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A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

A popular accommodation option for students in Australia is sharing a house or apartment with others. This can reduce your living costs and it’s a great way to meet new people, but it's still important to be aware of your rights as a tenant.

In this blog post, we'll explain exactly what a share house is and how to make sure you are protected by Australian tenancy laws.

What is a share house?

A share house, also known as a ‘flat share’ or a ‘house share’, is when two or more people rent a house or apartment together. Typically, each person will have their own private bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The number of people sharing a house will depend on the size of the property and what has been agreed with your landlord (the property owner).

You and your house mates (the people you live with) will divide the costs and responsibilities of the home.

Get some tips on finding a share house here.

Joining a share house

Co-renting

Co-renting is when you and two or more people sign a lease either directly with the landlord or with an agent. This means that responsibility for the tenancy is shared by you and your house mates.

Make sure you know your rights before signing any lease agreement.

Sub-letting

When you join an existing share house, one of the existing tenants can arrange this. This is called “sub-letting”. This is legal in Australia, but only if the landlord has given their permission. Without that permission, the sub-lease is not valid, and you aren’t protected by tenancy laws.

Things to be aware of:

A landlord or agent can’t charge a fee for agreeing to a sub-lease.
The agreement between the head-tenant and sub-tenant needs be in writing so that you are protected by Australian laws. You can download sub-letting agreements on the website of your state or territory tenancy authority.
The head-tenant has the same responsibilities as a landlord. This means that they need to give you the agreement, an entry condition report and ensure that your bond is lodged with the correct authority.
The landlord can’t reject you as a sub-letter without a reasonable reason (such as there being too many tenants in the home).

The bond (security deposit)

If the landlord gives permission for the sub-let and the head-tenant takes a bond from you, it’s the head-tenant’s responsibility to lodge it with the relevant state body and provide you with a receipt. However, most of the time you can lodge it yourself online.

Make sure that the head-tenant doesn’t hold your money themselves. You will have no legal protection when you leave the home if they refuse to refund it to you.

Understand your rights and responsibilities

Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a share house:

Always visit the house in person as photos are not always accurate.
Do not transfer money before signing a lease or viewing the property.

Read the lease agreement carefully and make sure that it includes all necessary details such as:

How much rent you’ll be paying and into which account you will pay.
The duration of the lease.
How the utility bills are paid.
Who is in charge of home maintenance.
What to do if you want to leave the home before the end of the agreement. For example, how much notice you need to give and whether you need to keep paying the rent until a new tenant is found.
What happens if the head-tenant wants you to move out.

Find out more about your rights as a tenant.

Document everything

Keep a record of all communications regarding the home, including:

emails
text messages
agreements with your landlord or house mates.

These records can be very helpful if there are any disagreements in the future. It’s also a good idea to take pictures when you move in to have evidence in case of any disagreements over the security deposit.

Leaving a share house

A lease doesn’t end until all tenants leave the property and return the keys. If you move out of a share house before the end of the agreement, check it to see how much notice you need to give and whether you need to find a new tenant.

If the head-tenant wants you to leave the home, then they must also give you the amount of notice that is written in the agreement.

Make sure that you take your name off the agreement so that you’re not responsible for the home anymore. The procedures for leaving a share house are slightly different depending on what state or territory you are in. But you will most likely need to fill out a form which you’ll be able to download from your state or territory rental rights body (listed below).

Tenancy support

If you find yourself in a situation where your rights as a tenant are being violated, don't hesitate to get help. Contact the rental rights body in your state or territory:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Western Australia: WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
Northern Territory: Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs

Pilihan akomodasi yang populer bagi mahasiswa di Australia adalah berbagi rumah atau apartemen dengan orang lain. Ini dapat mengurangi biaya hidup Anda dan merupakan cara yang bagus untuk bertemu orang baru, tetapi Anda harus tetap mengetahui hak-hak Anda sebagai penyewa.

Dalam postingan blog ini, kami akan menjelaskan secara tepat arti rumah bersama dan cara memastikan Anda dilindungi oleh undang-undang penyewa di Australia.

Apa yang dimaksud dengan rumah bersama?

Rumah bersama, juga dikenal sebagai 'apartemen bersama' atau 'berbagi rumah', adalah ketika dua orang atau lebih menyewa rumah atau apartemen bersama-sama. Biasanya, setiap orang akan memiliki kamar tidur pribadi sendiri sambil berbagi area umum seperti dapur, ruang tamu, dan kamar mandi.

Jumlah orang yang berbagi rumah akan tergantung pada ukuran properti dan ketentuan yang telah disepakati dengan pemilik rumah sewa (pemilik properti) Anda.

Anda dan teman serumah Anda (orang yang tinggal bersama Anda) akan berbagi biaya dan tanggung jawab rumah.

Dapatkan beberapa tips untuk menemukan rumah bersama di sini.

Bergabung dengan rumah bersama

Menyewa bersama

Menyewa bersama adalah ketika Anda dan dua orang atau lebih menandatangani sewa, baik secara langsung dengan pemilik rumah sewa maupun dengan agen. Ini berarti berbagi tanggung jawab atas penyewaan antara Anda dan teman serumah Anda.

