Call-out to spin Darwin’s spare rooms into money-makers for home owners
Darwin home owners with a room for rent can connect with Charles Darwin University (CDU) students searching for accommodation, thanks to CDU’s StudyStays platform.
Describing it as something of a win-win situation, the university said that it’s a great way for those living around CDU’s Casuarina, Waterfront and Palmerston campuses to earn some extra money while providing much-needed housing for some of the 600 international students set to arrive imminently.
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CDU StudyStays, which is integrated into the institution’s website, is powered by software company StudyStays.
It’s hard to argue with the proposition at a time when many Aussies are struggling with the cost of living, while rental vacancies in Darwin and elsewhere remain extremely slim, and spots in the university’s existing accommodation are already allocated.
Speaking of the current housing pressures faced by international students, CDU’s vice-chancellor, Professor Scott Bowman, said: “When the students arrive to start the semester, demand for housing will be strong, at a time when availability is low.”
He added that navigating the housing market as an international student already comes with a level of difficulty.
“These students are making one of the hardest, bravest, and most critical decisions of their lives — moving to a foreign country to pursue their education. One of the difficult decisions these students will have to make is where to live,” he said.
CDU staff, who manage the platform, are available to help prospective renters in their search.
And it’s not only open to home owners. Private and commercial property owners and property managers can all register properties with StudyStays.
Listings include details such as rent, lease duration, bedrooms available, a description of the home and photos. Students registered with CDU StudyStays can then inquire about properties directly.
“For those wanting to fill a room and receive extra income, welcoming an international student into your home can offer consistent income and the chance to get to know someone with unique life experiences and perspectives,” Professor Bowman said.
CDU’s accommodation services manager, Dr Philip Mosely, added he hopes to see a large uptake of StudyStays among the incoming cohort and in the years ahead.
“In preparation for this influx of international students, we are bolstering CDU StudyStays to become the go-to tool for our students searching for appropriate off-campus accommodation,” Dr Mosely said.
“With IHD and UniLodge already fully booked, we’re working to provide the most efficient resources and advice through platforms such as CDU StudyStays to make the search for accommodation less daunting for new students.”