Melbourne
There are a number of accommodation options available for students to choose from regarding accommodation in Melbourne. Gen Institute is based in the Melbourne Central Business District (CBD).
Sharing accommodation is very popular with international students. You should look for advertisements on campus noticeboards and local newspapers. When renting a house, apartment or bed sitter, landlords require rent to be paid in advance, and will require a security bond equal to one months’ rent.
Share House
The most popular type of accommodation is sharing a house or unit with other students. Students do their own cooking and share the cost of household expenses. The cost for a single room is approximately A$75-A$150 per week. Living expenses including food, water and electricity are additional to this. Most share houses are unfurnished.
Townhouses and Home Units
Are generally larger than flats and contain two to three bedrooms. They are particularly suitable for families and often have a small garden area. They range in price from A$300 – A$500 per week
Houses
Consist of a lounge and/or dining room, bathroom, toilet, kitchen, laundry and two to four bedrooms. If you are planning to rent a whole house, you should be prepared to pay somewhere in the vicinity of A$300 – A$500 per week (approx A$75 – A$125 per bedroom). Please note that most houses for rent will be unfurnished so you will have to allow for purchase of furniture. The front and backyard maintenance is usually the responsibility of the tenant.
Hostels and Guest Houses
Hostels are usually run by organizations such as Youth Hostels Australia and the YMCA, students share kitchen and bathroom facilities. They range in price from A$80-150 per week.
Consumer Affairs Victoria
Consumer Affairs Victoria has information on your rights and responsibilities when renting a home in Victoria. They can also help if you have a complaint or problem with your landlord. Go to the Consumer Affairs Victoria website http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/students or call 1300 55 81 81 for advice or more information.
Accommodation Websites
http://melbourne.gumtree.com.au
http://www.domain.com.au
http://www.realestate.com.au
http://www.hostelworld.com
http://www.reiv.com.au
If you need Gen Institute to arrange for Temporary or Permanent student accommodation, please email the request to Gen Institute at admissions@edu.au or seek help from your Student Support Officers.
