Renting safely: inspections, bonds and leases

Renting is where international students most often lose money. Most problems aren't complicated; it's just hard to know what normal looks like the first time.

Inspect first, pay later

The usual scam looks like this: great photos, a price well below the area, a landlord who is interstate or overseas, and a request to pay first to "hold" the room. If two of these show up together, be very careful.

Where your bond should go

Under a proper lease, the bond isn't kept by the landlord. It is lodged with a state government authority and returned through it when you move out.

• Victoria: lodged with the RTBA. If rent is $900 a week or less, the bond can be at most one month's rent.
• New South Wales: lodged with NSW Fair Trading, and you can pay it directly through Rental Bonds Online. The bond can be at most 4 weeks' rent.
• Other states have similar authorities and limits, listed on their state renting websites.

The landlord or agent has to lodge your bond within a set time, and you will get a bond number or confirmation email. If you don't, ask for it.

Before you sign

• Read the whole lease: the term, rent, how to pay, and who pays for utilities and internet.
• You will get a condition report when you move in. Check every item and photograph marks on walls, carpet and appliances. It saves a lot of arguments when you leave.
• Pay rent by bank transfer and keep every record. Don't pay only in cash.

Share houses and sublets

Many students start by renting one room in a share house. If you rent from another tenant instead of signing with the landlord, you may have fewer protections. Before you agree, ask whether the landlord allows subletting, who holds your bond, and what happens if you move out early.

Who to ask for help

Each state's consumer affairs or fair trading agency gives free renting advice, and your uni's student services can usually help too.

Later, the Your Australia Plan student board will show rentals and sublets posted by students we have verified. The same rules about inspections and bonds still apply.