Practical Share Accommodation Guides for Melbourne & Sydney

Booking a share room can feel overwhelming — especially if you've never done it before, or you're arriving from overseas. Here's exactly how the reservation process works at aurent, step by step.

The reservation steps

1. Browse listings — Explore verified rooms on aurent.online filtered by city, price range, and features.
2. Send an enquiry — Contact the host through our platform to confirm availability and ask any questions about the property.
3. Schedule a visit — Book an in-person inspection or a virtual video tour of the room and common areas.
4. Pay the reservation deposit — Secure the room with a Deposit Protection payment. This is held securely and returned at the end of your stay.
5. Sign the License Agreement — Review and sign the standardised aurent License Agreement, which clearly sets out the terms of your stay.
6. Move in — Collect your keys on the agreed date and settle into your new furnished room.

What documents do you need?

You will need: a valid passport or government ID, proof of address (or your arrival date if you're coming from overseas), and a contact phone number. For international students, a university enrolment confirmation or visa may also be requested.

Is the deposit protected?

Yes. aurent uses Deposit Protection to ensure your reservation deposit is held securely and returned to you at the end of your tenancy, subject to the condition of the room.

A property visit is one of the most important steps before committing to a share room. It gives you the chance to see the space in person, meet the host, and make sure the listing matches what was described.

How to request a visit

On each property listing page, look for the "Schedule a Visit" button and click it — this sends a visit request directly to the host. Hosts typically confirm within 24 hours and offer multiple available time slots so you can choose what works best for you.

What to check during the visit

• Is the room the same size and condition as shown in photos?
• Is the bed, wardrobe, and desk included and in good condition?
• Do the locks, windows, and lights work correctly?
• Are the common areas (kitchen, bathroom, living room) clean?
• What are the current housemates like? Are they friendly?
• Is there reliable internet? What is the speed?
• Are bills included or separately charged?

Virtual visits

If you cannot attend in person, ask the host for a live video call tour — not just pre-recorded video. A live tour allows you to ask questions in real time and request to see specific areas of the property.

Moving into a share house is a big adjustment — particularly if you've been used to living alone or with family. The key to a happy share house is organisation, communication, and mutual respect.

Set up a chore system

Create a simple chore rotation from the first week — kitchen cleaning, bathroom cleaning, taking out the bins. A written roster (even just a list on the fridge) reduces ambiguity and prevents passive-aggressive build-up.

Establish house communication norms

Create a group chat for the house — for practical things like "I'll be home late, don't wait on dinner" or "the cleaner is coming on Thursday." This keeps everyone informed without requiring formal conversations.

Respect quiet hours

Most well-run share houses have informal quiet hours (usually after 10–11pm on weekdays). Establishing this early means everyone can study, sleep, and work without friction.

Kitchen rules that work

• Label your food in the fridge
• Clean up immediately after cooking — don't leave dishes for "later"
• Keep the sink clear between meals
• Wipe down the stovetop after every use

One of the most confusing aspects of share accommodation in Australia is how utility bills are managed. At aurent, we take a clear and simple approach that protects both guests and hosts.

How bills are handled at aurent

The cost of electricity, gas, water, and internet is either included in your weekly rent, or capped at a fair usage amount specified in your License Agreement. You will never receive an unexpected utility bill that you weren't informed about upfront.

Why we do it this way

Splitting bills between multiple housemates creates administrative complexity and frequent conflict. By centralising bill management at the host level, we eliminate a major source of tension in share houses and give guests predictable weekly costs.

What your weekly rent includes

• Furnished room (bed, desk, wardrobe)
• Use of all common areas
• Utilities (electricity, gas, water) — included or capped
• Internet — included or specified

The exact arrangement for your property is specified in your License Agreement before you commit to a reservation.

Clara arrived in Melbourne in August 2025 to study a Master's in Environmental Science at the University of Melbourne. Like most international students, she had spent weeks searching for accommodation online before her arrival — and found the process exhausting and anxiety-inducing.

First contact and inspection

Clara found an aurent listing in Fitzroy and contacted the host through the platform. Within 24 hours, she had scheduled a virtual video tour. The host was responsive, showed every room in detail, and answered all her questions about bills, housemates, and the neighbourhood.

Move-in day

"When I arrived with my two suitcases, my room was exactly as shown in the photos — maybe even better. The host met me at the door, gave me a quick tour of the house, introduced me to my housemates, and showed me where everything was. I felt welcome immediately."

Life in the house

Clara's house had four housemates from three different countries. "We quickly established a cooking rotation on weekday evenings — it became something I genuinely looked forward to. The house had a real sense of community that I didn't expect."

In Australian share houses, electricity and gas costs are significant — and poor energy habits from one housemate can affect everyone's bills. These simple practices can meaningfully reduce energy consumption without anyone feeling deprived.

Heating and cooling

• Set air conditioning to 24–26°C in summer and 18–20°C in winter
• Close doors and windows when air conditioning is running
• Use ceiling fans before reaching for the air con
• Keep blinds or curtains closed during the hottest part of the day

Appliances

• Always run the dishwasher and washing machine on full load
• Use cold water for laundry wherever possible
• Turn off devices at the wall rather than leaving them on standby
• Avoid leaving chargers plugged in when not in use

Hot water

• Limit showers to 5–7 minutes
• Report any dripping taps to the host immediately — a dripping hot water tap wastes significant energy

Shared kitchen appliances — toasters, kettles, microwaves, coffee machines — are used heavily in a share house and can deteriorate quickly without proper care. These guidelines extend the life of appliances and prevent damage costs.

