Accommodation
Australian Accommodation Options
Hotels and Serviced Apartments (for when you first arrive):
If you don’t have any family or friends that you can stay with when you first move to Australia, it is a good idea to look for a serviced apartment (sometimes called holiday let apartments) rather than stay in a hotel. This will give you the freedom to cook your own meals and do laundry (as most have washers and dryers) which can help to keep costs down. They are also often a cheaper option than hotels and allow longer term stays with discounts for weekly accommodation. Book your Australian accommodation for at least two weeks to a month as this will take the pressure off when you’re looking for a longer term rental home for the family.
AirBnB is as popular in Australia as elsewhere with plenty of different types of accommodation to choose from Airbnb, which allows you the option of renting a private house or apartment from the owner with the website acting as a “virtual real estate agent”. Properties are rated by other people who have stayed there and renters (you) are rated by owners and the idea is to create a trust network – a great alternative to hotels and apartments!
Longer Term Rental Accommodation:
It is a good idea to do some online research on property rental costs when you are planning your move and before you leave (if you haven’t already done so). The Australian property market is dominated by three websites: RealEstate.com.au, Domain and RealEstateView and most properties for sale or rent are advertised on these sites.
Rental References and Deposits
As most migrants won’t have a rental history in Australia, we strongly advise that you bring rental references and/or employment references with you as this will make it a lot easier when signing up for a rental property with an agent. Many agents will unfortunately penalise migrants with higher deposits (3 months rent is not uncommon), so it is a good idea to be able to demonstrate that you are low risk with good references.
If you are keen to live in a particular area, then it may pay you to get in touch with rental agents in the area before you arrive and make appointments to meet with them when you arrive. You can also start discussions on what they will require from you for a rental property (references, etc.)
Property is generally quoted as weekly rental rates and rent is generally paid fortnightly and monthly in some cases by direct deposit into either the agent or owner’s bank account by standing order (similar to a direct debit, and easy to set up on your internet banking).
