Long Term Accommodation
For newbies looking for a place to rent there are few options available:
1. realestate.com.au
2. domain.com.au
3. rent.com.au
4. homehound.com.au
5. realestate.ozfreeonline.com
Please note that chances of getting an accommodation solely depends on the real estate agents that you are dealing with. To ease matters out, please prepare the following document prior to your arrival:
1. Copies of Malaysian Passport of all adults planning to reside in the accommodation.
2. Copies of your Financial Affidavits from your scholarship's sponsor
3. Copies of Bank Account Statement (any Australian banks will do)
4. Copies of Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE) and Offer Letter from University or work place.
5. Copies of Student ID or Work ID
6. Copies of VISA Approval from Department of Immigration and Customs (DIAC)
7. May also help, if you can provide any kind of documents showing that you are able to pay the rent such as pay slip from Malaysia, Malaysian Bank Account Account Statement or even S&P Agreement of house(s) you purchase in Malaysia. We highly recommend that you provide more than 10 sets of these documents prior to your arrival here in Geelong.
Recommended Steps in looking for an Accommodation to rent are as follows:
1. Please view the weblinks provided
2. List severals property within your budget and set an inspection time/date with
the agent(s), which is done usually by email.
3. During inspection make sure the agent jot down your name and don' forget to
request an application form from the agent (at that moment).
4. Fill in the form and attach all the documents listed above with the form. All
adults planning to stay in the accommodation will need to fill it in (even
spouses or children categorize as adult), Just jot somewhere noticeable in your
spouse's form that you are husband and wife, bundle and send it together in
one envelope to the agent.
5. Application form can be send later after the inspection.
6. Important! Inspecting the accommodation is compulsory prior to apply.
7. We advise, that you send in at least 10 applications. Based on our (community
historical records) experiences, some have even applied up to 20 and only 2 or 3
replied. Only successful application will be notified by the agents.
8. Upon a successful application, the agent will email or call you to their office for
a signing agreement session.
9. You will need to prepare a "bond" (or deposit money) of usually 1 month rent.
this is NOT in cash. You will have to do it at a post office, just mention RTBA
bond and give the provide them with the fund, the post guys will know what to
do.
10. Keys will be given when RTBA bond is provided to the agent and you have
signed the agreement. Note: all adult will need to sign the agreement.
11. Once you get the key, get a check list form from the agent and inspect the
house thoroughly, jot every defect you found (even minor scratches to the wall
etc...), test the electrical points (aircondition, stove, heater etc...) and hand it
over to the agent within 3 working days. Request for a fix to the agent if
required, usually you will not be charge for this.
12. In most cases, agent will not disclose who are the owner of the property, every
deal is made through the property agent.
13. Rental is revise every year and you will be notified at least 3 month before
contract expires. Increase of rent will not be more than 5% of your current
rental, you can lodge a complaint if it is more than that.
Tips in looking for a shade:
1. Too cheap property, maybe in a less compleasent neighborhood (high crime rate, or near a bar or etc...), so fork out some money for a safer place to live in.
2. Go for gas type utilities, such as gas heating, gas cooking. Avoid electric boiler for heating or electric stove. Why? they are soo..too..expensive. Some tenants here have been paying more than AUD 800 for 3 months for electric typed utility property. So go GAS! it's cheaper. Information on type of utility a property may have should be in the weblinks.
3. Rent a unit for small family. In most cases, water bill is free when renting a unit. So you will be only charged for electricity and gas. If you wonder what is a unit, please browse through the weblinks and compare between a unit, house, flat and an apartment. The terms used are not the same as in Malaysia, for example, the term "Flat" here in Australia is referred to a number of property in one compound, not necessary a high rise living quarters. So do not assumed the terms is the same as what's used in Malaysia.
4. High concentration of Malaysian are in areas such as Newtown, West Geelong,
Belmont and Highton. You may want to have a look at properties in these suburbs.
Turning "Onn" your utility:
1. There are many energy company available here. they provide gas, electricity or both. The rates are different depending on which company you choose. Below are popular among the community:
- http://www.truenergy.com.au/index.xhtml
- http://www.originenergy.com.au/
2. You can deal with the companies via phone and usually it will take one or two days to get the utilities ready.3. Utilities activation payments are bundled in your first bill. You can opt for one company for both gas, electricity or separately.
We hope that the information here is suffice to ease your start here in Geelong. These are just suggestions of what many families or singles have been through and are just recorded by word of mouth. We are not liable for any problems you may faced when applying these suggestions. Good luck in your searching.