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Housing and accommodation |
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For many students, starting university means moving away from home into rental accommodation for the first time. Read below for information about the costs of renting, an overview of the accommodation options available and how to find accommodation. If you would like further assistance please contact us.
Bond
When you move into rental accommodation you will be required to pay a rental bond. Rental bond is money used as a security against damaging property and unpaid rent. If you do not fulfil all of your obligations as a tenant a claim for part or all of that money may be made by the lessor of the property. For more information about your rights and responsibilities as a tenant go to the Residential Tenancies Authority or the Tenants Union of Queensland.
Bond is normally 4 times the weekly rent of the property, but it can be less. If the weekly rent is over $500 there is no limit to the amount of bond that can be charged. When you move into a property you will also need 2 week's rent in advance. If you need assistance with the cost of your bond you may be eligible for a bond loan from the Department of Housing or a Student Financial Assistance Scheme (SFAS) loan from QUT.
Rent
If you are on a Centrelink payment you may be eligible for rent assistance. Contact Centrelink on 13 24 90 for further information.
Median weekly rent figures are provided by the Residential Tenancies Authority and updated each quarter. This information will give you an indication of how much rent you can expect to pay.
Suburbs in close proximity to each QUT campus:
- Carseldine: Aspley, Bald Hills, Bracken Ridge, Fitzgibbon, Geebung, Taigum, Zillmere.
- Gardens Point: Highgate Hill, Kangaroo Point, Milton, New Farm, Paddington, Red Hill, South Brisbane, Spring Hill, West End.
- Kelvin Grove: Alderley, Ashgrove, Enoggera, Herston, Newmarket, Red Hill, South Brisbane, Spring Hill.
Use a map to locate the above suburbs.
Other costs
When moving into a property there are a range of other costs which you need to consider. These include:
- Electricity connection
- Gas connection
- Telephone connection
- Removalist costs
- Household items (for example furniture, kitchen utensils)
- Food
You will need to consider these one off costs, as well as ongoing bills, when planning your budget.
Types of accommodation
Students live in a range of different styles of accommodation when not living at home:
- Renting a unit or flat by yourself – this can be a rather expensive option but for some people the privacy that this allows outweighs the increased cost.
- Share housing – many students chose this type of accommodation as it can be more economical as costs are shared. It can also provide more social opportunities than living alone. If you are considering share housing for the first time it is often cheaper to move into an already established house rather than renting a house yourself and then finding people to move in. When choosing a share house to live in, consider what sort of lifestyle you want to live and the lifestyle of those you will be sharing with. For example, cleaning can be a point of conflict in share houses, so if you think that washing up once a day is more than adequate, you may not want to live with someone who insists that all items are washed and put away as soon as they are finished with. Noise is another area which causes much conflict in share houses. For example, if you want to be able to study at home at night it may not be the best idea to live with a group of people who just want to party and have friends over 7 nights a week. Before moving into a share house it is important to meet with your prospective housemates to discuss lifestyle issues, as well as sort out how bills and rent will be divided and paid. Also check out the lease agreement and question any concerns. For example, will you be listed as a co-tenant or is someone the head tenant. Also, ask for a copy of the original condition report for the property – you do not want your bond money to be taken due to damage caused by previous tenants. Remember, if you don't feel comfortable about how a share house works, keep looking until you find one that you are comfortable with. It can be better to take your time and make informed choices rather than jumping in and then having to move out quickly. It can also be a costly mistake. The Tenants' Union of Queensland has produced a Student Information brochure outlining some important issues to consider when renting a house. The QUT Student Guild also has useful information on share housing.
- Full or partial board – many students who are new to Brisbane initially choose this type of accommodation. Usually you board with a family and you are provided with some or all of your meals. This type of accommodation is popular as it can provide a very “home-like” environment. Sometimes you may even be able to organise boarding with extended family or friends. Boarding can allow you the opportunity to get to know Brisbane, and possibly some potential housemates, before you move into a place of your own.
- Student accommodation – QUT does not provide on-campus accommodation. Some other universities provide on-campus accommodation in residential colleges, where students live in a room of their own but may share facilities. They have the advantage of sharing with fellow students but are difficult to get into as demand is high. Some private providers run residential college style accommodation. The facilities provided vary according to the provider, so it is important that you inspect the accommodation to ensure that it meets your expectations and is value for money as the costs can be high. Again, this style of accommodation allows for you to meet other students and live in close proximity to people with whom you have at least one thing in common – university! However, student accommodation may not be for everyone. For example, it may be difficult to study if your exam period is different to other students exam period. Like boarding, initially moving into a college can give you some time to get to know Brisbane and some fellow students, before you move into a place of your own or into share housing.
When choosing a style of accommodation, it is important to consider your safety. For example, do you feel safe around your future flatmates? Does the front door, or the door to your room, have a working lock? It is also important to consider safety when travelling to and from uni. For example, if you have a night lecture and rely on public transport, do you feel safe at the train/bus stop? Is the area in which you are walking home well lit? It is a lot to think about, but remember, by taking your time now to consider all of your options and weighing up the pros and cons, you should be on your way to a happy living situation that you can stay in for a long time.
Finding accommodation
There are many ways to find suitable accommodation.
- The Courier Mail has accommodation listings, including share house listings. The best days for these are Wednesday and Saturday.
- Contact the real estate agents in the area that you want to live to get a list of available properties.
- Check out notice boards around QUT and at some shopping centres. Accommodation notices are often posted on these.
Finally, do an internet search on "student accommodation Brisbane". You should get a list of other useful websites.
Affordable accommodation options
For people on low incomes, there are some government run and/or funded affordable housing scheme’s which you may be eligible for. If you require further information about these please make an appointment to see the Welfare Officer to discuss you specific needs or see the Department of Housing website.
Emergency accommodation
Homeless Persons Information Queensland
Phone: 1800 47 47 53
or TTY: 1800 010 222
(confidential advice 24 hours)
Can help you by providing information about:
- housing
- advice and support
- where to get meals, showers and clothing.
Homeless Persons Information Queensland is available to persons of all ages and is a free service.
If you require assistance with emergency accommodation, please contact us.
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