With a lack of suitable and affordable accommodation in the short-term rental market, finding housing for immigrants in Australia is becoming more challenging. Short-term housing is typically defined as rentals up to 6 months duration [1]. While the housing problems are not confined to the short-term rental market – there are insufficient rentals in the long-term market as well – the short-term rental problem affects immigrants on arrival in Australia.
Challenges of Finding Short-Term Housing for Immigrants
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated an already struggling housing market in Australia. During and shortly after the pandemic crisis, many Australians moved away from the cities which led to prices stabilizing or even dropping in some areas for rental properties as well as those for sale. As a result, when life began to return to normal and businesses began to require their staff back in the office, this drove demand for more inner-city apartment and house rentals.
On top of that, when travel restrictions lifted, students and immigrants returning to Australia found themselves struggling to find suitable accommodation. Non-resident visa holders often face limited rental options due to restrictions on their eligibility, which causes even more pressure on the tight rental market.
Cost of living in Australia
Living costs in Australia have increased significantly in the past 2-3 years post-pandemic. Housing costs are particularly high, especially in the major cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide where monthly rental costs increased 12-14% in the year from September 2021 to September 2022. At the time of writing (May 2023), average monthly rental prices in Sydney for a 1-bedroom apartment is over $3000 with average wages around $6,132 [2]. Coupled with high inflation and difficulty finding accommodation, this is making immigration much more challenging than before.
Tips for Finding Short-Term Housing in Australia
Despite the challenges, there are some options for finding short-term housing in Australia.
Search online platforms.
There are many websites and apps for finding short-term rentals such as Airbnb and Gumtree. Join Facebook groups and other online communities to look for additional leads for housing opportunities.
Cultivate relationships with local real estate agents.
Get to know the local estate agents where you would like to live. When you are top of mind, by phoning or dropping into their office regularly, you are more likely to be the first to know when a new, suitable property becomes available. If you’re not sure who to turn to, look at properties on realestate.com.au and Domain and then look up some of the agents who listed properties in your desired price range or city. You might find some short-term rentals you like on those sites as well.
Explore house-sharing opportunities.
If you are prepared to share a house or apartment, you are likely to find it easier to secure short-term housing in Australia. Sharing can be cost-effective as well as a good way to get to know people when you arrive in a new city. Check out platforms such as Flatmates, The Room XChange and Roommates, as well as Facebook groups for potential housemates and suitable housing options. Be sure to verify that the people and offers involved are real before sending any money.
Consider serviced apartments and hotels.
You may need to find very short-term accommodation on arrival in Australia, so why not consider serviced apartments and hotels. These options are more expensive than traditional rentals, but they do offer flexibility as well as usually high-quality facilities including on-site gyms and eateries.
Move in with an Australian family.
It may be possible to stay with an Australian family on a short-term basis so that you can work out exactly where you would prefer to live. This can be much more affordable than a serviced apartment or hotel, plus you can get to know your host family who might be able to serve as a terrific friend and resource for you as you navigate your new environment. Check out Homestay and Australian Homestay Network.
Consider caravanning in Australia.
An alternative approach could be to consider living in a mobile home or caravan. This could enable you to travel around Australia while working. Caravanning in Australia is popular as a leisure activity, but it could also provide a solution to your short-term rental problem.
Sending money to and from Australia
When moving to Australia, you’ll need to convert your home currency into Australian dollars (AUD). Before you can do this, you will need an Australian bank account to receive the money, unless you choose to pick up cash at an agent location in the city where you are arriving. Once you are settled and are earning, you can send money back home using our reliable money transfer app. For help setting up your account, visit the Help Centre on our website.
