Types of housing
Houses in Alice Springs tends to be bigger than those in most big Australian cities with most blocks at 1200m2, or half that in some areas where subdivision has been permitted.

Over recent years there has been a lot of new development, with previous government houses being revamped and modern flats, double story buildings and different property developments and suburbs affecting and changing the face of Alice.

Air conditioning
Alice Springs has a hot summer - maximum temperatures are over 35 degrees for several months - so almost all houses have airconditioning. There are two types, evaporative ‘swampies’ and refrigerative reverse-cycle air conditioners.

Evaporative air conditioners have a large fan (often a drum fan) which blows air over filters which are kept damp with water from a plumbed connection. Houses often have a single unit on the roof, with ducting leading to all the rooms.
Evaporative air conditioners don’t use much power - the fan is the only moving part - but don’t work well when humidity is high.

Reverse cycle air conditioners use a similar mechanism to a fridge, they compress a gas into a liquid and then let it change back into gas, soaking up heat. Reverse cycle air conditioners work well in all conditions, and often include a heating option for winter, but they use a lot of power - a large one can use 4kw - so they can cost a lot to run.

Heating
When looking for a house it’s good to bear in mind that for two or three months of the year the night temperature in Alice Springs can drop below freezing. Many residents use wood fires in winter, but gas heaters are also popular. The gas supply in Alice Springs is almost exclusively liquid petroleum gas which supplied in large tanks by two local companies.

If you are moving to Alice from another Australian city it’s probably not worth bringing a natural gas heater (or any natural gas appliances) as they need to be modified to work with LPG.

Swimming pools
Pools are a mixed blessing - many Alice Springs residents feel they can’t live without them in summer, but they can sit unused for four or five months over winter. They can also cost a lot in chemicals and water - water evaporates very rapidly in our climate.

If you are renting a house make sure it is clear from the outset who is paying for pool maintainence, and excess water usage. A pool cover can help with evaporation. Also be aware that the Northern Territory has strict pool fencing laws (to prevent accidental child drownings). All pools, even inflatable paddling pools must be fenced properly if they are to be left unsupervised.

More information
Visit the Alice Springs Town Council website’s housing page on www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au to find more information on renting or buying property in Alice Springs or to find the contact details of real estate agents and housing departments.