Accommodation in Australia

What are you looking for?

• Arrival accomodation
• Short term accommodation
• Student accommodation
• Long term accommodation

Arrival accommodation

Arrival accommodation offers somewhere to stay when you first arrive in Australia. It's somewhere comfortable and convenient to call a ‘base’ until you find your feet.

For students, or for those with limited finances, a hostel might be the best option to begin with. Australia has an excellent range of hostels to choose from, especially in capital cities, with travellers able to choose from budget options or more premium digs.

Another option to consider is a hotel. Once again, there’s no shortage of options to choose from, though many hotels may be out of the reach for those with limited finances.

If you’re looking for an something in-between, motels and caravan parks usually offer cheaper rooms than hotels, while self-catered apartments and units are also available.

How can I book arrival accommodation?

You can easily book arrival accommodation online via accommodation websites like Expedia, hotels.com, Hotels Combined, Airbnb and many more.

Short term accommodation

The first option you might want to look at for short term accommodation is renting a property. From units and townhouses to small or large houses, you can find rental properties to suit all sizes and budgets. Rental costs in Australia are generally quite high, and are influenced by a number of factors, including the size of the residence, its location, its proximity to public transport, how old it is, and much more.

It’s also worth pointing out that the rental market in Australia is quite competitive, particularly in capital cities. In popular inner-city suburbs in major centres, you can expect to battle it out with plenty of other property hunters and also to pay more than you would otherwise expect.

If renting on your own is not a viable option, share-house living might be the best approach. Once again, there are typically a stack of share-house accommodation options to choose from, particularly in inner-city areas or places with high student populations. Of course, you obviously need to be willing to put up with all the highs and lows of sharing a house with strangers, which is sometimes be easier said than done.

How to rent as a recent arrival into Australia

The average rent price varies from city to city. The median weekly price for a unit in Sydney is around $700, while in Melbourne it's $560.

Renting your own place

If you’re renting a property on your own, your best bet is to lease a property through a qualified real estate agent. You can find rental listings on sites like realestate.com.au and domain.com.au.

It’s a good idea to bring previous rental references and copies of your passport to rental inspections. Once you find a property you like you can sign a lease agreement, the terms of which usually last for six or 12 months. This legal document sets out all the terms of your rental agreement and ensures you’ll be treated fairly.

Keep in mind though that it also means you may be liable to serve out the term of your lease. Breaking a lease can result in expensive fees. If you need help paying your rent, the Department of Human Services can offer rent assistance to people in certain circumstances.

The Residential Tenancies Bond Authority in Australia stipulates that you must pay a security deposit (rental bond) when renting a property. This usually amounts to one month worth of rent, and will be returned at the end of the tenancy, unless it has been used to repair damage you’ve caused while renting the property.

Renting a room from someone else

If you’re looking to share a flat or house, this can be a more affordable option. You can find flats or share homes in popular student areas or busy inner-city suburbs on notice boards or websites. Many rental arrangements require you to stay for a minimum period (perhaps three months) and to pay a small security deposit. However, in many cases you won’t be required to put your name on a lease.

Prices for share-house living vary depending on where you want to live and whether utilities are included in the cost. Generally, you can expect to pay upwards of $200 per week.

Rental assistance resources

• ACT - Housing and Community services
• NSW - Housing NSW
• NT - Housing and Infrastructure
• QLD - Residential Tenancies Authority
• SA - Housing SA
• TAS - Housing Tasmania
• VIC - Office of Housing
• WA - Department of Housing

Student accommodation

Your first option is on-campus accommodation. The vast majority of Australian universities offer on-campus accommodation options designed for students from overseas or rural-based areas. These options suit a variety of budgets and tastes (shared houses, catered accommodation in dorm rooms), with the added benefit of being located extremely close to, or even on, your place of study.

If on-campus accommodation isn’t your cup of tea, off-campus living is also a valid option. You can reside in a homestay, which involves being placed with families in nearby homes, or choose to live in a privately owned student residence. Many unis run accommodation databases to help you find off-campus accommodation.

Finally, students can choose to rent a property independently rather than taking up student accommodation. For details on how to secure a rental property, read the above section on renting.

How can I book student accommodation?

The simplest way to begin organising student accommodation is to go through your university. Most unis have housing officers that specialise in looking after both the on- and off-campus accommodation needs of its students. You’ll be able to research and compare accommodation options, as well as find out more about the benefits of on-campus living. Applications can typically be completed online.

