Setting up a share house
Connection of services
If you are setting up a place you will definitely have to pay for service connections.
If you are moving into an already established house, you may have to pay the outgoing tenant for their share of the connection fees.
If you do have to pay, make sure you get receipts that specify what the payment is for.
Electricity and gas
You need to nominate a person whose name will be on the electricity and gas accounts, who will be responsible for paying the bill on behalf of the house.
There are a number of electricity retailers, so make sure you do your research to find out which option is most suitable for you.
To find a retailer or compare prices, visit http://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/ or phone the Energy Information Line (see Useful Contacts).
Most gas retailers also provide electricity and it might be cheaper to combine the two.
Internet
It is yours and your housemates’ responsibility to arrange the internet, as the landlord is not required to provide an internet connection.
In most cases, sharing the internet connection with your housemates will be the cheapest option.
If you decide to share the internet with your housemates, make sure that you are aware of how much time your housemates spend online.
A number of internet providers provide unlimited internet access at relatively cheap prices.
This option might be suitable if you live in a large household and you don’t want to fight over the internet credit.
Another option is getting a USB stick that allows you to connect to the internet anywhere.
Since you don’t have to share the internet with your housemates, it can help avoid disputes over internet usage.
However, it is usually a lot more expensive and slower than broadband, so if you spend a lot of time on social media, consider sharing broadband with your housemates instead.
You should also consider if you want to sign up for a contract (usually for 2 years) or pay as you go.
While it is a lot cheaper to go on a contract, you might have to pay the break fee if you decide to end the contract early.
You should also consider ‘bundling’ your internet and telephone services, which will be cheaper than organising them separately.
Getting the internet connection may take up to 3 weeks, so arrange it in advance if possible.
When you move into a new share house, make sure you get your mail redirected so that your mail doesn’t end up in your old address.
For a fee, you can get your mail redirected by filling out a form at an Australian Post retail outlet or by filling out an application online.
Furniture
When moving in, you may have to provide your own furniture, depending on whether or not you move into an already furnished place, and whether you want your own furniture or you’re happy with what’s already in your room.
If you need to move furniture from your current place, arrange a removalist in advance.
If you need to buy furniture, you may want to try your local second-hand furniture store, Vinnies, garage sales in your neighbourhood or websites like gumtree.
They offer furniture at relatively cheap prices and some people are willing to give their furniture for free if you can arrange the delivery.
You might also want to try looking on Facebook marketplace or in your local Facebook group.