Group housing
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Contact us
Residential Experience
+61 2 6125 1100
Fulton Muir Building, 95 Daley Road, Acton
Monday to Friday
Office hours: 9.30am-4.30pm AEDT/AEST
We can provide and assist you with finding group accommodation. We have a number of resources to help you with your search but you can also find some practical information here or by coming and talking with our staff.
Getting started
Before you head out to look at properties there are some things you should consider.
- Location - Is the property within walking distance of uni/work?
- Transport - Is public transport close? What about parking if you need it? Is it possible to cycle or walk everywhere?
- People - If you are looking at a share/group house. Who do you want to live with? Will you all get along living together?
- Facilities - How many bathrooms are going to be enough and how many bedrooms will you need?
- Finances - How is rent going to be paid? What about other bills?
Renting a property
There are a number of steps required when renting a property and things you will need to do.
- Find properties which fit your criteria.
- Property inspections.
- Submit an application (including providing supporting information).
- Accepting and signing a lease (bond & rent).
- Utility connections.
- Property condition report.
- Changing your address.
Property inspections
Create a checklist of things you want to know about the property prior to going to view it. Some things you may want to know are listed below.
- Does the location suit you, how will you get there on time?
- Is the property available now, if not what date will the property be available?
- What is the rental amount and is it negotiable?
- What is the length of the lease and is it negotiable?
- How much bond is required (in the ACT the equivalent of four weeks rent is the maximum bond which can be requested)?
- Will the bond be lodged with the ACT Office of Rental Bonds?
Rental applications
When applying for a rental property you will usually be required to fill out an application form and supply some/all of the following:
- Personal reference (in English).
- Employment reference (if applicable) or evidence of income.
- Banking information.
- Identification (usually you will need to supply documents which add up to 100 points, similar to when you open a bank account). Documents you can supply are - drivers licence, Medicare card, passport).
Budgeting advice
There are many places where you can seek budgeting advice from, ANUSA or PARSA can assist or see MoneySmart for great apps and planners for budgeting. You will need to allow for many of the following items in your budget and also work out with your housemates how you all will pay for them, will you split/share all bills or just utilities and pay for your own food.
- Rent and bond
- Groceries
- Electricity
- Gas
- Internet
- Transport
- Social activities
- Health care
- Household furnishings
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