Back

Dozens of New Homes Released Early as Rental Pressure Peaks on Sunshine Coast

Sunny Comms for Habitat Development Group

Key Facts:

 - Dozens of rentals open for inspection ahead of schedule by Habitat Development Group

 - Early opening in response to high demand for rentals on the Sunshine Coast

 - Open day event with activities raising money for Wishlist

 - Prizes on offer for successful rental applications, prizes valued at over $6500 collectively

An early opening has been announced for a major new rental release on the Sunshine Coast, as demand for housing continues to outstrip supply across the region.

Habitat Development Group will open doors to renters ahead of schedule for its St Clair apartments in Lake Kawana this month, offering new homes to a market under increasing pressure.

With an overwhelming volume of rental enquiry received, the Habitat Development team has opted to bring forward inspections to their new apartments, giving renters an opportunity for early access to view and lock-in a new home prior to completion. The decision comes as the building nears completion, with the builders applying the final finishes ahead of its official opening in April.

The move comes as the Sunshine Coast vacancy rate sits at just 0.8%, well below the 2.6–3.5% range considered a healthy market, highlighting the ongoing shortage of available rental properties.

Across Queensland, vacancy rates remain around 1%, reflecting tight conditions statewide, while strong population growth and limited housing supply continue to drive competition among renters.

Responding to demand

Habitat spokesperson Karen Daly said the early opening was a direct response to heightened demand from renters struggling to secure suitable housing.

“We’re seeing strong interest from young professionals and families who are finding it increasingly difficult to secure quality rental homes on the Sunshine Coast,” she said.

“With the building nearing completion, we made the decision to open early because right now, people simply can’t afford to wait.”

“We will have apartments available for rent from April, and opening early gives people a genuine opportunity to inspect and apply for new, well-designed housing in a highly competitive market.”

The St Clair release includes a mix of thoughtfully designed apartments, with weekly rents expected to range between $750 and $1,400, catering to young professional couples and families seeking long-term rental options.

Positioned for absolute waterfront living, the development has been carefully designed to balance lifestyle, connection and privacy, creating a community environment where residents can come together or retreat when they choose.

Karen said Habitat’s focus extended beyond delivering housing supply to creating places people genuinely want to live.

“This isn’t just about delivering more apartments, it’s about delivering a lifestyle,” she said.

“We’ve designed St Clair to encourage connection, with shared spaces that bring people together, while still offering private, calm retreats within each residence.”

Residents will have access to a suite of premium amenities, including:

• A Level 9 rooftop terrace with outdoor kitchen, BBQ facilities and sweeping lake, ocean and hinterland views

• A 25m resort-style pool with shallow wading entry and BBQ pavilion

• More than 1000sqm of exclusive residents’ parklands with BBQ facilities and fire pit

• An exclusive residents lounge, with chef’s kitchen and private outdoor terrace

• Direct access to Lake Kawana Boulevard and waterfront surrounds

• Pet-friendly living, secure access, basement carparks and on-site management 

Additional features such as landscaped communal zones and curated gathering spaces have been designed to enhance everyday living and foster a strong sense of community.

More than an open day

A dedicated Rental Open Day will be held on 28 March, with strong attendance expected as renters compete for limited supply across the region.

In a reflection of the community-focused design, Habitat will also host a series of on-site activations aimed at bringing future residents together from day one.

Activities will include a coffee van, dog wash and succulent-making station, with all proceeds supporting the Wishlist Hospital Foundation.

“The idea is to start building that sense of community even before move-in day,” Karen said.

“We know people aren’t just looking for a place to live; they’re looking for a place to belong.”

The event will also feature incentives for prospective tenants, with three successful applicants set to receive exclusive move-in prizes, including:

• A KING Kube Sofa from King Living (valued at $999)

• A Smeg kitchen pack from Samios (valued at $717)

• A living and outdoor furniture package from Habitat Development Group, including a 2-seater sofa, nested coffee tables, TV cabinet, and a 6-seater outdoor dining setting (valued at $5,100)

Urgency building ahead of open day

Properties across the Sunshine Coast are leasing quickly, with agents reporting high competition and short listing periods due to the ongoing imbalance between supply and demand.

The development has already proven highly sought-after, with more than 90% of apartments sold well ahead of schedule; an indicator that rental demand is likely to see the building fill quickly.

The St Clair release forms part of Habitat’s broader Sunshine Coast pipeline aimed at increasing housing supply across the region and responding to ongoing rental demand.

With vacancy rates remaining well below healthy levels, developments like St Clair play a critical role in delivering new housing options for the growing Sunshine Coast population.

Event details

Event: St Clair Rental Open Day

Date: 28 March

Location: 11 Waterside Retreat, Birtinya, Sunshine Coast

Inclusions: On-site inspections, leasing information, community activations, giveaways

The early access event is expected to draw strong interest from renters eager to secure a home in a tightly held market.

..// ends

Images: available on this link

 

About us:

Habitat Development Group: Our story started in 2005, when Habitat Development Group was founded by Cleighton Clark with a straightforward vision – deliver great value with no compromise on quality. Reliability is at the core of who we are.  We operate with a disciplined and consistent approach, project to project, that ensures our customers get what they were promised.  To maintain this level of service, we manage each stage of the project lifecycle intimately from site acquisition and design through to construction and sales.  We are both the developer and builder on all our projects and have been from the early days.   Our commitment to a project goes well beyond completion of a building. 

We aim to deliver homes and communities where people are proud to call home. 

Contact details:

Media Contact: Lizzie Henebery, Sunny Comms

0402 809 650 | [email protected]