Adelaide's short-stay market is having a moment. With hotel occupancy averaging a record 76% (2025) and major events like AFL Gather Round pushing weekend rates to 92-94%, it's no surprise more local investors are asking: could my property be earning more during peak periods?
The short answer? It depends, but the numbers are worth understanding.
What Adelaide's Market Is Telling You
Major events are driving real demand. AFL Gather Round, food and wine festivals, ANZAC Day and school holidays in late April are all creating strong short-stay opportunities across the city. March and November set new occupancy highs in 2025, and even quieter long weekends are generating solid nightly rates for well-positioned properties. The opportunity is there, it just needs to be managed properly.
Short-Stay vs Long-Term: The Income Comparison
Adelaide's median weekly rent sits around $600-620. A well-managed short-stay during a peak week, priced at $200 per night with 80% occupancy, can gross around $1,120. After platform and cleaning fees of roughly 20%, you're netting close to $896. That's a meaningful premium over a standard lease.
The trade-off is consistency. Quiet weeks can go unrented or need discounted pricing to stay competitive, and the operational load of guest communication, turnovers and cleaning adds up fast. Higher guest turnover also means more wear-and-tear on your property over time.
Things to Know Before You List
South Australia has no statewide short-term rental licensing yet, but local council rules do apply. Properties listed for 90 or more nights per year may attract commercial rates around 22.5% higher than residential. It's also worth checking that your insurance covers short-let use, as many standard home policies don't, and speaking with an accountant about your tax position before you go live.
A Low-Risk Way to Test the Waters
Many Adelaide investors use a hybrid model: keeping a long-term tenant for most of the year while freeing up the property for key peak periods. Start small, pick one upcoming event week, list it, and compare the result against your usual rental income before making any bigger shifts in strategy.
Curious whether it could work for your property? OC Short Stays handles everything from listing setup to guest communication, so you capture peak-season returns without the hassle. Get in touch to find out what your property could earn.
Disclaimer: Information in this blog is accurate at the time of publication. OC has relied upon information from external sources in compiling this publication and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness. Please verify details and consult your property expert before making any decisions.
