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Topic
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If you are an owner of a Unit in a strata building, can you rent out your spare room to backpackers and students, and also live there, is that allowed or illegal? Or do you have to go through real estate agent and send money to the bond board, and make em sign a legal lease etc? And say the room is big 1-2 people, not overcrowding eg 5-6 people in bunk beds backpacker dorm style.
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Replies
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Have a look at this factsheet-14-boarders-and-lodgers.
I rented out a spare room to uni students for a number of years (my apartment was quite close) on a “share accommodation” basis.
I drew up my own “Residential Share Agreement” which detailed topics such as
1. How rent was to be paid, and amount
2. Duration of agreement, and terms of termination
3. Areas of the property included
4. Inclusions/exclusions in the rental amount, and use of owner’s property (appliances, etc).
5. Cleaning responsibilities
6. Tenant’s visitor restrictions, compliance with Strata By-Laws.
7. Determination of splitting costs of utilities (I stipulated a fixed weekly amount to avoid hassles of “fair share” disputes at billing time.
8. Personal details of tenant such as home address, family contacts, passport/visa details (for o/s students), previous accommodation, etc
The document made it quite clear that it was NOT a residential lease, and that requirements of the Act (bond, etc) did not apply. I called it a “Security Deposit”.
There was no need to go to a RE Agent. If you want students, most colleges/Uni’s have an office where you can register your details and you will get referrals. Students tend to be more stable and reliable than itinerant backpackers.
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