Everything first-time renters need to know — landlord types, housemate etiquette, pet laws, PBSA, legal resources, and more. In your language.
In the first week, sit down with your housemates and talk through expectations: cleaning rosters, quiet hours, guests, shared food, bills. An awkward 20-minute conversation now saves months of passive tension.
Dishes in the sink, benches left messy, and bathroom neglect are the most common sources of housemate conflict. The rule is simple: leave shared spaces as you found them, every single time.
Set up an automatic payment if you need to. Late rent affects your housemates' relationship with the landlord. Missing bills causes service disruptions. Being reliable with money is the single biggest trust-builder.
If something bothers you, say so kindly and early. Most housemate conflicts escalate because a small issue was ignored for weeks. A calm, direct conversation is always better than a house meeting that's actually a confrontation.
Not everyone keeps the same hours. Headphones after 10pm, quiet voices in hallways, and warning housemates before late-night guests shows respect. If you're a night owl living with early birds, extra care goes a long way.
Having a partner, family member, or friend stay over occasionally is normal. But extended stays affect everyone — parking, bathrooms, food, and comfort. Check in with housemates before longer stays and agree on what 'occasional' means upfront.
Share houses here often bring together people from very different backgrounds. Be curious, not dismissive. If a housemate has dietary requirements, prayer times, or different social norms — respect them as you'd want yours respected.
You are jointly and individually responsible for the property. Damage you or your guests cause may come out of everyone's bond. Report maintenance issues promptly, look after common areas, and don't make modifications without landlord approval.
Homesickness is real, adjustment takes time, and not every housemate match is perfect. Connect with your uni's student services, find community through clubs and groups, and remember — feeling overwhelmed early on is completely normal.
If you love a big night out, that's fine — but match with people who feel the same. Coming home at 3am to a house of early-bird med students isn't fair on anyone. UniRenter's matching flags lifestyle early so you find your people.
A property manager employed by a licensed agency to manage the property on behalf of the owner. They are licensed, regulated, and must follow strict rules about bonds, inspections, repairs, and communication.
The property owner manages the rental themselves — no agent involved. Common in Facebook group listings and share houses. Legally they must still follow all tenancy laws in your state, but enforcement relies on your knowledge of those laws.
If you rent an apartment or unit in a complex, the building is likely managed by an Body Corporate (strata). Your landlord owns the individual unit but the common areas, building rules, and facilities are governed by the Body Corporate — not your landlord.
Professionally managed residential buildings designed specifically for students. Examples include Scape, UniLodge, Iglu, Student One, and Campus Living Villages. Usually fully furnished with bills included.
PBSA buildings typically have 24/7 security, key-card access, CCTV, and a building manager or resident assistant available after hours. For students arriving from overseas alone, this provides significant peace of mind.
Social events, common rooms, study areas, and rooftop spaces make it easy to meet other students. Fighting loneliness is one of the hardest parts of moving cities — PBSA removes that friction significantly.
Most PBSA includes furniture, Wi-Fi, electricity, water, and laundry in one weekly rate. No chasing housemates for bills, no utility setup stress, no buying furniture on arrival.
Resident assistants (RAs) are trained to provide pastoral care, mental health check-ins, and referrals to university support services. For students who find independent living difficult, this safety net matters.
Central Adelaide locations near UniSA and University of Adelaide
Student residences near University of Adelaide and UniSA campuses
City and near-campus locations for Adelaide students
Monash and other campus-based accommodation options
Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 (SA), a landlord cannot unreasonably withhold consent to keeping a pet. You should request permission in writing and keep a copy. In strata-titled properties, by-laws may impose additional restrictions.
In a strata/Body Corporate building, you need BOTH your landlord's approval AND the Body Corporate's approval. OC rules can lawfully prohibit or restrict pets — check OC rules before applying.
Landlords can apply to VCAT to require a pet bond or impose pet-related conditions (e.g. professional cleaning on exit). They cannot charge pet-specific rent increases.
Even if your landlord approves your pet, housemates may have allergies, fears, or preferences. Discuss openly before moving a pet in — a housemate with severe cat allergy cannot simply be overruled.
A dog lives 10–15 years. A cat 12–18 years. If you're in Australia on a student visa for 2–3 years, think carefully: what happens when you graduate, move interstate, or return home? Abandoned pets are a real and growing problem in student housing areas across Australia.
Even with SA's pet-friendly laws, finding share housing with a pet is significantly harder. Adelaide's affordable market still means competition for pet-friendly rooms — landlords have more choice than you'd expect.