For those interested in off-campus accommodation, there are also independent agencies that specialise in organising homestay arrangements. If you want to rent independently, begin your property search on a website like realestate.com.au or domain.com.au.

Long-term accommodation

For some, signing a long-term lease is optimal. This has the advantages of ensuring that you won’t be kicked out of your home while your lease is in force, and that you won’t have to struggle with the larger financial commitment of buying a home.

You can also start looking to buy a property. The Australian real estate market is quite competitive, particularly in the major capital cities, so you should be prepared for a lengthy house-hunting experience. Australis is also one of the most expensive places in the world to buy a property.

How to buy a house in Australia as a temporary resident

To begin with, you must be granted permission from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) to purchase a property. To do this, you’ll need to apply to the board for approval, which can take up to 40 days.

If you’re a permanent resident however, you’ll find it much easier to buy property in Australia, and won’t require permission from the FIRB to purchase a home.

While you can exchange contracts before you’ve received FIRB approval, the contract is, of course, conditional on that approval being granted. Unfortunately, as auction bids can only be made without conditional clauses, this will prevent you from purchasing a property at auction.

Once contracts have been exchanged and a cooling-off period served, you’ll need to pay a deposit on your home. You’ll need to sort out a home loan as well, so it’s important that you’ve got records of your credit history and financial situation with you. To increase your chances of being approved for a home loan, you’ll need to be earning a sufficient regular income to prove that you can manage your ongoing loan repayments. If you don’t have a steady stream of income, your chances of being approved for a loan are slim. Once again, permanent residents will find it much easier to obtain a loan than temporary residents.

In addition to your deposit and mortgage, you’ll need to remember that certain fees and taxes apply when buying a property in Australia. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect these costs to add up to roughly five per cent of the property’s value. You’ll need to contend with a Land Transfer Registration fee, legal fees, mortgage fees, local taxes and perhaps even insurance. Other costs can also be incurred via things like strata inspections or termite and pest inspections.

One final point to remember is that you’ll need to have any necessary visas and work permits before you can buy a home in Australia. Residence, temporary residence, migrations and visitors visas are all available, so make sure you have the necessary paperwork before you proceed.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the meaning of short term accommodation?

  Short-term accommodation refers to temporary housing options that are typically rented out for a short duration, ranging from a few days to several months. This type of accommodation is often used by travellers, people moving to a new city, or those in between long-term housing arrangements. Examples include hotels, serviced apartments and Airbnb rentals.

• What defines a short-term rental?

  A short-term rental is a property that is rented out for a brief period, usually less than six months. These rentals are typically fully furnished and include utilities, catering to tourists, business travellers, or individuals needing temporary housing. Platforms like Airbnb, Stayz and Booking.com commonly offer short-term rental options.

• What is an example of a short term facility?

  An example of a short-term facility is a serviced apartment, which offers a fully furnished living space with amenities like housekeeping and utilities included. Other examples include hotels, hostels, and short-term rental properties available through platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com. These facilities cater to people needing temporary accommodation.

• What is another word for temporary accommodation?

  Another word for temporary accommodation is "transitional housing." This term is often used to describe short-term housing options that serve as a stopgap before moving to a more permanent residence. Other synonyms include "interim housing" and "short-term lodging."

• How short is a short term let?

  A short-term let typically refers to rental agreements lasting anywhere from a few days to six months. The exact length can vary depending on local regulations and the specific agreement between the landlord and tenant. These lets are popular for their flexibility, allowing for short stays without the commitment of a long-term lease.

Written by

Stephanie Yip

Editor

Stephanie Yip was the shopping editor at Finder. Previously she was Finder’s travel editor and before that was our lifestyle writer. She has been writing in the travel, shopping and lifestyle space for over 15 years. During her time at Finder she was featured in a number of publications including The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian Australia, Travel Weekly, Escape and KarryOn. Before joining Finder, her previous jobs include editor for kids' magazine DMAG and writer for Thomas Cook and Wizz Air's in-flight magazine. Stephanie previously studied a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. See full bio

Stephanie's expertise

Stephanie has written 12 Finder guides across topics including:

• Travel (flights, hotels, experiences)
• Shopping and lifestyle
• Seasonal sales events
• Money-saving tips