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Info on getting an accommodation upon initial entry in Australia

TasBurrfootTasBurrfoot OsakaPosts: 4,336Member
edited January 2013 in Housing & Rentals
Hello everyone, I have heard a lot of comments wherein it is very hard to get accommodation especially when you have just entered Australia as a migrant.

To kickstart this thread, I want to ask all those that are already down under on what was your experience before? Where did you find the place that you initially stayed?

I hope someone can share; me and my wife want to get our own place eventually in Melbourne but realistically that is not yet possible for someone who just started...

Thanks!! :)

Primary Applicant: Wife
Accountant (General): 221111

04 Aug 2012 - IELTS (Academic Module)
07 Aug 2012 - IELTS (Academic Module) Speaking Part
17 Aug 2012 - IELTS Results (L: 8.5 R: 8.5 W: 7.0 S: 7.5 OBS: 8.0)
24 Aug 2012 - CPAA Submitted (docs mailed same day via SG EMS)
25 Sep 2012 - Received +Skills Assessment from CPAA
25 Sep 2012 - Lodged EOI Application with 70pts
30 Sep 2012 - Invited by DIAC to apply for 189 Visa
01 Oct 2012 - Submitted 189 Visa Application
20 Oct 2012 - Medical Examinations
23 Oct 2012 - CO Assigned; Team 7 - SA
05 Nov 2012 - Submitted SG PCC and NBI Clearance
06 Nov 2012 - Visa Granted (IED: 23/10/2013)
03 Apr 2013 - Flight to MEL
03 Jun 2013 - started work
12 Jun 2013 - wife started work
15 Jun 2016 - applied for citizenship
29 Jul 2016 - citizenship examination
20 Oct 2016 - Aussie, Aussie, Aussie Oi Oi Oi!!

«1

Comments

  • NadineNadine Brisbane
    Posts: 481Member
    Joined: Dec 15, 2012
    Hopefully may sumagot sa thread. Kasi eto din dilemma ko eh. Most of the agents I asked wants me to view the place muna and asks for rental references.

    A lot here recommend shared accommodation muna. Kaso, hirap din maghanap ng shared accommodation in Brisbane especially if Pinoy ang gusto ko kasama sa house. Any other suggestions, thoughts?

    21 Dec 2012 - 457 lodged
    7 Jan 2013 - medical finalised
    8 Jan 2013 - visa approved

  • TasBurrfootTasBurrfoot Osaka
    Posts: 4,336Member
    Joined: Feb 24, 2011
    Hopefully may sumagot sa thread. Kasi eto din dilemma ko eh. Most of the agents I asked wants me to view the place muna and asks for rental references.

    A lot here recommend shared accommodation muna. Kaso, hirap din maghanap ng shared accommodation in Brisbane especially if Pinoy ang gusto ko kasama sa house. Any other suggestions, thoughts?
    View the place talaga before committing yourself to a contract... At least 12 months ang contract and it would be very costly to get out of one if ever you don't like what you have gotten. :)

    Primary Applicant: Wife
    Accountant (General): 221111

    04 Aug 2012 - IELTS (Academic Module)
    07 Aug 2012 - IELTS (Academic Module) Speaking Part
    17 Aug 2012 - IELTS Results (L: 8.5 R: 8.5 W: 7.0 S: 7.5 OBS: 8.0)
    24 Aug 2012 - CPAA Submitted (docs mailed same day via SG EMS)
    25 Sep 2012 - Received +Skills Assessment from CPAA
    25 Sep 2012 - Lodged EOI Application with 70pts
    30 Sep 2012 - Invited by DIAC to apply for 189 Visa
    01 Oct 2012 - Submitted 189 Visa Application
    20 Oct 2012 - Medical Examinations
    23 Oct 2012 - CO Assigned; Team 7 - SA
    05 Nov 2012 - Submitted SG PCC and NBI Clearance
    06 Nov 2012 - Visa Granted (IED: 23/10/2013)
    03 Apr 2013 - Flight to MEL
    03 Jun 2013 - started work
    12 Jun 2013 - wife started work
    15 Jun 2016 - applied for citizenship
    29 Jul 2016 - citizenship examination
    20 Oct 2016 - Aussie, Aussie, Aussie Oi Oi Oi!!

