Trial to Deliver Compact Apartments for Single Renters in Sydney

A new trial will test compact apartments designed for single renters as part of a build-to-rent development in Sydney. The 30-35 square metre units will be placed among larger apartments for couples and families. The project responds to data showing single-person households make up 40 per cent of inner-Sydney residences and are among the fastest-growing household types in Australia.

Developer Coronation Property, working with build-to-rent platform Nation, plans to scatter the units across five buildings in the Precinct 75 complex in St Peters, with completion targeted for the end of 2027.

The apartments will include full kitchens, laundries, bathrooms and furnishings. Architects have incorporated small balconies, storage for bicycles and cordless vacuums, and other space-saving features. Residents will have access to shared facilities such as a gym, pool, spa, lounge, cinema, music room, podcast room, bar and co-working spaces.

Rents will cover utilities including electricity and WiFi.

Sydney’s median unit rent stood at $750 per week in March, according to Domain data. A 32-year-old physiotherapist who recently secured a one-bedroom unit for $765 a week described repeated bidding wars and competition from couples who can split costs.

Emeritus Professor Hal Pawson of the University of NSW’s City Futures Research Centre said smaller units have been discussed in the industry for years and could improve financial viability if natural light, ventilation and amenity are maintained. Planning Institute of Australia senior executive Jo McClellan said the approach may suit different life stages within a diverse population.

The same model is scheduled for later introduction in Victoria and Queensland.