For international students who are new to the Australian continent, renting an accommodation is undoubtedly the first and most crucial step in starting a new life. The rental market in Australia differs significantly from that in other countries. The process is rigorous, the competition is fierce, and it involves numerous legal provisions. As a seasoned Australian rental consultant, I understand that a safe, comfortable, and convenient place to live is crucial for international students to smoothly adapt to your studies in a foreign country.
This guide is designed to provide a professional, detailed and highly practical rental housing comprehensive guide for all prospective international students and new immigrants. We will start from the most crucial “house hunting” stage, conduct in-depth evaluations of the six mainstream rental platforms currently available in the Australian market, and combine the actual rental process in Australia, legal knowledge and safety tips to help you walk a more stable path in finding a home in Australia.
Which Is the Best Rental Accommodation Website in Australia? In-depth evaluation of six platforms
In Australia, there are various channels for renting houses, but they are mainly concentrated on online platforms. Different platforms have their own focuses on the service targets, types of housing and process regulations. Choosing a suitable platform can greatly enhance your efficiency in finding a house. Here is a professional evaluation and recommendation for six mainstream rental platforms:
| Platform | Core Feature | Property Type | Best for | Advantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Realestate | The largest and most mainstream real estate agency platform in Australia | Full-lease, managed by an agency for rental properties | Users who rent houses for a long term, pursue high quality and have strict process standards | The housing resources cover the entire Australia, with transparent information and standardized procedures. |
| Domain | Comparable to Realestate, with a user-friendly interface and powerful functions | Full-lease, managed by an agency for rental properties | Users with high requirements for location and room type selection | The search function is powerful, and some properties offer virtual viewing options. |
| uhomes.com | Specialized for international students, emphasizing the authenticity of housing listings and price transparency | Student accommodation, off-campus sharing, full rental | Users who have not yet arrived in Australia, have high requirements for the authenticity of the housing, the price, and the services for international students. | Guaranteed real property listings, transparent pricing commitment, VR viewing, one-stop service |
| Gumtree | A comprehensive classified information website, with personal housing listings as the main content. | Sharing accommodation, short-term rental, personal sub-renting | Users with limited budget, short-term transition, and those looking for roommates | High diversity of housing options, flexible prices, and the ability to communicate directly with landlords or roommates. |
| TenantApp | Focus on the management of the rental process | Cooperative listing from the agency (compatible with Realestate/Domain) | Users who are accustomed to digital operations and seek efficient and convenient rental processes | One-stop services including simplified application, property viewing, and contract management |
| Airbnb | Short-term accommodation and unique experiences | Short-term rentals, homestays | Short-term transition, vacation trips, experiencing local life | Flexible lease terms and immersive local lifestyle experience |
1. Realestate (realestate.com.au)
Features and Positioning: Realestate is one of the largest and most authoritative platforms for house rental and purchase in Australia. Almost all of its listings come from legitimate licensed real estate agents across Australia. This means that the information of the listings you see on this platform, as well as the contract norms and subsequent property management, are all strictly regulated by relevant Australian laws.
Analysis of Advantages:
The housing listings cover the entire Australia and update quickly: Whether it’s the apartments in the CBD of Sydney and Melbourne, or the villas in the suburbs of Perth and Adelaide, Realestate has an abundant range of listings and the information is updated promptly.
High transparency of information: The housing listing information usually includes detailed floor plans, interior photos, contact information of the agents, the time for open viewing (Open Inspection Time), as well as clear rent and deposit requirements.
Standardized process: The cooperation model between the platform and the agents ensures the standardization of the rental process, which is particularly suitable for users who have high requirements for the quality and safety of the houses.
Applicable scenarios: Suitable for users who have already rented a house in Australia or are about to arrive and plan to lease the property for a long term. It is your preferred tool for understanding the rental market prices and property distribution in Australia.
2. Domain (domain.com.au)
Features and Positioning: Domain is another prominent real estate information platform in Australia, on par with Realestate. It also mainly offers listings from real estate agencies. However, in terms of user experience and search functionality, Domain has also devoted significant efforts to optimization.
Analysis of Advantages:
User-friendly interface, powerful search function: The App and website design of Domain are generally regarded as more modern. Its precise filtering function (such as by school district, transportation, facilities, etc.) can help users quickly locate the properties.
Property complementarity: Although most agencies publish properties on both Realestate and Domain simultaneously, there are still some properties that may only appear on one of the platforms. Therefore, it is recommended to use both platforms simultaneously to ensure no opportunities are missed.
Virtual viewing service: Some high-end or new properties will provide high-quality virtual viewing (Virtual Tour) services, allowing users to remotely understand the situation of the houses.
