Booking a room from another country can leave you with plenty of questions. The photos look good and the price seems right, but you haven’t seen the neighbourhood or met the people you’d be living with.
We recommend booking a hostel for your first two weeks and looking for a longer-term room once you’re there. That gives you a chance to visit properties, check their condition and meet potential housemates before deciding.
A hostel is also a good place to meet other students who’ve just arrived and are finding their feet too. You can swap tips about neighbourhoods and room viewings, and start getting to know people during those first few days.
Do you need somewhere for a few days or several months?
Before comparing listings, think about what you need: somewhere to sleep when you land, or a home for a longer stay. They’re two different searches.
- For your arrival: a hostel, hotel or holiday rental can give you a base while you view rooms. Check the total price and cancellation terms.
- For a longer stay: a room in a share house gives you your own space while sharing areas such as the kitchen or living room. Check whether you’ll have a private bedroom or share that too.
- If you’d prefer another option booked before you travel: look at student accommodation, hotels, hostels or holiday rentals. Check what’s included, the minimum stay and booking terms.
For a room offered by a private individual, we recommend waiting until you’ve arrived and viewed the property before booking or paying. Seeing it in person lets you check details that photos don’t show. Two weeks in a hostel is a starting point, not a guarantee that you’ll find a room within that time, so leave room in your budget to extend your stay if needed.
Don’t assume you can book student accommodation for just a few days. Some residences have longer minimum stays and student eligibility requirements.
Where to look for accommodation in Australia
Choose your search sites according to the kind of stay you want. You can start browsing before you travel to get to know the areas and save listings, then view rooms once you arrive.
Booking your first few nights
- Booking.com and Airbnb: compare short-term accommodation. Check the final price, extra charges, reviews and cancellation terms for each booking.
- Hostelworld: search for hostels and compare options. Make sure you know whether you’re booking a bed in a shared dorm or a private room.
- YHA Australia: browse the network’s hostels and the room types available.
Check the check-in time before booking too. If your flight lands at night, confirm how you’ll get into the property and whether there are any special arrangements for a late arrival.
Finding a room in a share house
- Flatmates.com.au and Flatmate Finders: sites specialising in rooms and share houses. Read the full listing and check when the room is available.
- Local Facebook or WhatsApp groups and Gumtreelistings: useful ways to widen your search. Check who’s offering the room and the terms before paying anything.
- Your school: ask whether it has a noticeboard or accommodation information for students.
If you’re looking for a whole property to share with others, you can also try realestate.com.au and Domain. Renting an entire home involves a different application process and responsibilities from moving into an established share house.
How to tell whether a room is right for you
Check these four things before messaging the advertiser. They’ll help you rule out unsuitable options and compare rooms on similar terms.
1. Location and getting around
Find your school’s address and work out the public transport journey from the room. Check the route at the time you’d travel to class, including changes and any walking.
For example, a slightly cheaper room may be less of a saving if you need to take several forms of transport every day. Being in the same city doesn’t always mean being nearby.
2. The total cost
In Australian listings, rent is often quoted per week. Always check the period the price covers and whether it’s per person or for the whole room.
Ask whether electricity, water, gas and internet are included, and how any separate bills are split.
Here’s a calculation example, rather than a market price guide: a room advertised at AUD 300 per week works out at an average of AUD 1,300 per month (300 × 52 ÷ 12), before any extra bills. Multiplying by four would only give you the cost of four weeks.
3. Dates and length of stay
Check when you can move in, how long you need to stay and how much notice you’d have to give before leaving. If you only need somewhere for three weeks, a room with a minimum stay of several months won’t suit you, however much you like it.
4. Everyday life in the house
Ask how many people live there and how the household works. Schedules, kitchen use, visitors and cleaning can matter just as much as the size of the room.
Find out whether it’s furnished and exactly what’s included. A room with a bed won’t necessarily come with bedding, a desk or enough storage for your things.