Toaster

• Empty the crumb tray weekly — full crumb trays are a fire hazard
• Never use the toaster with metal utensils
• Keep the exterior wiped clean after use

Kettle

• Descale the kettle monthly (fill with equal parts water and white vinegar, boil, rinse)
• Never boil an empty kettle
• Store the kettle without the lid on to allow airflow

Microwave

• Always use a microwave-safe cover to prevent splatter
• Wipe the interior immediately after any spill
• Never use metal containers or aluminium foil
• Never run an empty microwave

General rule

If you break or damage an appliance, report it to the host immediately rather than ignoring it. Early reporting almost always results in a more straightforward resolution.

First impressions in a share house inspection are formed within the first 30 seconds. Prospective guests are evaluating not just the physical space, but whether they can imagine themselves living there comfortably. Here's how to make that first impression count.

Before the inspection

• Open all blinds and curtains — natural light is the most powerful tool in a property inspection
• Air out the property for at least 30 minutes beforehand
• Ensure the bathroom is spotlessly clean — this is non-negotiable
• Clear all kitchen benches and ensure the sink is empty
• Make sure the room being shown has clean linen on the bed
• Remove personal items from common areas if possible

During the inspection

Greet the prospective guest warmly at the door. Walk them through the property in a logical order: room first, then common areas. Answer questions honestly. If existing housemates are present, introduce them — housemate relationships are a key part of the decision.

What guests are looking for

Beyond the physical space, guests are evaluating: do you seem like a trustworthy, accessible host? Is the house genuinely well-maintained? Will they be comfortable living here? Your communication style during the inspection sets the tone for the entire tenancy.

Australian share houses — particularly in warm cities like Sydney and Melbourne — are susceptible to cockroaches, ants, and occasionally rodents. Prevention is significantly easier (and cheaper) than elimination once pests are established.

Food storage rules

• Store all dry goods (rice, pasta, flour, cereal, biscuits) in airtight containers — never in open bags
• Refrigerate fruit after 1–2 days at room temperature
• Clean up food scraps immediately after cooking
• Take bins out at least twice per week — never let them overflow

Kitchen hygiene

• Wipe down the stovetop after every use
• Keep the sink dry when not in use
• Clean under the stovetop and behind appliances monthly
• Check behind the fridge quarterly — this is a common cockroach harborage

Sealing entry points

Inspect and seal any gaps around pipes, door frames, and window edges. Cockroaches can enter through very small gaps. Report any structural gaps to your host immediately.

Professional treatment

Schedule a professional pest inspection every 6–12 months as a preventative measure. This is typically the host's responsibility and should be specified in the License Agreement.

Co-living works best when you approach it with an open mindset and a willingness to invest in the community around you. Here are the habits and attitudes that consistently lead to a positive share house experience.

Invest in your housemate relationships

You don't need to be best friends with your housemates — but making small efforts (saying good morning, cooking a shared meal occasionally, checking in on how someone's day went) creates a house culture where people genuinely enjoy coming home.

Create your own private space

Even in a share house, your room is your sanctuary. Invest in making it comfortable and personal — your own desk lamp, a few plants, your own bedside items. Having a space that feels fully yours gives you a healthy base from which to engage with the shared home.

Address issues early

If something bothers you — a housemate's noise, the kitchen situation, a bathroom habit — address it early and kindly. Small issues that are ignored become large resentments. A brief, direct conversation almost always resolves things quickly.

Use shared spaces actively

The living room, kitchen table, and common areas are opportunities for connection. Don't spend all your time in your room — the community in a share house only develops if people actually share the space.

Mould in shared bathrooms is one of the most common complaints in Australian share houses — and one of the most preventable. As a host, the structural and maintenance factors are your responsibility. Guest behaviour also plays a role.

Host responsibilities

• Ensure the bathroom has a functional exhaust fan — test it before each new tenancy
• Check that the window opens fully and the sill is regularly wiped dry
• Use mould-resistant grout and sealant — re-seal annually if needed
• Install a squeegee hook in the shower — this is the single most effective guest-facing prevention tool
• Treat any existing mould with a bleach solution before new guests arrive

Guest instructions to include in your welcome guide

• Run the exhaust fan during and for 15 minutes after showering
• Squeegee the shower glass and tiles after each shower
• Hang towels properly after use — not left in a pile
• Report any visible mould spots immediately

Quarterly maintenance

Every 3 months, check: grout lines for early mould signs, the exhaust fan for dust build-up (clean regularly), sealant around the bath and shower for integrity, and the bathroom window for condensation damage on the sill.

Maintaining cleanliness in a share house requires a clear system — not just good intentions. This room-by-room guide sets out exactly what needs to be done, how often, and who is typically responsible.

Kitchen — daily

• Wipe down stovetop after every use
• Wash your own dishes immediately (or load dishwasher and run when full)
• Wipe down benchtops after food preparation
• Take out food scraps and recycling

Kitchen — weekly (shared responsibility)

• Clean inside the microwave
• Wipe down all appliances
• Mop the kitchen floor
• Clean the stovetop thoroughly

Bathroom — daily

• Squeegee the shower glass after use
• Hang your towel properly
• Wipe the sink after use

Bathroom — weekly (shared responsibility)

• Scrub the toilet bowl and wipe the exterior
• Clean the shower tiles and glass
• Mop the bathroom floor
• Replace the hand towel

Your own room — fortnightly

• Vacuum or sweep the floor
• Dust all surfaces
• Change your bed linen

Common areas — weekly

• Vacuum the living room and hallways
• Wipe down the dining table
• Dust shelves and surfaces