Rental Costs and Contracts in Australia for Expats

If you are moving abroad to live and possibly work in Australia then you will likely be renting a place to live unless you are purchasing property or staying with someone else. When renting a place to live in Australia you will have to sign a rental contract. The costs of renting a place in Australia can vary depending on your location and the size of the place you are renting.

Most rental properties in Australia are leased through agents. To register with an agent as a prospective renter you will need to have two forms of identification as well as written references from an employer and previous landlord and some character references. Note that pets are not permitted in most rental properties in Australia.

When you find a place that you want to rent you will need to sign a rental contract, called a tenancy agreement in Australia. When you look over your tenancy agreement note that the law states that owners are responsible for property taxes and unit service charges and you cannot be made to pay these. You will however be responsible for the cost of utilities. Most tenancy agreements state that if you vacate the property before the agreement expires you are liable for the rent through the end of the lease period.

When you are looking for the right place you will notice that rents are lower in the more rural areas and the farther away from public transportation the cheaper they are. As a general rule, the most expensive rents are in Sydney, Darwin and Melbourne. While rents do vary, you can use the following as a guide for the average rental cost of unfurnished apartments. For a studio, the weekly rent is between $150 and $200. For a one bedroom apartment, the weekly rent is between $150 and $275. For a two bedroom apartment, the weekly rent is between $200 and $400. For a three bedroom apartment, the weekly rent is between $275 and $500. For a two bedroom house, the weekly rent is between $225 and $500. And for a three bedroom house, the weekly rent is between $325 and $650.

When you are ready to sign your tenancy agreements for a new place remember that your agent will charge you a fee for their service. Typically the fee is two weeks rent for a one year lease and one weeks rent for a six month lease. These are the maximum fees that can be charged by law. You are also expected to pay one month of rent in advance as well as a bond that is held against any potential damages. The bond is typically equal to about 5 weeks of rent. If you have a luxury furnished apartment is can be as much as eight months rent.

You will need to pay a fee for the lease document and a deposit for the gas and electricity. There may even be extra hidden charges for connecting the telephone, gas or electric.