martharap

Does anyone have any tips on finding a 2 bedroom furnished apartment, with a refrigerator, for budget price of no more than $525AU/week?? Looking for a 6-month lease.

I'm asking on behalf of my daughter, who will be arriving Sydney with a friend on a work and holiday visa in 2 weeks and still has not found a place to live! She's supposed to be working on this herself but so far has struck out.

Also, how do utilities work? Are there huge deposits required (especially for non-Australians)??

Susan7

In terms of utilities, water is paid by the landlord, phone and electricity require a smallish refundable deposit.

Fully furnished flats are not the norm so it might be worth her while thinking about unfurnished flats and for her to pick up cheap furniture at IKEA and charity stores. Here's one of the main websites for rentals:

http://www.domain.com.au/Search/rent.../Suburb/sydney

House-sitting could be an option: http://www.aussiehousesitters.com.au...ing-sydney.php

lavandula

I would also look into share households - maybe not what she is used to but the norm for young people here as Sydney is such an expensive city to rent in. That way she may only have to contribute minimal furnishings if any. Couples are often OK, they often just pay a bit more for a master bedroom. Domain, as Susan7 mentioned, is one avenue; another may be local newspapers, which often have ads for share accommodation. These usually get dropped near people's front doors in sealed plastic packets. In my area (Eastern Suburbs, close to city) the Wentworth Courier is the local rag. This is the link I followed from the Wentworth Courier online, which has a section for rent and share housing:

http://www.newsclassifieds.com.au/

Lavandula

dreamon

Also try realestate.com.au.

Water is not always paid by the landlord as sometimes water is separately metered to each apartment.

For share accommodation she could also try notice boards at the universities.

martharap

Thanks everyone.

She arrives Sydney June 5, with her friend, and I guess they'll sleep on friends' couches until they find a place!

They're having a hard time finding 2 rooms in a share situation, or an affordable 2 bedroom furnished apartment! Also, since she won't have a job lined up before arriving, she doesn't have work references (several agents/landlords requested that), so I don't know what they'll end up doing.

They are young and completely unrealistic vis-a-vis what they want for a living situation and what they realistically can afford!

Ah, youth...I'm trying to be optimistic that she will find a job and a place to live.

Bokhara2

it will be easier once they arrive & start meeting people and get to know the various areas. If your daughter or her friend has rented before,it may be useful to obtain references from the Letting Agents/landlords and being those. Include an email for reference checks.

It's difficult to arrange share accommodation before they see the areas, properties & meet the other housemates. I wouldn't share or rent sight unseen, nor with people I'd not met & would strongly advise against anyone else doing it too.

Charity shops, garage sales, 2nd hand shops & eBay are a great source of cheap furnishings & whitegoods.