Housing & Property in Australia

There has been a shortage in the amount of vacant rental property available in Australia since 2005, compared to a healthy market before that year. With apartments in short supply, this lack of availability has caused rent to go up in many areas. Properties are usually rented out (or “let”) by agents, whose role is to interview the would-be tenants, so it is important to create a good impression.

The agent will require two forms of identification to register, references from your past landlord and your employer, as well as character references, plus a completed registration form. Pets usually aren’t allowed, but if they are the previous landlord may also need to state that a pet was clean and well-behaved. The letting agent also charges a fee in addition to an advance month rent and a bond (security deposit) that usually must be paid to the landlord, in addition to several other possible fees such as lease document fee, electricity deposit, or gas deposit.

For all these reasons, it is typically difficult for young adults, single parents, students and the unemployed to find affordable apartments to rent. Rent tends to be much higher in cities, but starts at $250 a week for a studio or bedsitter. Leases can be 6 months or year long.