How to rent an apartment in Sydney, Australia

Renting an apartment in Australia involves several steps, and if it is the first time you want to rent an apartment, this article helps you to become familiar with the process and overcome with it.

Settling down in your first rental home in Australia is a little bit challenging, and it might take you to visit several properties during a month. You might be an expat, an international student, a worker on holiday visa or a tourist with the aim to stay for long time.

This article will help you to hunt your dream apartment without confusion. Here is a general tips an tricks to help you navigate the process of the renting an apartment in Australia.

Time and budgeting:

If you are out of Australia but plan to move in the near future, and just investigation to make a better decision and analysing the possibilities, I recommend you to consider holidays especially Christmas Day and New Year Holiday. It will be more difficult to find a rental property while reaching to the end of the year as the market will be down and most agencies will be closed.

Determine your budget for rent and associated expenses. Consider factors like utility bills including gas and electricity, proximity to transportation and groceries.

Choose the best suburb:

Explore different suburbs to find one that suits your needs in terms of amenities and communities that you are looking for, proximity to work, public transportation, school, and safety. Although public transportation in Australia is highly developed, it is better to consider the costs and schedules.

Proximity to train stations is a good option because it will facilitate your commute. The more near the CBD, the more rent you have to pay, and the more far from CBD, the more you have to pay for transport. So, decide which one works best for you based on your lifestyle.

Property research:

Now, it is the time to find a property. There are several online platforms to assist you finding a rental property. One of the most popular platforms is realestate.com.au website, and the other is domain.com.au. Download the applications from the following links and start hunting a new property.

Realestate application:

Domain application:

Consider the type of property you want, apartment, house or studio and filter the search based on the price, number of bedrooms and parking if you need.

Attend in inspections:

Attend in open house inspections to view the properties you are interested in. This opportunity allows you to assess the status of the property and ask your questions. Most of the inspections will be scheduled on Saturdays, Wednesday or Thursdays. You will be shocked if it is the first time attending in an inspection because you will see other candidates at the same time.

Be prepared for a challenge and make your documents and references ready before the inspection. Many candidates send their applications prior to inspection and show their interests to the agent in advanced.

Rental application and references:

Once you find a suitable place, you should submit a rental application. This typically includes personal and financial information, references, and proof of income. If it is the first time you want to submit a rental application and still looking for a job, provide your bank statement to show your capabilities to pay the rents. For references, ask your Airbnb host to assist you or ask a person who is currently living with you.

You can talk with the agent at the end of the inspection time about your situation and explain to them that you still don’t have a rental background as you just entered Australia and ask them for support. In this situation, looking for a cheaper property, can help you to build your rental records for the first time.

Ask your employer to assist you as reference, provide your payslip or paid bills as supporting documents. Provide previous rental references and ledger if applicable. This can help to demonstrate your ability to pay rents as a tenant.

Rental agreement:

If your application becomes successful, you’ll be asked to sign a lease agreement. Carefully review the terms and conditions, including the duration of the lease, rent amount and period, and any additional conditions. Make sure you are aware of your rights and responsibilities about the property and other neighbours.

Two weeks rent in advance and rental bond:

Pay the required bond (security deposit), which is usually equivalent to four weeks of rent. Additionally, you need to pay two weeks of rent in advance. The bond will be kept by the government until the end of lease agreement. The bond will be paid back if your agent confirm that you did not damage the property. You can pay RBO (Rental Bond Online) via a link that your agent will provide. The agent will inform you a payment method to pay the rents as well.

Condition report:

Completing the condition report means documenting the current status of the property. This report will be used to assess if an damages identified when you are moving out. Report any damages or failures of facilities to the agent during the first seven days of tenancy.

When I moved in my first rental apartment, I reported the exhausted fan failure and pipe leaking to the agent, so they arranged for replacement. In my second rental apartment the drier and a ceiling light were out of order, so I was secured when I wanted to move out.

Take photos of any damages, scratches, breaks or stains to add to the condition report document. Keep the property in the same conditions as before without any damages to walls, carpet or other facilities. Otherwise, it will be deducted from your bond.

Connect utilities:

Set up utility services such as electricity, gas, and internet under your name. Compare different utility providers to choose the one who offers the best price. Usually if it is your first time you want to connect your utilities, there will be good promotions for you.

If the utility is from an embedded network, there is no option to choose another provider. Ask your agent to let you know the exact provider’s name. Simply create an account on their website or contact them to help connect the utilities.

Moving in:

Once all paperwork is completed and payments approved, agent will give your shelter keys, including all your receipts, contract and condition report. Now, you can move into your new apartment.

If you need help for the movement and looking for a removalist with competitive price, go to airtasker website and hire a removalist or search google to hire a truck for relocation.

Airtasker application:

Conclusion:

Remember that renting laws and processes may vary in different states of Australia, so it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the specific regulations in the area where you plan to rent. Additionally, seeking advice from local realestate agents or property management services can be beneficial during the process.

If you are not in the stage of  renting an apartment and wants to find an accommodation before travel to Australia, This article is helpful for you.

If you have any questions, experience or ideas to add as a comment, we appreciate it in advance and please don’t hesitate to share it in the box bellow.