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Finding Share Accommodation and Roommates

Except for the fortunate few, most students will need to live in share accommodation while they are at university. Often, this is the first time many have lived out of home, and it can be a very daunting process. There are several ways to get into share accommodation:

• Joining an established share house or student accommodation - this is the easiest option, as a lot of the hard work has been done for you.  These places are often fully or partly furnished, so you may be able to avoid the expense of buying furniture and appliances.  The downside is that you may not be able to pick and choose who you live with, that is usually up to the existing residents and/or the landlord.  You may also end up paying more than you would if you rented accommodation privately. See what expenses (such as electricity and internet) are included and the conditions of the lease or contract.  Share houses and student accommodation are often listed on real estate websites, or try the student centre or notice-boards at your University. Easy Roommate has 100s of rooms available in Adelaide,  Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart,  Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. 
   
• Establishing your own share house - means you get to choose your roommates, but it requires much more effort and means more responsibility.  It is up to you to find the house, provide all the paperwork, and convince the landlord and real estate agent to lease to you.  This is even more challenging as there is often heavy competition in areas close to universities.  Those moving out for the first time will also have to contend with having no rental record and will probably have a limited income.  Brisbane City Life has an excellent page of general tips for house-hunters. 
   
  Sharing with relatives, friends or people you know is often easier and safer, as you can be co-tenants and share start-up expenses and responsibility for the lease.  If this is not an option, be wary of living with people you don’t know if you are listed as the only tenant. YOU will have to pay the rent if they leave, and you will be responsible for fixing any damage they cause.
   
• On-campus accommodation - This varies widely between universities, so it is best to look carefully at the options offered at your university to see if they will suit you.  The same rules apply as joining an established share house, you just have a lot more roommates. 
  

Choosing Roommates - Things to consider BEFORE moving in

• Lifestyle - will you annoy each other with your study/social/lifestyle habits? Someone who takes their study seriously will not want to be woken up at 3am every night by noisy roommates.  On the other hand, if you like to party, a less socially inclined roommate can severely cramp your style. Be aware of other lifestyle issues (such as drugs) that could have a negative impact. 
   
• Tidy vs Messy - Everyone has a certain level of mess they can live with.  If roommates have very different ideas on what is acceptable, it will lead to a lot of conflict.
   
• Personality - some people just rub each other the wrong way.  Being great friends does not always mean you will be great roommates (see above points).  If it drives you crazy before you move in, living with their annoying little habit 24/7 makes it that much worse.
   
• People you know - while it is usually preferable to move in with people you already know, you need to consider how much time you already spend with them.  If you spend all day with each other at uni or work, spending the rest of your day with them can be too much.
   
• Tenancy Agreements - Even if everyone seems friendly at the beginning, things can go wrong so it is in everyone's interest to have a written tenancy agreement.

Information and Advocacy for Tenants

It pays to know what your rights and responsibilities are as a tenant to ensure you don't get ripped off by landlords, agents or roommates. Each state and territory has a government body that provides legal information to landlords and tenants. Most states also have tenants' union in which provides advice and advocacy. 

• Queensland
  • Residential Tenancies Authority
  • Tenants’ Union of Queensland
• New South Wales
  • Office of Fair Trading
  • Tenants’ Union of NSW
• Victoria
  • Consumer Affairs Victoria
  • Tenants’ Union of Victoria
• Australian Capital Territory
  • Residential Tenancies Tribunal of the ACT
  • Tenants’ Union ACT
• Tasmania
  • Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading
  • Tenants’ Union of Tasmania
• South Australia
  • Office of Consumer and Business Affairs
• Northern Territory
  • Consumer and Business Affairs
• Western Australia
  • Department of Consumer and Employment Protection
  • Tenant Advice Service WA
• Community Legal Centres and other tenancy advocacy bodies can provide legal advice and help to tenants.