  • LokiJrLokiJr Quezon City
    Posts: 2,616Member, Moderator
    Joined: Jan 13, 2011
    @psychoboy a place of your own meaning sariling bahay po ba? I can refer you to a property specialist there kung yun po ibig niyo sabihin hehe.
  • OkimOkim Sydney
    Posts: 96Member
    Joined: Aug 12, 2012
    Hi,family kami w/ 2 kids at wala din kakilala sa Sydney but I plan of renting a furnished/service apartment for 1-2 weeks then hanap ulit ng malilipatan good for 1 year contract. anyone who has tried this setup before?appreciate your inputs..

    NO - 262113 (System Administrator)
    10/23/2012 - NSW SS application
    12/18/2012 - Received NSW SS approval letter
    12/22/2012 - Lodged Visa Application
    02/27/2013 - Visa Grant!!
    06/30/2013 - IED!

  • sydneymumsydneymum St Leonards
    Posts: 5Member
    Joined: Oct 08, 2012
    We migrated in Australia in early 2005. Back then, finding a rental accommodation was not difficult.
    Things have changed now. Currently, there is a demand of rental properties enabling the landlords to demand high rental (simple: law of demand and supply).
    For a newly –arrived migrant, it is difficult to get a rental property. To go with your application is an information of your employment, bond for 4 weeks and advance rental. Other real estate agencies are now doing credit checks, so you may need to provide current bills of utilities, credit card (all in Australia), etc.
    What we did for a very good friend of mine who migrated here in 2011, was I rented the property on their behalf. So in the lease contract, I was the lessee. This is the only way for them to get the rental property. We did the following:
    1. Checked rental properties from newspaper ads, real estate websites, etc. then came up with a short-listed properties for viewing. Most of the time, open house times will be stated in the ad.
    2. Scheduled viewing. This was a full 2-weekend exercise and not easy. You need to have your own transportation organised, unless the properties you are viewing are short walking distance. Open house time is only half an hour, with around 20-30 prospective tenants. We viewed close to 20 properties (2 weekends) and submitted 15 applications, got accepted by only one landlord. By the way, location was between Westmead and Parramatta, NSW.
    3. Signed the contract of lease, paid bond and advance rental, then got the keys from the agent.
    4. Moved to the property. First thing we did was to check the property, noted all existing damages and submitted this to the agent.
    If you have any friends or acquaintance here in Australia, use that relationship to help you with finding an accommodation. I think the best way is to find a shared accommodation until such time that you are able and capable of getting a rental property.
    Hope this helps.
  • sydneymumsydneymum St Leonards
    Posts: 5Member
    Joined: Oct 08, 2012
    Hi,family kami w/ 2 kids at wala din kakilala sa Sydney but I plan of renting a furnished/service apartment for 1-2 weeks then hanap ulit ng malilipatan good for 1 year contract. anyone who has tried this setup before?appreciate your inputs..
    Hi Okim, my suggestion is either you or your partner will come first to Australia, find a job and then a rental accommodation. Once settled, the partner and kids can follow.

    Finding a job in Australia now is not easy, you will be very lucky if you can get a job within your first 2-3 months.
  • NadineNadine Brisbane
    Posts: 481Member
    Joined: Dec 15, 2012
    @sydneymum: Mam, but if I have a job na po, will it be easier to get accommodation even if I don't have rental history pa?

    21 Dec 2012 - 457 lodged
    7 Jan 2013 - medical finalised
    8 Jan 2013 - visa approved

  • sydneymumsydneymum St Leonards
    Posts: 5Member
    Joined: Oct 08, 2012
    @nadine: It will help you. But remember, there will be many of you who will be submitting a lease application so it will be up to the landlord to choose. You don't need to have a rental history.
  • lock_code2004lock_code2004 Perth
    Posts: 5,037Member, De-activated
    Joined: Feb 23, 2012
    @sydneymum - so there is no issue with the agent/landlord? In your example, the one who signed the contract and the one who will live in the property are not the same?