Applicable scenarios: Suitable for various rental needs, especially for users with specific requirements regarding location and facilities. It is an indispensable auxiliary tool for long-term renters.
3. uhomes.com
Features and Positioning: uhomes.com is a rental platform specifically designed to serve international students worldwide. It deeply understands the pain points that international students encounter when renting houses across borders – issues such as information asymmetry, complex procedures, and security concerns, and has provided targeted solutions.
Analysis of Advantages:
Real property guarantee and VR viewing: uhomes.com emphasizes that it offers “100% real properties” and provides VR viewing and video verification. Staff members have conducted on-site property inspections in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and other places multiple times during the period of 2023-2025 to verify the property information. This provides a great guarantee of trust for international students who cannot visit the properties in person.
Price transparency commitment: The platform promises “zero price difference across the network” or “the same price as the apartment website”. Through the “real-time synchronization” technology, it achieves consistency with market prices. This avoids the risk of international students being charged additional fees due to information discrepancies.
One-stop service for international students: The business covers 27 countries and 1,000+ cities worldwide, with 2.4 million properties and has served over 3 million customers. The properties it provides include not only traditional off-campus rentals and shared accommodations but also a large number of brand student accommodation options. These apartments usually include water, electricity, gas, furniture, and have strict management, making them very suitable for international students who are new to Australia.
Applicable scenarios: This plan is most suitable for international students who have not yet arrived in Australia and need to secure accommodation in advance. It is particularly suitable for users who have high requirements for the authenticity of the housing, the transparency of prices, and the one-stop service.
4. Gumtree (gumtree.com.au)
Features and Positioning: Gumtree is an Australian comprehensive classified information website, similar to “58 Tongcheng” in China. The rental section of Gumtree has the characteristic of having a relatively high proportion of individual landlords and rental information. The types of available housing mainly include shared houses (Share House), short-term rentals (Short-term Rental), and subletting.
Analysis of Advantages:
Flexible pricing and high value for money: As most of the properties are individual listings, there is no agency fee, and the prices usually have more room for negotiation compared to those from agencies, making it suitable for users with limited budgets.
High diversity of listings: You can find various distinctive properties here, such as staying with local families or unique properties in non-mainstream areas.
Direct communication: You can directly communicate with the landlord or current roommates to quickly understand the living environment and roommate situation.
Applicable scenarios: Suitable for users who need a short-term transition, are looking for roommates to share the rent, have low requirements for the house, and seek flexibility. Important reminder: The information on Gumtree is mixed, be cautious of false information and fraud. Do not pay any fees before viewing the house or verifying the identity.
5. TenantApp
Features and Positioning: TenantApp itself is not a real estate listing platform; rather, it is an application focused on simplifying the rental process. It collaborates with mainstream brokerage platforms such as Realestate and Domain, integrating aspects like property viewing appointments, rental applications, document uploads, and contract signing into a single app.
Analysis of Advantages:
Simplify the rental process: In Australia, the application process for renting a house is very cumbersome, requiring the filling in of a large amount of personal information and uploading of supporting documents. TenantApp enables users to create a unified tenant profile and apply to multiple rental properties with just one click, significantly enhancing efficiency.
Digital management: Supports online appointment for viewing properties, tracking application progress, and even online payment of deposits (Bond) and rent.
Convenient experience: Suitable for users who are accustomed to digital operations and seek a convenient experience, it can effectively reduce offline communication costs with real estate agents.
Applicable scenarios: Suitable for all rental groups in Australia who rent properties locally and need to frequently submit applications to the agencies. It is an efficiency tool, not a source of housing listings.
6. Airbnb (Airbnb.com.au)
Features and Positioning: Airbnb primarily offers short-term accommodation services with flexible rental terms, usually calculated by the day or week. It is not a traditional long-term rental platform, but it plays an important role as a temporary accommodation option for international students upon your arrival in Australia.
Analysis of Advantages:
Flexible lease term: Suitable as a transitional accommodation option before the official rental contract begins.
Immersive local life experience: The property types are diverse, offering a more local and distinctive living experience compared to hotels.
Comprehensive facilities: Most properties provide complete furniture and kitchen facilities, ensuring convenient living.
Applicable scenarios: Suitable for short-term rentals (from a few weeks to several months), or for those who are transitioning to Australia and haven’t found a long-term residence yet. Note: In the long run, the cost of Airbnb is usually much higher than that of signing a one-year lease for a full house or a shared apartment.
Guide to Renting a House in Australia - Procedures, Terms & Tips to Avoid Scams
After learning about the housing search platform, we must master the core procedures and legal knowledge of renting in Australia. The Australian rental market is a highly regulated one, following strict legal procedures, especially when dealing with agents.
