Sydney launches build-to-rent single-person apartments to address housing affordability

Developer Coronation Property, together with the Nation build‑to‑rent platform, will trial a new typology of architect‑designed 30‑35 m² apartments aimed at single renters. The “City Starters” and “City Stayers” units will be built within five new buildings at Precinct 75 in St Peters, Sydney’s inner west, and are scheduled for delivery around the end of 2027. The scheme offers shared amenities such as pools, gyms, co‑working spaces, a lounge and rooftop BBQ, with utilities like electricity and Wi‑Fi included in the rent.

Aras Labutis, head of urban transformations at Coronation Property, said 40 % of Sydney households are single‑person, a fast‑growing cohort facing a supply gap. The project aims to provide affordable, livable homes for this group, with rent expected near the city’s median unit price of $750 per week. Claire Park, a 32‑year‑old physiotherapist, secured a unit by offering $765 weekly, illustrating the competitive market.

Experts have welcomed the plan. Hal Pawson of the University of NSW noted the importance of natural light and ventilation in small units, while Jo McClellan of the Planning Institute of Australia highlighted the potential of shared‑amenity models to serve diverse populations.