Many of us look forward to an annual getaway, either to the
beach or the bush, as the best way to unwind and re-charge after
another tiring year. While having a holiday house is a luxury that
a lucky few may be fortunate enough to be able to own outright, for
many Australians having a beach shack or bush retreat can be made
more affordable by leasing out their properties to other holiday
makers.
From an income tax point of view, the principles that apply to
an investment rental property also apply to a holiday house if it
is leased or rented out. Owners are therefore eligible to claim
expenses for the property based on the proportion of the income
year when it was rented out or, alternatively, based on when it was
"genuinely available" for rent (more on this below).