Details of Rental Process in Australia (Taking Full Lease from An Agent as An Example)
Step 1: Preparation
Before starting to look for a student accommodation in Australia, you need to prepare a complete tenant profile, which is the key to successfully getting the house.
Identity Proof (ID): Passport, student ID, driver’s license, etc. (100-point proof is required).
Financial Proof (Proof of Income): Bank statement, scholarship certificate, or a letter of financial support from parents (if supported by parents).
Past Rental Record (Rental History): If you have rental experience in Australia, you need to provide a recommendation letter from your previous landlord or the agency. For new international students, you can provide a domestic rental contract or recommendation letter, or provide the information of a guarantor.
Personal Statement (Cover Letter): Provide a brief introduction of yourself and explain why you are the ideal tenant (such as being clean, having no bad habits, being able to pay rent on time, etc.).
Step 2: Inspection & Selection
In Australia, the properties are usually only available for viewing during the “Open Inspection” period as stipulated by the agency.
Make an appointment for a house viewing: After finding your desired property on Realestate or Domain, be sure to make an appointment for a viewing through the platform or TenantApp.
Conduct a site inspection: Make sure to conduct a physical inspection yourself or entrust it to a friend or an agent (such as the service provided by uhomes.com). Focus on checking the ventilation, lighting, the operating condition of facilities (toilets, stoves, air conditioners, etc.) as well as the surrounding environment (transportation, supermarkets, safety).
High competition: Popular properties usually have dozens of people viewing them simultaneously. During the viewing, show interest in the house and be familiar with the process to leave a good impression on the agent.
Step 3: Application
After viewing the property, if you decide to rent it, you must immediately submit an application through TenantApp or the online system provided by the agent.
Act quickly: In Australia, renting a house follows the “first come, first served” principle. Agents usually start reviewing applications within 24 to 48 hours after showing the property.
Completeness and authenticity: Ensure that all documents are complete and the information is true. Any omissions or false information may result in the application being rejected.
Rent offer: In highly competitive situations, you can consider slightly increasing the rent (such as AU$5 – AU$10 per week) above the listed price, or proposing to pay more in advance (such as for three months) to increase your competitiveness.
Step 4: Lease Signing & Move-in
After your application is approved, the agency will contact you to sign the lease agreement.
Carefully read the contract: The lease is a legally binding document. Make sure to carefully read the key contents such as lease term, rent, deposit, maintenance responsibility, and lease termination terms.
Pay the deposit (Bond): The deposit is usually four weeks’ rent. This money is not directly given to the landlord or the agent, but is deposited into the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) established by the government, which is supervised by the government to protect the tenant’s rights.
Pay the advance rent: Usually, you need to pay two or four weeks’ rent in advance.
Inspection upon entry (Condition Report): When you move in, you will receive a report on the condition of the house. Make sure to carefully check and take photos of any existing damages or flaws in the house within the specified time (usually within 7 days), and report them to the agent. This report is the most important evidence for whether your deposit can be fully refunded when you terminate the lease.
Core Terms & Legal Knowledge Related to Renting in Australia
| Core Term | Explanation & Importance |
|---|---|
| Bond | It’s four weeks’ rent typically, held in escrow by a government agency (such as the RTBA) to cover damage to the property or rent arrears. The full amount is refunded upon termination of the lease if there are no issues. |
| Lease Agreement | A legally binding document that specifies the lease term, rent, and the rights and obligations of both parties. It is typically for 6 or 12 months. |
| Fixed-term Lease | The lease term is fixed, and neither party can terminate the contract early (unless there are special circumstances). This is the most common type of lease. |
| Periodic Lease | Upon the expiration of the fixed lease term, the lease will automatically convert to a term lease, which can be terminated by prior notice from both parties. |
| Rent in Advance | Usually, a two-week or four-week rent advance is required. The law stipulates that the agency cannot demand a rent advance exceeding four weeks. |
| Condition Report | Documents recording the condition of the property upon move-in. This is the sole basis for the refund of the security deposit upon move-out and must be carefully filled out and photographed. |
| Utilities | For whole-unit rentals, tenants typically need to activate and pay for the service yourselves. For shared rentals, the service is usually included in the rent. |
| Notice to Vacate | Tenants or landlords must give each other written notice in advance before terminating a lease. The notice period depends on the type of lease and state law. |
Guide to Avoiding Rental Scams: Common Traps for International Students
Beware of “subletting” traps: On platforms like Gumtree, some listings are sublet by subletters. Always verify that the subletter has the right to sublet and request to see their head lease with the original landlord. If subletting occurs without the original landlord’s consent, your rights will not be protected.