Pastikan Anda mengetahui hak Anda sebelum menandatangani perjanjian sewa.

Subsewa

Saat Anda bergabung dengan rumah bersama yang sudah ditetapkan, salah satu penyewa yang ada dapat mengatur jenis sewa ini. Ini disebut “subsewa”. Hal ini sah di Australia, tetapi hanya jika pemilik rumah sewa telah memberikan izin. Tanpa izin tersebut, subsewa tidak sah, dan Anda tidak dilindungi oleh undang-undang penyewaan.

Hal-hal yang harus diperhatikan:

Pemilik rumah sewa atau agen tidak dapat mengenakan biaya untuk menyetujui subsewa.
Perjanjian antara penyewa utama dan subpenyewa harus dibuat secara tertulis agar Anda dilindungi oleh undang-undang Australia. Anda dapat mengunduh perjanjian subsewa pada situs web otoritas penyewaan negara bagian atau wilayah Anda.
Penyewa utama memiliki tanggung jawab yang sama dengan pemilik rumah sewa. Ini berarti bahwa mereka perlu memberi Anda perjanjian, laporan kondisi saat masuk, dan memastikan bahwa jaminan Anda diserahkan kepada otoritas yang benar.
Pemilik rumah sewa tidak dapat menolak Anda sebagai subpenyewa tanpa alasan yang wajar (seperti terlalu banyak penyewa di rumah).

Jaminan (uang jaminan keamanan)

Jika pemilik rumah sewa memberikan izin kepada subpenyewa dan penyewa utama mengambil jaminan dari Anda, penyewa utama bertanggung jawab untuk menyerahkan jaminan kepada badan negara bagian terkait dan memberikan tanda terima kepada Anda. Namun, Anda sering kali dapat menyerahkannya sendiri secara online.

Pastikan penyewa utama tidak menyimpan uang Anda. Anda tidak akan memiliki perlindungan hukum saat meninggalkan rumah jika mereka menolak untuk mengembalikan uang Anda.

Pahami hak dan tanggung jawab Anda

Berikut adalah beberapa hal yang harus diperhatikan saat mencari rumah bersama:

Selalu kunjungi rumah secara langsung karena foto tidak selalu akurat.
Jangan mentransfer uang sebelum menandatangani sewa atau melihat properti.

Baca perjanjian sewa dengan cermat dan pastikan perjanjian tersebut mencakup semua perincian yang diperlukan seperti:

Berapa banyak biaya sewa yang akan Anda bayarkan dan rekening penerima pembayaran.
Durasi sewa.
Cara pembayaran tagihan utilitas.
Siapa yang bertanggung jawab atas pemeliharaan rumah.
Apa yang harus dilakukan jika Anda ingin meninggalkan rumah sebelum akhir perjanjian. Misalnya, seberapa jauh pemberitahuan yang harus Anda berikan dan apakah Anda harus terus membayar sewa sampai menemukan penyewa baru.
Apa yang terjadi jika penyewa utama ingin Anda keluar.

Cari tahu lebih lanjut tentang hak Anda sebagai penyewa.

Dokumentasikan semuanya

Simpanlah catatan semua komunikasi mengenai rumah, termasuk:

email
pesan teks
perjanjian dengan pemilik rumah sewa atau teman serumah Anda.

Catatan ini dapat sangat membantu jika terjadi perselisihan pada waktu mendatang. Sebaiknya Anda juga mengambil foto saat Anda pindah untuk memiliki bukti jika terjadi perselisihan tentang uang jaminan keamanan.

Meninggalkan rumah bersama

Sewa tidak berakhir sampai semua penyewa meninggalkan properti dan mengembalikan kunci. Jika Anda keluar dari rumah bersama sebelum akhir perjanjian, periksa untuk melihat seberapa jauh pemberitahuan yang perlu Anda berikan dan jika Anda perlu mencari penyewa baru.

Jika penyewa utama ingin Anda meninggalkan rumah, mereka juga harus memberi Anda sejumlah pemberitahuan yang tertulis dalam perjanjian.

Pastikan Anda menghapus nama Anda dari perjanjian agar Anda tidak lagi bertanggung jawab atas rumah tersebut. Prosedur untuk meninggalkan rumah bersama sedikit berbeda tergantung pada negara bagian atau wilayah tempat Anda berada. Namun, Anda mungkin perlu mengisi formulir yang dapat diunduh dari badan hak sewa negara bagian atau wilayah Anda (tercantum di bawah).

Dukungan penyewaan

Jika Anda berada dalam situasi saat hak-hak Anda sebagai penyewa dilanggar, jangan ragu untuk mencari bantuan. Hubungi badan hak sewa di negara bagian atau wilayah Anda:

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading dan Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
Queensland: Tenants Queensland dan Residential Tenancies Authority
Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria
ACT: Access Canberra
Australia Barat: WA Department of Commerce dan Tenancy WA
Wilayah Utara: Tenants’ Advice Service dan Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
Australia Selatan: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) dan Tenants Information and Advisory Service
Tasmania: The Tenants‘ Union of Tasmania dan Consumer Affairs