Scarborough’s always been one of those Perth beaches people just know. Growing up, it was surf, fish and chips, families everywhere on weekends. Now it’s got the fancy foreshore, better cafes, and yeah, plenty of Airbnbs.
If you’re considering Airbnb management in Scarborough, one advantage stands out: the suburb attracts visitors throughout the year, not just during the peak summer beach season. The lifestyle’s there, people keep coming, and you’re close enough to the city that it all just works.
This is what we’ve learned from actually running properties here day-to-day.
Why Investing Near Scarborough Beach Can Boost Returns
Scarborough isn’t just a beach with some houses around it. It kind of functions as its own little coastal zone.
The foreshore got a massive makeover over the last decade or so, proper landscaping, playgrounds, spaces for events, and way more cafes and restaurants than there used to be. You’ll see markets, live music, and community events, especially once summer hits.
For guests, here’s what matters:
- Beach location without paying CBD hotel prices
- You can actually catch a bus or train to Perth
- Walk to cafes, grab groceries, hit the gym, it’s all there
- Feels relaxed, but you’re not stuck out in the middle of nowhere
One thing a lot of owners don’t realise: Scarborough consistently shows up in searches when people from interstate are looking for coastal stays during school holidays. That baseline visibility helps keep things ticking over all year.
Who Actually Books
You get a wider mix than you’d think.
Yeah, there are beach holiday people and couples wanting a weekend away. But there’s also:
- Families visiting relatives in Perth
- Contractors working on projects for a few weeks
- People in town for medical appointments or visiting nearby hospitals
- Interstate guests here for weddings, events, conferences
This variety is actually helpful, it means you’re not completely reliant on summer holidays to make your numbers work.
What Types of Properties Do Well
There’s no single “winning” property in Scarborough. It’s more about matching what you’ve got to the right guests.
Apartments close to the beach and the cafe strip? Those get short stays, weekends, and couples. Bigger townhouses and houses? Families and longer stays, especially during school holidays.
What guests consistently want:
- Air-conditioner (obviously, it’s Perth)
- Parking, especially if they’re a family
- Somewhere to sit outside, even if it’s just a balcony
- Close enough to the beach that you don’t need to drive
A practical, comfortable place will often get booked more than something that looks amazing in photos but is annoying to actually stay in.
Seasonality and How People Book
Summer’s busy. School holidays are busy. Long weekends are busy. No surprises there.
But Scarborough doesn’t just shut down the rest of the year. You still get longer stays, corporate bookings, and people who actually prefer visiting when it’s not packed.
Owners who price things with the seasons in mind rather than panicking and dropping rates every time there’s a gap usually do better over the long run.
One thing we’ve noticed: winter bookings tend to be people who want a cozy apartment near cafes and the coastal path, not necessarily beach swimming. Keep that in mind.
What You Can Actually Earn
Scarborough can deliver good returns, but it varies a lot depending on how well you manage things and what you’re expecting.
Being close to the beach matters. How you present the place matters. How you treat guests matters. These things often matter more than just trying to charge the absolute maximum every night.
The properties that do consistently well usually have:
- Decent rates that aren’t trying to gouge everyone
- Good occupancy across different seasons
- Proper maintenance and upkeep
It’s the steady approach that wins, not the “get rich quick” mindset.
The Day-to-Day Reality
Coastal properties come with their own headaches. Salt air, sand everywhere, higher turnover, it all adds up. Things wear out faster. Cleaning standards need to be spot-on, especially in summer when you’ve got back-to-back bookings and same-day changeovers.
You’ll also need to think about:
- Finding reliable cleaners and tradespeople who actually show up
- Keeping neighbours happy (noise complaints are a thing)
- Staying across WA’s short-term rental rules
- Actually responding to guests quickly
If you treat this like a passive investment where you just collect money, you’re going to have a bad time. It needs active management.
A Few Examples from Properties We Run
We currently manage three Airbnbs in Scarborough. They’re all different, and they all work for different reasons.
Scarborough Stay | Chic 2BR – Walk to Beach
Two-bedroom place, lower-ground level, about a 12-minute walk from the beach. Air-conditioner in both rooms, space to work if you need it. Gets couples, small families, and occasional business travellers. The layout’s a bit unconventional, but as long as you’re upfront about what it is, people are fine with it. Shows that you don’t need the perfect property, you just need to set proper expectations.
Modern two-storey house, close to the beach, decent amount of space, secure parking. Families love it, and we get a fair bit of longer stays. Proves that bigger homes in Scarborough can keep busy even outside peak times.
Oceanview Retreat – 400m to Scarborough Beach
Renovated two-bedroom apartment, about 400 meters from the beach, walking distance to all the restaurants on the Sunset Strip. Lift access, ocean views, modern fit-out. Location and walkability do a lot of heavy lifting here.
These three show the range of what works in Scarborough, there’s no single formula.
Would We Do It Again?
Yeah, probably. Scarborough’s been solid for us. But we also know more now than when we started. We’ve made mistakes, wasted money on things that didn’t matter, and learned what guests actually care about versus what we thought they’d care about.
If you’re thinking about doing this in Scarborough:
- Don’t expect it to be passive income
- Get the basics right before worrying about fancy touches
- Understand your property’s strengths and market to those
- Be prepared for things to break and guests to be demanding sometimes
It can work. We’re proof of that. But go in knowing it’s actual work, not just a side hustle you’ll forget about.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Scarborough worth it for Airbnb?
For us, yeah. Beach location, good search visibility, year-round interest. But you’ve got to manage it properly.
- What kind of property should I buy?
It depends on what you want to deal with. Apartments are easier, but you might earn less. Houses earn more but cost more to run. There’s no perfect answer.
- Is it only busy in summer?
Nope. Summer’s peak, but we stay reasonably booked year-round. Different seasons bring different guests.
- How much extra does coastal maintenance cost?
More than you think. Budget an extra 20-30% compared to a non-coastal property, maybe more depending on the place.
- Short-term rental or just lease it?
If you want it easier, lease it. If you want potentially more income and don’t mind the work, try it short-term. We’ve done both. They’re just different.
