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Expert answers to your property investment questions — tax depreciation, capital gains tax, negative gearing, construction costs and more. Written by Koste's Chartered Quantity Surveyors.

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Owning Property

257 articles

Maximise returns, reduce tax and manage your investment property effectively

Renovating

68 articles

How renovations, repairs and improvements affect your tax claims

Buying Property

63 articles

Everything you need to know before and after purchasing an investment property

Commercial Property

44 articles

Fit-outs, lease incentives and depreciation for commercial assets

Business Owners

31 articles

Asset registers, insurance valuations and commercial property investment

Developers

30 articles

Feasibility, construction cost planning and depreciation for developers

Property Tax Changes

26 articles

The current government position is that from 1 July 2027, negative gearing for residential property will be limited to new builds, with prop…

Accountants

25 articles

End of year guides, depreciation schedule reading and client resources

Selling Property

16 articles

CGT, cost base, records and what depreciation means when you sell

Tax Savings & Write-Offs

14 articles

Tax deductions and write-offs for investment property owners.

Construction Costs

11 articles

Current construction and build cost guidance across Australia — rates, estimating and how build costs affect depreciation claims.

SMSF Property

11 articles

Tax depreciation and CGT records for SMSF-held investment properties.

CGT Cost Base

11 articles

Capital Gains Tax cost base records and calculations for property investors.

Legislation Updates

11 articles

The latest Australian property tax legislation changes and what they mean for investors and depreciation claims.

Second-Hand Property

10 articles

Depreciation rules for established and second-hand investment properties.

Tax Depreciation

10 articles

How tax depreciation works for investment property — claiming Division 40 and Division 43 deductions, depreciation schedules and ATO rules.

Short-Term Rentals

10 articles

Tax depreciation and deductions for Airbnb, holiday homes, and short-term rental properties

Tax Depreciation Basics

7 articles

Fundamentals of Division 40 and Division 43 tax depreciation.

Capital Gains Tax

6 articles

CGT discount rules, calculation methods, exemptions and strategies to legally reduce capital gains tax on Australian investment property.

Property Management

2 articles

Managing investment property — records, expenses, agents and tax obligations for Australian landlords.

Expert Articles & Guides

Owning Property

Australia's Construction Costs Continue to Rise — What Every Property Owner, Investor and Developer Needs to Know

Construction costs in Australia are not returning to pre-COVID levels — they have become the new normal. Labour shortage…

Property Tax Changes

What records should investors keep now?

With the 2026 Budget reforms, property records are more important than ever. Keep your depreciation schedule, capital wo…

Cgt Cost Base

What does CGT cost base indexation mean?

Instead of a flat 50% CGT discount, investors in established residential properties bought after Budget night will have …

Property Tax Changes

What is changing with negative gearing from 1 July 2027?

From 1 July 2027, rental losses on established residential properties bought after Budget night (12 May 2026) will be ri…

Smsf Property

Can SMSFs still borrow to buy commercial property?

Current reporting indicates commercial property borrowing is not the primary target of the SMSF residential borrowing ba…

Short Term Rentals

Should I get a depreciation schedule for an Airbnb?

Yes — an Airbnb or short-term rental property, especially if it is furnished, can generate significant depreciation dedu…

Short Term Rentals

Can I claim depreciation if my holiday home is only rented part of the year?

Yes — you can claim depreciation for the proportion of the year your holiday home is genuinely rented or available for r…

Short Term Rentals

Can I claim styling furniture for a short-term rental?

Yes — styling furniture, art, decorative items, and homewares purchased specifically for a short-term rental are deducti…

Short Term Rentals

Can I claim smart locks and security cameras?

Yes — smart locks, security cameras, and other technology assets in a short-term rental are Division 40 plant and equipm…

Short Term Rentals

Can I claim cleaning equipment and linen?

Yes — cleaning equipment and linen purchased for a short-term rental property are deductible as either plant and equipme…

Short Term Rentals

What records do I need for Airbnb tax deductions?

For Airbnb tax deductions, you need booking records, expense receipts, a record of private use periods, and a quantity s…

Short Term Rentals

Can I claim depreciation on a holiday home?

Yes — a holiday home used as a rental qualifies for tax depreciation, but deductions must be apportioned for any periods…

Short Term Rentals

How does private use affect Airbnb depreciation?

Private use of your Airbnb property reduces the proportion of depreciation — and all other deductions — that you can cla…

Short Term Rentals

Can I claim furniture in a short-term rental?

Yes — furniture in a short-term rental is Division 40 plant and equipment and can be depreciated using the ATO's effecti…

Short Term Rentals

Can I claim depreciation on an Airbnb property?

Yes — an Airbnb or short-term rental property qualifies for Division 43 capital works and Division 40 plant and equipmen…

Commercial Property

What is tenant abandonment depreciation?

Tenant abandonment depreciation occurs when a commercial tenant vacates and leaves their fit-out behind — the landlord c…

Commercial Property

What happens when a tenant leaves their fit-out behind?

When a commercial tenant vacates and leaves their fit-out behind, the landlord may be able to claim depreciation on thos…

Tax Depreciation Basics

Can I claim depreciation if property is owned by a trust?

Yes — a trust that owns investment property can claim Division 43 capital works and Division 40 plant and equipment depr…

Commercial Property

Can I claim depreciation if property is owned by a company?

Yes — a company that owns investment or commercial property can claim Division 43 capital works and Division 40 plant an…

Smsf Property

Does my SMSF need an insurance replacement cost report?

Yes — SMSF trustees have an obligation to adequately insure fund assets, and an insurance replacement cost report from a…

Smsf Property

Can my SMSF claim depreciation on commercial property?

Yes — an SMSF that owns commercial property can claim the same Division 43 capital works and Division 40 plant and equip…

Smsf Property

Can I renovate a property owned by my SMSF?

Yes, but there are significant restrictions if the property is under an LRBA — improvements that change the character of…

Smsf Property

Can I refinance an existing SMSF property loan?

Refinancing an existing SMSF LRBA is currently permitted, but the proposed new rules create uncertainty about whether re…

Smsf Property

What is an LRBA in an SMSF?

An LRBA (Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement) is the specific legal structure that allows a self-managed super fund t…

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