    Sep 24, 2011 - IELTS (L-8 R-8 W-8 S-7.5 : OBS-8)
    Jan 04, 2012 - EA application submitted | Feb 23, 2012 - EA assessment result (IE ANZSCO 233511)
    May 8, 2012 - Lodged GSM 175 online application | June 4, 2012 - CO Allocated
    June 22, 2012 - Medicals Finalized | Aug 30, 2012 - PCCs Completed (PH, UAE, USA)
    Sep 3, 2012 - Visa Granted (IED Jun 11, 2013) Thank You Lord!
    Oct 16-28, 2012 - Initial Entry Completed - Sydney
    July 28, 2013 - Final move to Perth
    Sep 9, 2013 - Started work with the same company i worked for in UAE/USA
    Oct 28, 2013 - Moved to another company.. ;)

  • OkimOkim Sydney
    Posts: 96Member
    Joined: Aug 12, 2012
    @sydneymum thanks for the input.
    ibig sabihin nyan hindi bawal sa au ang subletting of flat/apartment unlike sa SG..

    NO - 262113 (System Administrator)
    10/23/2012 - NSW SS application
    12/18/2012 - Received NSW SS approval letter
    12/22/2012 - Lodged Visa Application
    02/27/2013 - Visa Grant!!
    06/30/2013 - IED!

  • icebreaker1928icebreaker1928 Sydney
    Posts: 1,455Member
    Joined: Apr 26, 2011
    edited January 2013
    sa mga pupunta dito sa AU na walang kakilala , wala pang work at wala pang matitirahan.
    wag nyo po muna dalhin ang angkan nyo dito... mauna muna ang isa na:
    - makahanap ng matitirhan.
    - makapaghanap ng work.

    wag po kayo mag suicide habang nagmimigrate at kung magsuicide kayo, wag nyo isama angkan nyo... kayo na lang....
    payong kaibigan lang, hindi po ganon kadali pag nag-uumpisa pa lang...
    kahit pa gano kadami ang funds na dala nyo... ubos yan dito promise.

    cheers :)
  • rolf021rolf021 Sydney
    Posts: 191Member
    Joined: May 22, 2012
    @icebreaker1928 - pwede ba kasama ang husband or wife? Para naman di gaano malungkot at may partner in crime ka.hehe
  • NadineNadine Brisbane
    Posts: 481Member
    Joined: Dec 15, 2012
    @nadine: It will help you. But remember, there will be many of you who will be submitting a lease application so it will be up to the landlord to choose. You don't need to have a rental history.
    Thanks po @sydneymum! I think eto yung major challenge ko ngayon. And it looks like hindi ako nag-iisa. [-(

    21 Dec 2012 - 457 lodged
    7 Jan 2013 - medical finalised
    8 Jan 2013 - visa approved

  • vangievcvangievc Sydney
    Posts: 90Member
    Joined: Oct 21, 2012
    @icebreaker1928 Katakot ka naman icebreaker.hahahaha.May katutuhanan naman ang sinabi mo...pero i think kung hindi ka naman mapili sa work ay may pagakakakitaan ka rin kahit papano..Mainam din nmn kc na kasama family para may moral support.Hindi naman siguro sila gugutumin. Kapag nangyari sa inyo yun e kontakin nyo na lang ako ay aampunin ko kayo hanggang sa makakaya ko...Sabay sabay tayong magtitipid.ha ha ha.
  • vangievcvangievc Sydney
    Posts: 90Member
    Joined: Oct 21, 2012
    Kinuconsider din po ng Landlord ang dami ng titira sa bahay nya, stability ng job, amount ng pumapasok na pera sa account ng titira, number of children, pets, history ng rental(if there is any) kung on time magbayad...Medyo may disadvantage ang may bata...

