Friends With Money #211: Making money from your spare bedroom
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In this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, we explore the housing crisis in Australia and how renting out spare bedrooms could help provide more affordable housing.
Money's Ryan Johnson joins host managing editor, Vanessa Walker, to discuss the housing shortfall in Australia. They talk about the factors contributing to the crisis, including lagging construction and policies that favour investors over first-time buyers.
Ryan explains how the 13 million unused spare bedrooms across Australia are an untapped resource that could help ease supply constraints. We learn who owns these spare rooms, the barriers keeping them from renting them out, and how policies could incentivise making better use of this latent housing supply.
Key takeaways:
2:30 - There is a 250,000-home shortfall between housing needed and current supply. Construction isn't keeping pace with demand.
5:15 - Older Australians own most of the 13 million unused spare bedrooms, often in large, empty nest homes.
8:00 - Emotional barriers like safety concerns and desire for privacy have kept seniors from renting out rooms.
10:30 - Clarification on how capital gains tax applies when renting out part of a home.
13:00 - How rental income affects pensions - calls for policy tweaks to incentivise room rentals.
15:30 - Bank now counts rental income toward mortgage eligibility.
To learn more about Australia's housing crisis and the spare bedroom solution, be sure to listen to this insightful episode!
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What is the Friends With Money podcast?
Friends With Money is a weekly personal finance podcast by Money magazine, offering expert insights on investing, budgeting, superannuation, property, and other money strategies for everyday Australians.
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You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube (with closed captions available).
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Episodes are hosted by Vanessa Walker and Tom Watson from Money magazine, featuring expert guests and real conversations about money.
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