Everything You Need to Know About Finding a New Home

The housing market in Australia is quite competitive. Whether renting or buying, preparing all the necessary documents beforehand helps you seal that deal a lot quicker. With buying property however, you must also seek approval from the Foreign Review Board, so it’s best to include that in your relocating timeline.

Housing in the bigger cities can get expensive. Avoid the mistake of booking a transient rental while you seek a more permanent home. Forget stressing over available storage space for your belongings while you house-hunt. If you are planning on staying long-term and are bringing a considerable amount of your belongings, then checking online for property listings before leaving is the way to go. Why not hire a relocation agency to help you zero-in on your ideal home faster? Our experienced staff can recommend a home that is suited to your budget and needs even before you fly out to Australia.

Renting a House or Apartment

Expats who are looking to rent property in Australia must first become familiar with the country’s 100-point check system. It is a government-mandated identification system which many landlords and real estate agents use. To put it simply, you must acquire a total of 100 points in Australian or state-issued documents to prove your identity:

Rent in Australia

The average rent in Australia is 436 AUD (287 USD) per week. We have listed Australia’s rent cost per week across its main cities for comparison.

The Rental Process

An agent or landlord will ask for the following documents prior to renting:
▸ Proof of identity (must satisfy 100-point check)
▸ Proof of income / bank statements for the last three months
▸ References such as an employer
▸ Employment details
▸ Prior rental agreements
▸ Down payment (shall be refunded, should you fail to secure the property)

A standard lease lasts 12 months. Make sure to ask the landlord everything you need to know before signing an agreement. For example, some landlords will not permit household pets or even newly-born infants in their property, so it’s best to go over these concerns with the owner or your agent beforehand.

The landlord is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of their property to ensure that it is safe and habitable. Should the tenant assume maintenance costs for whatever reason, he/she may then bill the landlord afterwards. The bill cannot be deducted from the rent.

In rare cases where you need to terminate a contract early, you may be allowed to find someone to take over your lease for the remaining period- if you have a saintly landlord. Otherwise, you are required by law to pay the rent until the end of the lease period.

You cannot be evicted by your landlord through illegal means such as removing your belongings, changing locks, or cutting off services. Likewise, you cannot be legally evicted from your place with an eviction order. You can only be evicted if you are in breach of contract (e.g. damaging the property, failure to pay rent, etc.).

Beware of the many little details included in a contract that you may have missed in your excitement to move. Make sure to read the fine print to avoid possible headaches in the future, such as penalties for late payments.

Choose your utility provider well, keeping in mind that you have less options the farther you live from the major cities. Feel free to compare their rates and be wary of too-good-to-be-true offers. They often come with hidden charges or hefty fines for late payments.