    May edge tayong pinoy kasi maganda naman ang record natin when it comes to renting.Malinis tayo sa bahay at responsable...In fact yung yung property manager ko, ang preference daw nila pinoy.

    Unsolicited advice lang, mas maganda may job ka muna, or may idea ka na kung saang school mo ipapasok ang anak mo, bago ka magdecide kung saan ka magrerent ng house. Better kung makitira ka muna temporarily, mag scout ka sa mga area then kapag may na feel ka na na lugar, doon ka magdecide.

    My first few days here, nag train ako, buong araw, pununtahan ko ang north, south, east, and west. isang presyo lang naman ang pamasahe kaya, go ako sa lahat ng lugar. :)
  • nadinezailahnadinezailah Mandaluyong
    Posts: 2Member
    Joined: Jan 16, 2013
    @vangievc
    salamat naman at may nagbigay ng positive comment regarding sa pagmimigrate dyan sa Oz na kasama agad ang buong pamilya. kasi kami, buong pamilya kami darating dis Feb 2013. Yun nga wala pa kami bahay na matitirhan, so temporarily sa isang short-term accommodation muna kami...pag nangyari nga ang sinasabi ni icebreaker...kokontakin talaga kita para magpa-adopt sa iyo ha, hehehe.
    puede ba humingi ng tulong sa paghahanap ny bahay na marirent? sana Pinoy ang Landlord.
  • vangievcvangievc Sydney
    Posts: 90Member
    Joined: Oct 21, 2012
    @vangievc
    salamat naman at may nagbigay ng positive comment regarding sa pagmimigrate dyan sa Oz na kasama agad ang buong pamilya. kasi kami, buong pamilya kami darating dis Feb 2013. Yun nga wala pa kami bahay na matitirhan, so temporarily sa isang short-term accommodation muna kami...pag nangyari nga ang sinasabi ni icebreaker...kokontakin talaga kita para magpa-adopt sa iyo ha, hehehe.
    puede ba humingi ng tulong sa paghahanap ny bahay na marirent? sana Pinoy ang Landlord.
    I am serious, you can contact me if you need help...May family na mag stay sa house namin this Feb rin,Sabay siguro kayo ng dating...May filipino agent dito na pwede nating kontakin kapag naghanap ka ng bahay. Unaunahan ang pag aaply ng bahay dito.Ang bilis makuha.

    Kung wala kayong kakilala dito, kontakin mo ako at one saturday ay iikot namin kayo ng mister ko sa iba ibang lugar para mafeel mo kung saan mo talaga gusto. I am sure naman nagtingin tingin ka na sa website about the areas here.

    You will be alright for sure...:)..God Bless
  • maltmalt Mandaluyong
    Posts: 140Member
    Joined: Jun 15, 2012
    @vangievc san po kayo sa OZ?

    Main Applicant - Husband

    4/14/2014 - Vetassess "Positive"
    312111 Architectural Draftsperson

    6/25/2016 - IELTS L6.5 R7 W7 S7 (aiming for straight 7 retake ulit - sablay sa Listening)

    7/30/2016 - IELTS L7.5 R7 W7 S7 Thank You Lord

    9/21/16 - lodged Vetassess application "Change of Occupation"
    312112 - Building Associate
    1/23/17 - Vetassess "POSITIVE" 312112 Building Associate
    1/25/17 - Lodge EOI
    1/25/17 - Lodge VIC SS

    "Ask the Lord, to bless your plans, and you will be successful in carrying them out." Proverbs 16:3

  • vangievcvangievc Sydney
    Posts: 90Member
    Joined: Oct 21, 2012
    @malt Williams Landing
  • icebreaker1928icebreaker1928 Sydney
    Posts: 1,455Member
    Joined: Apr 26, 2011
    wala naman pumipigil sa inyo kung gusto nyo isama agad pamilya nyo... ang saken lang naman e payong kaibigan.. nasa inyo pa rin ang desisyon...