“Pay upfront before viewing” is a scam: Reputable Australian agents or landlords will never ask you to pay a deposit or rent before viewing a property or signing a contract. Any request to transfer money via Western Union or an unverified third-party platform is a scam.
Bond payment method: The bond must be paid to the government’s Bond Authority (such as the RTBA), not directly to the agent or landlord. The agent will provide official payment receipts. If they ask you to transfer money directly to a personal account as a bond, please refuse immediately.
Maintenance responsibility: Tenants are only responsible for routine cleaning and minor damage. Structural problems with the building, electrical malfunctions, etc., are the landlord’s responsibility. If the agent or landlord refuses to perform necessary repairs, you can file a complaint with your state’s Consumer Affairs Department or Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT/VCAT, etc.).
Furniture and amenities: Confirm whether the rent includes or excludes furniture. For student accommodation, it’s usually all-inclusive. For entire apartments, most are unfurnished.
City/Region Recommendations & Lifestyle Advice
Each major city in Australia has its own unique rental hotspots. International students should take into account factors such as commuting time, cost of living, and community safety when choosing a rental area.
Sydney
Popular areas: Ultimo, Haymarket (close to the University of Sydney and UTS, convenient living, but high rent); Kensington, Randwick (close to University of New South Wales, convenient transportation, moderate rent); Macquarie Park (close to Macquarie University, beautiful environment, suitable for driving or commuting within the campus).
Recommendation: The transportation cost in Sydney is relatively high. When choosing a student apartment in Sydney, it is recommended to select areas close to schools or major transportation hubs (such as railway stations) to save commuting costs and time.
Melbourne
Popular areas: Carlton, Parkville (close to the University of Melbourne and RMIT University, with a strong cultural atmosphere, but many older properties); Southbank, Docklands (modern apartments, close to the CBD, suitable for students who enjoy city life); Clayton (close to Monash University Clayton campus (the main campus), with complete living facilities and high cost-performance ratio).
Recommendation: The free tram zone in Melbourne CBD is an advantage, but apartments in CBD area are generally small and expensive. Consider looking for better value Melbourne city student accommodation in the outskirts along the tram lines.
Brisbane
Popular areas: St Lucia (home to the main campus of the University of Queensland (UQ), highly competitive rental market); South Bank, West End (close to Queensland University of Technology (QUT), convenient living, beautiful environment); Sunnybank (an Asian community, convenient living, suitable for students who like Asian food and Asian supermarkets).
Recommendation: The local climate is pleasant, but summers are hot, so be sure to check that your planned student accommodation in Brisbane has a good air conditioning system.
Conclusion
Renting in Australia requires patience and meticulousness. From choosing the right platform (such as Realestate and Domain to understand the market, uhomes.com to secure safe listings, and Gumtree to find flexible shared accommodations), to preparing complete application materials, and strictly adhering to the viewing and contract signing process, every step is crucial. Remember, as a tenant, you have full rights protected under Australian law. If you encounter any unfair treatment or disputes, you can seek assistance from the relevant government agencies.
FAQ
What are the best housing rental website in Australia?
The best housing rental website in Australia are Realestate, Domain, uhomes.com, Gumtree, TenantApp, and Airbnb. Among them, Realestate and Domain are suitable for ones want long-term rentals and have specific requirements on location, like CBD, or suburbs. uhomes.com is the preferred platform for international students to rent apartments. Gumtree and Airbnb are ideal for ones plan for short-term accommodation. TenantApp is a good choice for those engaging in digital operations and pursuing convenient experiences.
Which is the best rental website in Australia for international students?
uhomes.com is considered as the best rental website in Australia for international students. The platform provides 100% verified real housing listings ensure the quality of these listings through VR viewing, video verification, and on-site inspections. This guarantees that students can “see and get what they pay for” when renting. At the same time, the rental prices on our platform are transparent, promising “no price difference compared to the entire network” or “the same price as the apartment’s official website”, guaranteeing students genuine discounts in cash. Additionally, the student apartments on our platform are fully furnished and all bills are included, providing students with a truly comfortable and convenient living environment. 24/7 1-on-1 professional multilingual consultants are also ready to help you solve any problem you met during the procedure.
Should I book via online rental platform or go to an estate agent when renting in Australia?
Combining online rental platform and estate agent is a better way when renting in Australia. During the initial screening stage of the house, you can use online rental platform, like Realestate, and Domain to find and filter properties. And you can go to an estate agent for expert guidance, managing paperwork, and local market insights. After you find out some preferrable ones and get some latest crutial information related to the rental market in Australia, you can compare the prices, preferential policies, specific details of the rooms, etc.， that they offer. Choose the one that is most beneficial to you and sign the rental contract with that party. Of course, it would be better if one could inspect the property in person before signing the contract.
