Could hiring out your caravan be the answer to your money problems?
- Replies 3
When it comes to taking a holiday, there are a lot of different things that you have to take into account. You have to think about where you want to go, what you want to do when you're there, and how you're going to get around. One of the big decisions that you have to make is where you're going to stay. Are you going to stay in a hotel, or are you going to rent a caravan?
There are a lot of people who think that staying in a hotel is the only way to go on vacation. They think that it's the only way to have a comfortable and relaxing time. But, they're wrong. Renting a caravan can be just as comfortable and just as relaxing as staying in a hotel. Plus, it's a lot cheaper.
That's why it is not surprising that more and more holiday goers are renting caravans as the tourism industry enters a new boom since the COVID-related lockdowns have been lifted.
And as demand for these vehicles grows, opportunities for owners to make money from renting out their caravans are also booming.
Take, for example, Laura Stutt and Karen Prince who earned $35,000 and $6,000 respectively from renting out their vehicles that would otherwise sit idle in their garages.
In a scheme dubbed 'Airbnb for caravans', owners are taking to online renting platforms, such as Camplify, to list their vehicles for holiday goers who are seeking to use a caravan for their journeys.
'It went a bit crazy, to be honest, so it’s definitely helped us out financially,' Ms Stutt, who has been renting out her caravan for two years, said.
'It’s extra money, it feeds the kids, it pays for our holidays, the van pays for itself.'
Caravan owners are earning passive income from renting out their vehicles. Credit: Getty Images.
It has also been a lifesaver for Ms Prince, who has recently been unable to work due to a health issue, to receive ‘passive income’ from something that would have otherwise been sitting in her garage, ‘doing nothing, gathering dust.’
While most people hiring caravans through Camplify are holidaymakers, the demand for rental accommodation continues to outstrip supply.
So, could the humble caravan be a viable solution for those struggling to find a place to live?
Authorities are currently looking at caravans as a 'quirky' alternative for housing as the housing crisis takes a toll on many Australians across the country.
Some experts said that caravans could provide a decent refuge for those who are looking for temporary spaces to live.
For instance, after the recent floods in New South Wales, Camplify and the state government launched a programme to give caravans to inhabitants of homes devastated by the flood in Woodburn in the Northern Rivers.
According to Michelle Weston of the Queensland Caravan Parks Association, owners of caravan parks have been able to assist residents who are struggling to find housing, especially in non-tourist areas.
She explained: 'We’re in a really interesting space at the moment because vacancy rates are incredibly low, in terms of rental accommodation, but at the same time, going caravanning and camping has never been as popular as it is now.'
'Caravan park owners want to help people who need that long-term accommodation, but they’re having to balance that with the high occupancy that they receive through tourist bookings at the moment.'
Authorities are looking into using caravans as a ‘band-aid’ remedy for Australia’s worsening housing crisis. Credit: Buddii.com.au.
Ms Weston also noted that she has seen some parks change their layouts and lean more towards rental properties.
Although they may be an 'eccentric' solution to Australia's housing issue, caravans won't provide a complete remedy.
Given that there is 'only so much' long-term rental caravan housing available, Ms Weston claimed the idea of employing caravans as a dwelling is a 'limited option.'
'With vacancy rates so low, I think the government needs to step up and look at how they can fill some of those gaps,' she said.
Fiona Caniglia of Q Shelter, a homeless shelter in Queensland, said that while she supports the idea the community making their caravans available, she is concerned that it would draw attention away from the real problem.
'If more people are seeking out caravans in backyards and caravan parks, it is a sign that the housing system cannot cope with demand.'
'With very little housing availability and low vacancy rates, people will increasingly turn to temporary living arrangements as they try to avoid rough sleeping.'
She argues that it is essential to continue working on more long-term, sustainable solutions instead of relying on 'band-aid remedies.'
'For most people living in a caravan is not a long-term solution. It is at best a harm reduction measure. We know that wellbeing suffers if insecure housing becomes part of people’s everyday struggle.'
There seems to be a lot of uses for a caravan — from earning passive income through renting it out to renovating it to provide shelter for those who need temporary accommodations. If you own a caravan and you wish to have it rented, you might want to check out Camplify's website to learn more about the process of how you can lease your vehicle.
