's principal agent Anthony Gorman said Kiwis too had been taking advantage of an affordable rental market for non-locals.

He said the rental disparity between a city like Adelaide and the Sunshine Coast could be as much as $1500 a week.

"Part of the reason is because of our lack of high-end employment, which pushes down rental prices," he said.

"High-end rental homes in cities like Sydney and Melbourne can fetch between $3000 and $4000 per week.

"The biggest mansion on the Sunshine Coast might bring in $1500 per week."

Mr Gorman said an influx of Kiwis had been arriving for several years, so much so that he referred to winter as "New Zealand season".

"Everyone who is coming through the door at that time of year (winter) are New Zealanders," he said. "Mostly retirees looking to escape the cold but what else would you rather do than be on the beautiful Sunshine Coast."

Originally published as Rental cash-back like paid to be on holiday