One kind of private rental is sharehousing. People who are friends or have met on the internet join together to rent a house together. They might decide to start a new lease together. Or, somebody who already has a lease or owns a house decides to rent out rooms to other people.
Share-housing is usually associated with younger people and students. However more older people who don’t want to live alone, and can’t afford to, are living in share-housing.
Share-housing can save a lot of money compared with renting an apartment by yourself. It can also save you money on your bills. If you find people you like to live with, it can also be great to have company at home. However, share-housing can be even less secure than private rentals. Not all share house residents are covered by the Residential Tenancy Act, so may not have the same protections as other renters.
| Cost before you move in | Bond is usually 4 weeks rent. You may be eligible for government help to pay your bond, through the Bond Loan scheme. You may also be eligible for money through the Housing Establishment Fund or Private Rental Assistance Program. You may be asked to pay up to 4 weeks in rent in advance. |
| Cost each fortnight | Varies, but usually cheaper than private rental by yourself. You can apply for Commonwealth Rent Assistance to live in share-housing. Rent is usually paid monthly in advance. |
| Eligibility | Usually, existing housemates decide who they want to live with. You might be asked to go to a ‘house interview’. |
| Location | Across Victoria |
| Changes you can make to your house | Depending on the arrangement, you can make the home feel like your own, or you can be made to feel like you are in someone else’s home. |
| How long can you stay there? | If you are not on the lease, you may be asked to leave by housemates. You may be given a Notice to Vacate by landlords. |
| How to Apply | Sharehousing for older people is quite new and informal. There are some share-house listings specifically for older people at downsizing.com.au/property/senior-flatmate You might be able to find a share-house through websites like flatmates.com.au or pages on Facebook such as fairyfloss, but these pages are not targeted to older people . |
All information contained on these pages is general in nature, and should not be considered advice. Information will be subject to change. Please contact us to discuss your individual circumstances.