In Melbourne, Australia, a landlord has taken a unique approach to housing as many people as possible in one home by renting out capsules that each fit a single bed.
The six pods, described as looking like "space shuttles," go for around $171 USD a week — or $617 a month— and all the pods are full, Frank Chan said. The house also has three regular bedrooms for rent upstairs at $1500 a month, while the sleeper pods are set up downstairs.
The white, futuristic pods, advertised on Facebook at 15 Charles Abbotsford Mansion, are stacked on top of each other. Renters do not have to pay for electricity or furniture and do not have to sign a lease. They also have a housekeeper.
Each capsule pod fits a single bed and is equipped with a mirror, ventilating fan, USB ports, digital control panels, adjustable color reading lights, a locker, clothes hanger, and a curtain door for privacy.
The pods were primarily meant for shorter-term stays, but could also help with the rental market by providing extra beds at a low cost and driving down rental prices. As cities experience housing shortages and soaring rents, pods continue to be touted as a solution.
Chan said, however, that the experience with his tenants has been positive so far. "I think when more people are familiar and comfortable with the capsule concept, and have explored the regulatory feasibility behind it, we should see more capsules popping up in Melbourne, as they have had in Sydney, Tasmania and Brisbane," Chan said.
