Let's be honest — finding a place to live in Australia is one of the most stressful things you'll do as a student. The competition is real, especially in Sydney and Melbourne. But with the right approach, you can find something decent without getting ripped off. Here's how.

Where to Look

Recommended Platforms

• Flatmates.com.au — Most popular, verified listings
• Fairy Floss Real Estate (Facebook group) — Community-driven
• Gumtree — More variety, but more scams too
• University housing boards — Often safer options

Red Flags to Watch For

🚩 Landlord is "overseas" and can't show the property 🚩 Asking for bond before you've seen the place 🚩 Price seems too good to be true 🚩 Pressure to pay immediately 🚩 No lease or written agreement offered

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The Inspection

What to Check

• Water pressure (run the shower)
• Phone signal in your room
• Natural light and ventilation
• Locks on bedroom door
• Kitchen and bathroom cleanliness
• Meet your potential housemates!

Questions to Ask

• How much are bills (electricity, internet, water)?
• What's the minimum lease term?
• How is the bond handled?
• What's the notice period for leaving?
• Are there any house rules?

Paying Safely

Never pay in cash without a receipt. Legitimate landlords will:

• Provide a written agreement
• Give you a receipt for bond
• Lodge your bond with the relevant state authority

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Remember: If something feels off, trust your gut. There are plenty of legitimate listings — don't let the pressure make you rush into a bad situation.

What the process actually costs to start

Before you sign anything, you generally need cash on hand for:

Upfront item	Typical amount
Bond (usually 4 weeks rent)	800-1,700
Rent in advance (2 weeks)	400-850
Connection fees (electricity, internet)	0-100
Basic setup (bedding, kitchen items)	150-400

Budget 1,500 to 3,000 dollars to move into a sharehouse in a capital city. If you are arriving without that buffer, book two to four weeks of temporary accommodation and hunt from inside Australia rather than committing to a room from overseas.

Bond rules by state

Your bond must be lodged with the state authority, not held by the person renting to you:

State	Bond authority
NSW	NSW Fair Trading Rental Bonds Online
VIC	Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA)
QLD	Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA)
WA	Bonds Administrator, DMIRS
SA	Consumer and Business Services

You should receive a lodgement confirmation with a bond number within roughly two weeks. No bond number is the clearest single sign that something is wrong.

Important nuance: if you are a sub-tenant in a share house rather than a named tenant on the head lease, bond protection is weaker in most states. Ask whether you will be added to the lease, and get any private bond arrangement in writing with a receipt.

The scams that actually catch students

• The overseas landlord. The property looks great, the "owner" is working abroad, and they will courier the keys once you transfer the deposit. There is no property.
• The duplicated listing. Photos lifted from a real estate listing and reposted at a lower price. Reverse image search the photos before you pay anything.
• The inspection fee. No legitimate landlord or agent charges you to inspect a property.
• The pressure close. "Three other people are interested, I need the deposit tonight." Real landlords accept that you want a written agreement first.
• The overpayment reversal. You are asked to pay via a method that can be reversed, or to send money to a third party "holding" account.
• The cash-only room. Common and not always a scam, but it usually means no lease, no bond protection and no notice period.

Pay by bank transfer to an account matching the name on the agreement, and keep the receipt. Never pay by gift card, crypto, or Western Union for accommodation.

Inspection checklist worth 30 minutes of your time

• Run the shower and a tap at the same time - check pressure and hot water
• Check mobile reception standing inside the bedroom, not the hallway
• Open the window; look for mould around sills, in the bathroom and behind furniture
• Check there is a lock on the bedroom door and working smoke alarms
• Ask to see a recent electricity bill so you know the real cost of bills
• Note how many people share one bathroom and one kitchen
• Meet at least one existing housemate - if nobody is home and nobody can be reached, that is information

Questions to ask before you commit

1. Who is on the head lease, and will I be added?
2. Is the bond lodged with the state authority, and can I see the number?
3. What is the minimum stay and the notice period?
4. Are bills included, and if not, how are they split?
5. Are there guests, pets, or quiet-hours rules?
6. How is the property managed - agent, owner, or head tenant?

If it goes wrong

Contact your state consumer affairs or tenancy body (NSW Fair Trading, Consumer Affairs Victoria, Queensland RTA, Consumer Protection WA, CBS SA). Most run free tenancy advice lines and will act on unlodged bonds. Report transfer fraud to your bank immediately and to Scamwatch. Your university's international student support office can usually help you find emergency accommodation while it is resolved.