So, there you have it, folks! Do you know other small business ideas that could help our members earn some passive income? Share them with us in the comments below.
There are a lot of people who think that staying in a hotel is the only way to go on vacation. They think that it's the only way to have a comfortable and relaxing time. But, they're wrong. Renting a caravan can be just as comfortable and just as relaxing as staying in a hotel. Plus, it's a lot cheaper.
That's why it is not surprising that more and more holiday goers are renting caravans as the tourism industry enters a new boom since the COVID-related lockdowns have been lifted.
And as demand for these vehicles grows, opportunities for owners to make money from renting out their caravans are also booming.
Take, for example, Laura Stutt and Karen Prince who earned $35,000 and $6,000 respectively from renting out their vehicles that would otherwise sit idle in their garages.
In a scheme dubbed 'Airbnb for caravans', owners are taking to online renting platforms, such as Camplify, to list their vehicles for holiday goers who are seeking to use a caravan for their journeys.
'It went a bit crazy, to be honest, so it’s definitely helped us out financially,' Ms Stutt, who has been renting out her caravan for two years, said.
'It’s extra money, it feeds the kids, it pays for our holidays, the van pays for itself.'
Caravan owners are earning passive income from renting out their vehicles. Credit: Getty Images.
It has also been a lifesaver for Ms Prince, who has recently been unable to work due to a health issue, to receive ‘passive income’ from something that would have otherwise been sitting in her garage, ‘doing nothing, gathering dust.’
While most people hiring caravans through Camplify are holidaymakers, the demand for rental accommodation continues to outstrip supply.
So, could the humble caravan be a viable solution for those struggling to find a place to live?
Authorities are currently looking at caravans as a 'quirky' alternative for housing as the housing crisis takes a toll on many Australians across the country.
Some experts said that caravans could provide a decent refuge for those who are looking for temporary spaces to live.
For instance, after the recent floods in New South Wales, Camplify and the state government launched a programme to give caravans to inhabitants of homes devastated by the flood in Woodburn in the Northern Rivers.
According to Michelle Weston of the Queensland Caravan Parks Association, owners of caravan parks have been able to assist residents who are struggling to find housing, especially in non-tourist areas.
She explained: 'We’re in a really interesting space at the moment because vacancy rates are incredibly low, in terms of rental accommodation, but at the same time, going caravanning and camping has never been as popular as it is now.'
'Caravan park owners want to help people who need that long-term accommodation, but they’re having to balance that with the high occupancy that they receive through tourist bookings at the moment.'
Authorities are looking into using caravans as a ‘band-aid’ remedy for Australia’s worsening housing crisis. Credit: Buddii.com.au.
Ms Weston also noted that she has seen some parks change their layouts and lean more towards rental properties.
Although they may be an 'eccentric' solution to Australia's housing issue, caravans won't provide a complete remedy.
Given that there is 'only so much' long-term rental caravan housing available, Ms Weston claimed the idea of employing caravans as a dwelling is a 'limited option.'
'With vacancy rates so low, I think the government needs to step up and look at how they can fill some of those gaps,' she said.
Fiona Caniglia of Q Shelter, a homeless shelter in Queensland, said that while she supports the idea the community making their caravans available, she is concerned that it would draw attention away from the real problem.
'If more people are seeking out caravans in backyards and caravan parks, it is a sign that the housing system cannot cope with demand.'
'With very little housing availability and low vacancy rates, people will increasingly turn to temporary living arrangements as they try to avoid rough sleeping.'
She argues that it is essential to continue working on more long-term, sustainable solutions instead of relying on 'band-aid remedies.'
'For most people living in a caravan is not a long-term solution. It is at best a harm reduction measure. We know that wellbeing suffers if insecure housing becomes part of people’s everyday struggle.'
There seems to be a lot of uses for a caravan — from earning passive income through renting it out to renovating it to provide shelter for those who need temporary accommodations. If you own a caravan and you wish to have it rented, you might want to check out Camplify's website to learn more about the process of how you can lease your vehicle.
So, there you have it, folks! Do you know other small business ideas that could help our members earn some passive income? Share them with us in the comments below.
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