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Renting guides

Every fact shows its official source and the date we checked it.

12 articles. Browse by stage ↓
How we write 1Summarise from official pages 2Show sources and check dates 3Update when rules change
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Move-in and move-out checklist
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Monthly living cost calculator
Pick your housing type and school, add bills, transport and food, and get a range rather than an exact figure.
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Housemate cost split and agreement
Split rent, bills and bond by room size, then create a one-page housemate agreement.
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How much to have ready before you move in
Enter your weekly rent and how you pay it to see the most you can be asked for in bond and rent in advance, and which fees should not be charged.
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Renting timeline for before and after you arrive
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Renting letter generator
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Just arrived

Just arrived? Start here

When to start looking, what to sort out after you land, and what each area is like.

Starting in Melbourne in February or July 2027: when should you start looking for a place to live?
Plan your housing around 2027 course dates: when to start, where to stay first, what to book before you leave and what to sign after arrival.
Read the article
Your first week in Melbourne: what to sort out first, and what can wait
Airport transport, SIM card, banking, Myki, university check-in and moving: put them in order, with documents and deadlines ready.
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Melbourne area guides
Ten areas: which universities are close, how many places are listed, typical rents by room type, plus local amenities and transport.
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Have a specific question? The help centre groups common questions by topic, and you can search it.Go to the help centre

Changes · What changed recently

What changed recently

Victoria's rental rules have been changing in stages, and old numbers still circulate online. Below are only dates you can check on an official page, each with the date we checked it.

See the full official list (CAV)
  1. 25 Nov 2025In effect
    First batch of new rules: 90 days' notice for rent increases (it was 60), rental bidding is banned, and a notice to vacate needs a valid reason.
    CAV · New rules summaryCAV · Rent increasesChecked 5 Oct 2026
  2. 31 Mar 2026In effect
    Rental applications must use the standard form, and rental providers and agents can only ask for what the form lists.
    CAV · Applying for a propertyChecked 5 Oct 2026
  3. 1 Jun 2026In effect
    Half-price public transport starts. The official page says it runs until 1 January 2027.
    vic.gov.au · Half-price travelChecked 5 Oct 2026
  4. 1 Jul 2026In effect
    Renters can transfer an existing bond to a new rental property (conditions apply).
    CAV · New rules summaryThis site · Bond and the RTBAChecked 5 Oct 2026
  5. 9 Sep 2026In effect
    Renters can pay their bond directly to the RTBA. You must tell the rental provider in writing before they start lodging the bond.
    CAV · Lodging the bond with the RTBAThis site · Bond and the RTBAChecked 5 Oct 2026
  6. 13 Oct 2026In effect
    Bond claims require at least 3 business days' notice and supporting evidence; rental application fees are banned.
    CAV · New rules summaryThis site · Bond and the RTBAChecked 16 Oct 2026
  7. Today11 Nov 2026
    Still to come
  8. 1 Jan 2027Ending soon
    End date of half-price public transport (the official page says until 1 January 2027).
    vic.gov.au · Half-price travelChecked 5 Oct 2026
  9. 1 Mar 2027Starts in phases
    Minimum energy efficiency standards for rental homes start in phases: heating, cooling, hot water, showerheads, insulation and draughtproofing.
    CAV · New rules summaryChecked 16 Oct 2026
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Before you leave

5 articles
Renting process
Stage · Before you leave

Student accommodation, share house or whole rental: how to choose

Choose student accommodation, sharing or a whole home by private space, shared liability and total cost over the same period. Student accommodation is not necessarily all-inclusive. Co-renters may be responsible for the whole rent, while a person renting alone pays the whole cost.

5 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026
Renting process
Stage · Before you leave

A one-page guide for parents: how your child will live in Melbourne

Parents can help check housing responsibilities, full funding, the payee and move-in tasks. Build the budget from the student’s actual quote. Under-18 students need appropriate welfare arrangements first. Compare and keep records, while signing and entry follow the agreement and required authority.

7 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026
Renting process
Stage · Before you leave

Starting in Melbourne in February or July 2027: when should you start looking for a place to live?

For a February or July intake, align course and enrolment dates, travel and the current accommodation window and start date. Area research can begin early, but approval and key collection have no universal timescale. Do not shift another semester’s calendar by a fixed number of months.

7 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026
Renting process
Stage · Before you leave

Can an international student under 18 rent a place in Melbourne on their own?

Students who will be under 18 in Australia need appropriate welfare and accommodation arrangements before choosing housing. Provider-issued CAAW and nomination of an eligible guardian are different paths. A friend cannot simply substitute. Check contract capacity, university conditions and visa requirements separately.

10 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026
Renting process
Stage · Before you leave

Parents overseas: how to help your child find safe housing, sign the agreement and pay the bond

Parents can compare, verify and keep records remotely. The student or an authorised signatory decides whether to sign. A trusted person can inspect on site while the student is overseas; do not treat a second inspection after arrival as universally mandatory, or treat video alone as verification.

8 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026

Finding a place

3 articles
Renting processStart here
Stage · Finding a place

How does renting in Melbourne work, from your first search to getting the keys?

For a Melbourne long-term rental, set your campus and budget, inspect and verify, apply, review the agreement, check payments, collect keys and document the condition. Search and approval times vary. From overseas, you can ask someone you trust to inspect, while keeping the signing decision yourself.

13 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026
Renting process
Stage · Finding a place

What documents do international students need for a Victorian rental application?

Victorian residential rental applications use the prescribed form, with limits on identity and payment-capacity evidence. Apply honestly without Australian rental history: state actual living arrangements, obtain referees’ consent and use genuine financial evidence. Do not invent history or offer excessive prepayment.

9 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026
Renting process
Stage · Finding a place

How can overseas parental support show rental affordability?

For a Victorian private rental, explain overseas parental support honestly and provide appropriate affordability evidence under the prescribed form. Confirm accepted documents and submission requirements. Family support does not automatically make a parent a formal guarantor, and no universal savings threshold is established here.

8 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026

Signing

1 article
Renting process
Stage · Signing

Can you sign an Australian rental agreement from overseas?

Arrange an inspection, the complete agreement and state-specific signing and bond steps before committing from overseas.

7 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026

Moving in

2 articles
Renting process
Stage · Moving in

Moving into a Melbourne apartment: do you need to book the lift?

Confirm building moving rules, lift access and loading times in writing before booking transport. Rental start, key collection and furniture delivery may differ. Booking requirements, charges and refundable amounts depend on the building’s lawful rules; there is no universal amount or lead time.

8 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026
Renting process
Stage · Moving in

Collecting rental keys: documents, timing and authority

Prepare ID, your signed agreement, appointment and payment records. Confirm collection details and any late arrival or authorised collection.

7 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026

Living in Melbourne

1 article
Renting process
Stage · Living in Melbourne

Repairs in a Melbourne rental: contact the PM or the BM?

If something inside your home breaks (hot water, stove, leak, door lock, air conditioner), contact the PM: the property manager, who looks after the rental for the rental provider and is usually an agent. Shared parts of the building, like the lift, entry system and corridor lights, belong to the BM, the building manager. Tell your PM first and copy the BM if you like.

9 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026
A one-page guide for parents

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