If you're certain you can commit for the animal's lifetime, adoption is the most responsible choice. Australian shelters are full of animals abandoned by previous owners — including many by international students. Adopting saves a life.
RSPCA SA rspcasa.org.au · Animal Welfare League SA awlsa.com.au · Cat Protection Society SA catprotectionsa.org.au. Please do not abandon animals — it is illegal and causes genuine suffering.
Full guide to the pet approval process, landlord obligations, and your rights in SA
Primary authority for SA rental disputes — bonds, repairs, inspections, terminations
Free, independent advice for SA renters. Strongly recommended for international students
Official guide covering all aspects of renting in South Australia
The full legislation governing all SA rental agreements
SA government guide specifically for international students
Email or message every important conversation — repairs, inspections, complaints, permission requests. Written records protect you legally. If a landlord says something verbally, follow up with "Just to confirm in writing what we discussed…"
Take a photo of any document — lease, condition report, notice — and use Google Translate's camera feature to read it in your language. Always have a trusted person review important legal documents before you sign.
Most Adelaide universities have international student offices with staff who speak your language and can help with housing issues, translate documents, and advocate on your behalf.
The Australian Government's TIS National service provides professional interpreters by phone — free for many visa holders. Call 131 450 for immediate assistance in over 160 languages.
Free phone interpreting · 131 450 · Available 24/7 · 160+ languages
Translate documents, websites, and conversations — camera mode reads printed text
Emergency repairs are situations that pose an immediate risk to health, safety, or security. Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 (SA), if your landlord fails to respond, you have the right to arrange emergency repairs yourself and claim costs back (up to Reasonable costs (claim back via CBS)).
Burst pipe or serious water leak, blocked or broken toilet (if sole toilet in the property), flooding or serious storm damage, failure of essential hot water supply.
Gas leak — evacuate first, then call 000 and your gas company. Dangerous electrical fault — don't use any switches. Failure of essential cooking or heating appliance (state-dependent).
Broken locks, doors, or windows that compromise the security of the property — these must be repaired promptly regardless of who caused the damage.
Routine repairs are non-urgent issues that still require the landlord to act within a reasonable time. The general guideline in South Australia is 14 days from a written request.
Leaking taps or pipes (non-urgent). Broken or non-functioning fixtures (blinds, cupboard doors, locks). Appliances supplied with the property (oven, dishwasher, air conditioning). Damaged flooring, walls, or ceilings. Faulty smoke alarms (landlord's responsibility to maintain).
Email or message every repair request — this starts the clock on the landlord's obligation and creates a paper trail. State the issue clearly, include a photo where possible, and keep a copy. If the landlord says they'll fix it verbally, follow up with "Just confirming in writing..."
Send a second written request referencing the first and quoting the 14 days obligation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 (SA). If still no response, contact Consumer and Business Services (CBS) on 131 882 — they can issue formal directions to landlords and agents.
Mould is one of the most common and contested issues in share houses, particularly in humid climates and poorly ventilated bathrooms. Responsibility depends on the cause — not just the presence of mould.
If mould keeps coming back no matter what you do — especially on external walls, ceilings, or in rooms with normal ventilation — it's likely caused by a structural issue: leaking roof, rising damp, broken exhaust fan, or inadequate ventilation by building design. Report in writing and the landlord is required to fix it.
If you don't open windows, run exhaust fans, or dry clothes indoors regularly, mould is on you to prevent. Every shower: run the exhaust fan during and for 10–15 minutes after. Open bedroom windows daily. Dry clothes outdoors or use a dryer — not hung inside.
Photograph every room when you move in — including any existing mould, water stains, or dampness. Email the photos to your landlord or agent so they're date-stamped. This single step can save your bond at the end of the tenancy.
Act immediately. Small spots: treat with white vinegar or diluted bleach (never mix with ammonia cleaners). Report significant mould to your landlord in writing, including photos, and request it be assessed and repaired. Keep a copy of all correspondence.
Full guide including emergency repairs, timeframes, and how to make a complaint
Primary legislation governing all rental rights and obligations in South Australia
Limited to once per 12-month period.
Written notice 7–14 days before proposed entry; must be within normal hours.
Landlords must not unreasonably refuse a pet request. Grounds for refusal must be specified under the Act.
Abolished from 1 July 2024 — landlords must specify a valid ground to terminate any tenancy
Official South Australia tenancy regulator — rights, forms, complaints, and dispute resolution
Free, independent tenancy advice and advocacy for renters in South Australia
The tribunal that hears tenancy disputes in South Australia. If your landlord is not meeting their obligations and negotiation has failed, this is where disputes are resolved.