<b>Things to consider on sharing accommodation:</b>
- Number of Tenants (single/couple) & existing occupants to share.
If you are by yourself, it’s easier to share house than you being a couple. So make sure you mentioned that you are moving with a partner.
Note: Most landlords will not accept families w/ kids in sharing accommodation.
- Price/what’s not included in the rent.
Price varies a lot depending on location and size. A room in a 5-bedroom share-house will cost cheaper than a 2-bedroom unit. Units in the city are quite expensive (1 bedroom 250-280 per week). Suburb (like to where I live, down south 14kms away from the CBD) 2 bedroom (285 per week)
Always discuss if utilities are included, (like electricity, gas, internet and water) or shared payment.
- Lease type and duration.
6 months? 1 year? Fixed term?
How about early termination before the contract, there are breaking lease fee.
- Location/accessibility.
Accessible to public transport like bus, tram and train (google maps is your friend). Consider the place, although you are in SA, there are areas that are not that safe to walk around by yourself at night. (Eg. Some areas up north, Hanson rd, Hindley st. etc)
- Bond money, advance Payment.
All bonds must be lodge with CBS within 48 hrs, the landlord will send you the form. With a sharing accommodation, regarding bond ask the landlord about the form you need to fill up for the bond claim later on at the end of tenancy. There is always confusion on this part, so I would like to quote sa.gov.au.
http://www.sa.gov.au/subject/Housing,+property+and+land/Renting+and+letting/Information+for+private+rental+landlords/Being+a+private+rental+landlord/Bond,+rent+and+other+charges
<b>Bond</b>
The bond acts as a security against the lease agreement. It can be claimed if there is any money owed by the tenant at the end of the lease agreement - eg cleaning costs, rent arrears.
If the weekly rent is:
• $250 or less you can ask for up to four weeks’ rent as a bond
• $251 or more you can ask for up to six weeks’ rent as a bond.
The landlord/agent must give the tenant a receipt within 48 hours of receiving a bond. All bonds must be lodged with Consumer and Business Services (CBS) to hold until the tenancy ends.
<b>Rent in advance</b>
Landlord are entitled to ask for up to two weeks’ rent in advance to be paid along with the bond. If this is paid the tenant won’t have to pay rent again until the end of the period they have paid for.
<u>Apart from the bond and rent in advance the landlord/agent can not ask for any other money to be paid at the start of a tenancy. </u>
<i>Knowledge is power</i>