    basahin nyo rin to para makapagdecide kayo ng husto...

    http://www.pinoyau.info/discussion/1027/nahihirapan-po-ako-maghanap-ng-work...#Item_26
  • ShotieShotie Sydney
    Posts: 26Member
    Joined: Jan 22, 2013
    @vangievc hello po. Touched po ako sa sincerity nyo sa pagtulong. Nakakatuwa. I am also an incoming migrant sa April 2013 and its good to know may mahihingan ng tulong anytime. God Bless you po.
  • sohcsohc Adelaide
    Posts: 250Member
    Joined: Sep 07, 2011
    edited February 2013
    @icebreaker +1 to your suggestion or let's say recommendation.

    In my opinion, ok lang din ang sama sama kung may kamaganak or kakilala sa Oz but for those who don't have any relatives, I suggest may mauna muna isa para sya magasikaso ng accommodation.

    Just to add most accommodation here are not fully furnished meaning it's an empty house. No ref, beds, washing machine, etc.

    ACS 262113 / Arrived in Adelaide 19/02/12
    Employment started 19/03/2012
    Enjoying the land down under :)

  • TasBurrfootTasBurrfoot Osaka
    Posts: 4,336Member
    Joined: Feb 24, 2011
    Hello everyone, I have heard a lot of comments wherein it is very hard to get accommodation especially when you have just entered Australia as a migrant.

    To kickstart this thread, I want to ask all those that are already down under on what was your experience before? Where did you find the place that you initially stayed?

    I hope someone can share; me and my wife want to get our own place eventually in Melbourne but realistically that is not yet possible for someone who just started...

    Thanks!! :)
    Just to share; we finally managed to work out our temporary accommodation in Ormond - we got it from a friend we met in Melbourne last June. It is just very small (sharing a 2-bed flat with another couple) but good enough for starters.

    Sa susunod nalang kami mag transfer to a place of our own when we can secure jobs. :)

    Primary Applicant: Wife
    Accountant (General): 221111

    04 Aug 2012 - IELTS (Academic Module)
    07 Aug 2012 - IELTS (Academic Module) Speaking Part
    17 Aug 2012 - IELTS Results (L: 8.5 R: 8.5 W: 7.0 S: 7.5 OBS: 8.0)
    24 Aug 2012 - CPAA Submitted (docs mailed same day via SG EMS)
    25 Sep 2012 - Received +Skills Assessment from CPAA
    25 Sep 2012 - Lodged EOI Application with 70pts
    30 Sep 2012 - Invited by DIAC to apply for 189 Visa
    01 Oct 2012 - Submitted 189 Visa Application
    20 Oct 2012 - Medical Examinations
    23 Oct 2012 - CO Assigned; Team 7 - SA
    05 Nov 2012 - Submitted SG PCC and NBI Clearance
    06 Nov 2012 - Visa Granted (IED: 23/10/2013)
    03 Apr 2013 - Flight to MEL
    03 Jun 2013 - started work
    12 Jun 2013 - wife started work
    15 Jun 2016 - applied for citizenship
    29 Jul 2016 - citizenship examination
    20 Oct 2016 - Aussie, Aussie, Aussie Oi Oi Oi!!

  • NerieNerie Hong Kong
    Posts: 7Member
    Joined: Nov 20, 2012
    @vangievc Hi po.. we are also going to Perth this end of April. Wla pa rin po kaming titirhan at wla pa rin akong job. I will be with my husband and my 2 year old son. Hope I can have your contact# po para if ever kailanganin po namin. So glad that meron tayong kababayan ready to extend their help.. Hope to hear from you. Godbless.. :\">
  • mandandmandand Melbourne
    Posts: 84Member
    Joined: Aug 27, 2012
    meron din po ba taga-melbourne na kababayan ready to extend help? wala po kami kakilala sa melbourne at talaga naman pong nakakakaba ang migration.

