A staircase lined with padlocks in Potts Point, in Sydney’s inner east, has shown how short-term rentals are spreading through the suburb. news.com.au reported the story on 22 January 2026. The padlocks are lock boxes that let guests get into apartments.
Key Facts
- Where: The staircase at the end of St Neot Avenue, Potts Point, near Kings Cross and Woolloomooloo.
- What: Padlock-style lock boxes on the railing, used by short-term rental guests to collect keys.
- Also seen in: Elizabeth Bay and Darlinghurst, locals said.
- Price gap: A Potts Point studio was listed on Airbnb at $253 a night. The median studio rent nearby is about $600 a week.
- Vacancy rate: About 1.4 per cent across Australia, news.com.au reported.
Why the Locks Matter
The lock boxes let guests arrive and leave without meeting a building manager. Locals told news.com.au they see them all over the area. One said his building had banned them.
What Experts Say
Graham Cooke from Finder said: “With more and more property owners opting for the potentially more lucrative short-term market, it leaves fewer properties available for traditional tenants like students, young professionals and families.”
Real estate agent Cae Thomas said many buildings, especially ones with lots of owner-occupiers, do not allow short-term rentals.
The Community Debate
Online, some people said short-term rentals have hurt local rental markets. One Reddit user said they had “destroyed the feel of community in some towns”. Others say owners should be free to use their property.
Correction
An earlier version of this story described a new staircase design that blocked neighbours. The real story was about lock boxes on an existing public staircase, linked to short-term rentals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there padlocks on the Potts Point staircase?
They are lock boxes that hold keys for short-term rental guests.
Do short-term rentals push up rents?
Finder’s Graham Cooke said they leave fewer homes for long-term renters and put upward pressure on prices.
Can buildings ban short-term rentals?
Many buildings restrict them, agent Cae Thomas said, especially those with lots of owner-occupiers.
Conclusion
The Potts Point locks are a small sign of a big debate about housing in Sydney.
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