Accommodation in Melbourne
Expats will find that accommodation options in Melbourne vary in range and standard, but are becoming increasingly scarce across the board. Over the years, the city has experienced an influx of migrants from both overseas and interstate so competition is high for property and vacancy rates low.
Most foreigners moving to the metropolis opt to rent property, a common and practical decision due to the expensive costs attached to buying property - a result of the housing boom that has occurred during the last number of years. Rental property in Melbourne also tends to be more affordable than other capital cities in Australia, such as Sydney and Darwin.
Modern high-rise studio apartments in the city centre can be found for AUD$1,200 per month; while beachside suburbs, such as Elwood, command AUD$1,500 per month for a one-bedroom apartment; and a three-bedroom house in Clayton, in Melbourne’s south-east, may be rented out from AUD$1,280 per month.
Many expats moving to Melbourne find themselves living in apartments due to the large supply available in the city. Houses are more suitable for families, but the more affordable rental houses tend to be in locations further out from the CBD.
Bear in mind, many rental houses are built in an older-style that's less equipped for extreme temperatures. Particularly during winter, when it can get quite cold, expats should have a portable heater on hand to keep warm; a fan to keep cool during the summer months is also a good idea!
Apart from choosing which type of accommodation is most acceptable, expats will need to select which suburb they'd like to live in. There are plenty of appealing areas in Melbourne, and before settling on a single suburb, it's necessary to consider the proximity to Melbourne’s city centre, the public transport available (train or tram) and the accessibility of services and amenities such as supermarkets, doctors and restaurants.
Expats in Melbourne tend to live in the inner suburbs of Melbourne, such as Southbank, South Melbourne, South Yarra, Richmond or close to beachside locations such as St Kilda or Elwood.
All of these locations are easily accessible via public transport and they also have a range of dining and entertainment options with great restaurants, cafes and bars within walking distance. Expats who live here don't even have to leave the suburb for a night out!
Rent for accommodation in Melbourne is payable monthly and is typically transferred through direct debit orders at the end of each month to the real estate agent or landlord.
Utility bills for electricity, water, gas or telephone arrive every quarter in the mail and are the responsibility of the tenant to pay.
Leases for rental property in Melbourne are usually for a one year period and require a month’s rent as a deposit. The deposit is refundable, and is usually returned if the property is in the same condition upon vacancy as when the expat first moved in. Otherwise, cleaning or damage costs will be taken out of the deposit before the balance is refunded.
If signing a lease with a real-estate agent, expect that they will undertake a reference check. In most cases, this means the agent will contact the company that an expat works for to confirm the position of employment, and that they will contact the landlords from previous leases to check on your character as a tenant.
Sources to find rental property include:
Most foreigners moving to the metropolis opt to rent property, a common and practical decision due to the expensive costs attached to buying property - a result of the housing boom that has occurred during the last number of years. Rental property in Melbourne also tends to be more affordable than other capital cities in Australia, such as Sydney and Darwin.
Modern high-rise studio apartments in the city centre can be found for AUD$1,200 per month; while beachside suburbs, such as Elwood, command AUD$1,500 per month for a one-bedroom apartment; and a three-bedroom house in Clayton, in Melbourne’s south-east, may be rented out from AUD$1,280 per month.
Choosing accommodation in Melbourne
Many expats moving to Melbourne find themselves living in apartments due to the large supply available in the city. Houses are more suitable for families, but the more affordable rental houses tend to be in locations further out from the CBD.
Bear in mind, many rental houses are built in an older-style that's less equipped for extreme temperatures. Particularly during winter, when it can get quite cold, expats should have a portable heater on hand to keep warm; a fan to keep cool during the summer months is also a good idea!Apart from choosing which type of accommodation is most acceptable, expats will need to select which suburb they'd like to live in. There are plenty of appealing areas in Melbourne, and before settling on a single suburb, it's necessary to consider the proximity to Melbourne’s city centre, the public transport available (train or tram) and the accessibility of services and amenities such as supermarkets, doctors and restaurants.
Expats in Melbourne tend to live in the inner suburbs of Melbourne, such as Southbank, South Melbourne, South Yarra, Richmond or close to beachside locations such as St Kilda or Elwood.
All of these locations are easily accessible via public transport and they also have a range of dining and entertainment options with great restaurants, cafes and bars within walking distance. Expats who live here don't even have to leave the suburb for a night out!
Renting accommodation in Melbourne
Rent for accommodation in Melbourne is payable monthly and is typically transferred through direct debit orders at the end of each month to the real estate agent or landlord.
Utility bills for electricity, water, gas or telephone arrive every quarter in the mail and are the responsibility of the tenant to pay.
Leases for rental property in Melbourne are usually for a one year period and require a month’s rent as a deposit. The deposit is refundable, and is usually returned if the property is in the same condition upon vacancy as when the expat first moved in. Otherwise, cleaning or damage costs will be taken out of the deposit before the balance is refunded.
If signing a lease with a real-estate agent, expect that they will undertake a reference check. In most cases, this means the agent will contact the company that an expat works for to confirm the position of employment, and that they will contact the landlords from previous leases to check on your character as a tenant.
Sources to find rental property include:
- Real estate agents in the areas of interest
- The Age or the Herald Sun newspapers,
- Websites such as Realestate.com.au and Domain.com.au
- Notices left on bulletin boards in particular bookstores or supermarkets.