    June 13 2012 - ACS application, July 21 20012 - IELTS exam, July 24 2012 - ACS result suitable, Aug 3 2012 - IELTS result, my EOI submitted, Aug 24 2012 - hubby ACS application, Sep 1 2012 - hubby IELTS exam, Sep 14 2012 - hubby IELTS result, Sep 24 2012 - hubby ACS result, hubby EOI submitted, Oct 1 2012 - 189 visa invitation (hubby primary), application lodged, Oct 26 - CO allocated - Adelaide GSM Team 7
    Nov 7 - Visa grant. June 13 2013 - Landed, July 18 - Job Offer . To God be the Glory!

  • wenzhelwenzhel Adelaide
    Posts: 67Member
    Joined: Mar 13, 2013
    edited March 2013
    @vangievc i'm proud of you being a good samaritan to new migrants there..San po kayo sa OZ? I will be landing in Adelaide by 1st week of April and I don't know anyone there so finding my accommodation is also my dilemma. My wife and son is planned to go there by Sept or earlier depende po kung makasettle kagad ako jan...

    I hope I can also contact you just incase you are in Adelaide. If not, i hope you can refer to someone you know in the city.

    Thank you and God Bless!

    Electronics Engineer ANZSCO 233411

  • vangievcvangievc Sydney
    Posts: 90Member
    Joined: Oct 21, 2012
    @mandand dito kami as Melbourne ...kelan dating nyo? Family ba kayo? Ano pwede nmin maitulong?
  • vangievcvangievc Sydney
    Posts: 90Member
    Joined: Oct 21, 2012
    @wenzhel Melbourne po kami e...I wish I know someone an pwede nating kontakin. Sa ngayon po e wala.sensya napo.
  • li_i_renli_i_ren North Ryde
    Posts: 434Member
    Joined: Oct 13, 2012
    Just a tip most hostels do not allow kids below 10-13 yrs old. Also be careful in hostels/ backpackers.. .. Specially the really cheap ones quite known maraming addicts that stay in them.

    Good luck house hunting:)
  • alexamaealexamae Sydney
    Posts: 877Member
    Joined: Mar 16, 2011
    Helo, kmusta na yung mga nag entry nakakita na ba kayo ng ma rentahan nyo?
    I am emailing an agent now asking him the rental requirements for new migrants.
    Post ko dito pag may sagot na sya hehe..

    Plan kasi namin, after 2 months na approve ang visa, alis na kami dito.
    This will be very hard kasi wala naman kaming kakilala sa NSW.
    Maghahanap pa din kami ng nagpapa house share, mahirap din daw to eh kasi d naman lahat nagpapa sublet.

    I am renting in SG now. Main tenant kami ng asawa ko. I will ask a rental reference letter from my Landlord, will it help?
    Saka hanapin ko yung tenancy agreement namin sa kabilang bahay 2 years din yun, tatanggapin kaya nila yun?
    Ano po yung rental history?

    November 4, 2012 : ACS Assessment Systems Administrator - 262113
    December 08, 2012 : Both take IELTS
    December 18, 2012 : ACS Result Positive
    December 21, 2012 : IELTS Result
    January 10, 2013 : NSW SS Application
    January 10, 2013 : TRA Assessment ICT Customer Support Officer - 313112 (partner's skills)
    March 21, 2013 : TRA Result Positive
    March 22, 2013 : NSW SS acknowledgement email received
    May 16, 2013 : NSW SS Approved
    May 16, 2013 : EOI invite for 190 Visa
    May 24, 2013 : Lodged 190 Visa
    May 25, 2013 : Both Medicals Done (Drs Horne & Chin)
    June 4, 2013 : CO allocated Adelaide GSM Team 7
    June 8, 2013 : Meds Referred to MOC
    June 9, 2013 : Upload forms 80 and 1022
    June 17, 2013 : Upload both NBI Clearances
    June 28, 2013 : Upload both SG PCC
    August 15, 2013 : Visa Grant! Thank you so much Lord!! IED May 29, 2014

    Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

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