What to write when enquiring about a room
A short message with your dates and what you’re looking for helps the other person see whether you’d be a good fit. Give them more to go on than ‘Is it still available?’.
You can adapt this English example when contacting an advertiser:
‘Hi, I’m Laura. I’m in Melbourne and looking for a private room from 10 November for three months. I’ll be studying English and my budget is up to AUD [amount] per week, including bills. Is the room still available? Would I be able to view it this week? Thank you.’
If you haven’t arrived yet, explain your actual situation and ask whether you can arrange a viewing for when you’re in the city. Before sending sensitive personal documents in an initial message, check who’s asking for them and why.
What to check at a viewing and before paying
Wait until you’ve arrived and viewed the property before booking or paying for a room offered by a private individual. Look beyond the photos and use the visit to ask:
- Will you have a private bedroom or share it? How many people use the bathroom and communal areas?
- Is there any damp? Is there ventilation and space for your belongings? Does everything included with the room work?
- Who’s renting the room to you, and are they allowed to do so? If it’s another tenant, ask them to explain how the sublet is authorised.
- How much will you need to pay when you move in? Separate rent in advance, the bond and any other charges.
- What agreement will you sign? Get the rent, included bills, length of stay and terms for leaving confirmed in writing.
A rental deposit is usually called a ‘bond’ in Australian listings. The amount, how it’s lodged and the rules that apply depend on the state or territory and the type of accommodation. Before paying, check with the relevant tenancy authority and ask for receipts. Study Australia’s accommodation guide links to the official services for each area.
Signs that a listing needs a closer look
Be cautious if someone pushes you to pay immediately, refuses to show you the property or avoids explaining who’s renting it out. A price well below similar listings is another reason to check carefully.
The advice about rooms offered by private individuals is different from booking student accommodation, a hotel, hostel or holiday rental before your trip. For those bookings, check the provider and terms, use the provider’s official channels or the booking platform, and keep your receipts. A contract or a copy of an identity document alone doesn’t prove that an offer is genuine.
Give yourself time to settle in
Before you board your flight, confirm the address of your first accommodation, how you’ll get there from the airport and how to get in if you land late. Keep a copy of the booking terms too.
During your first few days, combine browsing online with property viewings. Avoid committing to a room just because your temporary booking is about to end. Work out how much a few extra nights would cost in case you need them.
If you’re planning a study trip, we can help you compare destinations and courses that suit your plans. Once you know where your school is, you’ll be able to narrow down your accommodation search and compare travel times before choosing.
FAQs about finding accommodation when you arrive in Australia
1. Should I book a room before I arrive or look once I’m there?
We recommend booking a hostel for your first two weeks and looking for a longer-term room from there. That way, you can visit properties before deciding. If you’d prefer to arrange another type of accommodation before travelling, you can book student accommodation, a hotel or a holiday rental, checking the terms first.
2. Why start in a hostel?
As well as giving you a base for your room search, a hostel lets you meet other students and travellers who’ve just arrived and are in a similar position. Shared spaces give you a chance to chat, exchange information and start getting to know people.
3. Can I book or pay for a privately offered room before I arrive?
We recommend waiting until you’ve arrived and visited the property before booking or paying for a room offered by a private individual. Photos can’t give you the full picture of the property’s condition, atmosphere or shared spaces. You can make contact and arrange viewings before travelling without making a financial commitment.
4. Is two weeks enough to find a room?
It’s a starting point for planning your arrival, not a guarantee that you’ll find a room within that time. Availability, your budget and the areas you’re considering will all make a difference. Set aside some money to extend your temporary accommodation if needed, and check in advance whether extending your stay is possible.
5. Does the room price include all the bills?
Not always. Before comparing listings, check whether the rent is weekly, whether it’s per person or for the whole room, and whether electricity, water, gas and internet are included. Ask about the bond and upfront payments too, so you know how much you’ll need to move in.
