How to rent out a room in Australia

Determine who owns or rents the property, whether the provider also lives there, what space the occupant controls, what services are provided and how many rooms are offered. The person may be a tenant, sub-tenant, boarder, lodger or rooming-accommodation resident depending on the facts and jurisdiction.

• ✓Confirm ownership, mortgage, insurance and strata conditions.
• ✓Check council, planning, occupancy and rooming-accommodation requirements.
• ✓If you are a tenant, obtain any consent required before subletting.
• ✓Confirm smoke alarms, locks, ventilation and other applicable standards.
• ✓Decide how bond and rent must be handled.

• Exclusive room and any lock or access rights
• Shared kitchen, bathroom, laundry, parking and storage
• Furniture and appliances
• Utilities, internet and the method for allocating costs
• Existing occupants, maximum occupancy and owner presence
• Availability, rent, term and notice framework

Use current photos of the actual room and relevant common areas. Explain shared living facts clearly without expressing a discriminatory preference. If a lawful owner-occupied exemption may apply, obtain advice before relying on it.

Apply consistent criteria for ability to meet the agreement and relevant rental history. Discuss practical shared-living expectations with all shortlisted applicants in the same way, while avoiding questions about protected attributes or private matters unrelated to the tenancy.

• ✓Correct agreement and required disclosures
• ✓Condition report for private and shared areas
• ✓Inventory and key record
• ✓Utility calculation and payment dates
• ✓Guest, noise, cleaning and shared-area expectations that are lawful and reasonable
• ✓Maintenance, urgent contact and dispute pathway

Treat the rented room and shared arrangement with the privacy and access required by the applicable model. Give notice where required, avoid informal rule changes and address maintenance or conflict early with a written record.