🦘Attention international students studying in Australia for 5 years! 🔍A must-read post before renting a house in Australia!

Studying abroad, accommodation is a big challenge. The dormitories provided by foreign schools are usually limited and cannot meet the needs of all students. For example, in the UK, it's first come, first served. If there are no dormitories available, students have to find their own solutions. Australia is a popular destination for studying abroad, and with so many students, how should the accommodation issue be addressed? I have summarized several rental options to help you as a reference: 1⃣️ Homestay ✅ Pros: Reliable! Since it is arranged by the school, they won't cheat you. The host families provide everything you need, like pillows and bedding if you didn't bring them for the first time. If you are placed with a local family, it can greatly help improve your English and quickly adapt to Australian life under their guidance. ❌ Cons: Restrictions! There are various restrictions on things like curfew, food, and internet usage. Each family has different rules, but it's definitely not as comfortable as renting your own place. It's a matter of luck... If you're lucky, you'll have a pleasant experience with a good host family. But if you encounter a bad one, you might go crazy... with all sorts of restrictions, limited shower times, not being allowed to cook for yourself, and the food provided by the host being terrible... If you unfortunately end up with such a host, immediately negotiate and complain to the school. Don't tolerate it on your own! The school will intervene and arrange a new homestay for you. 2⃣️ Student Apartments ✅ Pros: Convenient! The facilities are well-equipped! They provide everything from microwave ovens to refrigerators, and some places even provide pots, pans, and utensils. When you sign a contract with a student apartment, they won't cheat you, so you can rest assured. Generally, you need a key card or key to enter and exit the building, which is relatively safe. Student apartments are usually located near the school, making it very convenient to live there. ❌ Cons: Expensive and Noisy! However, there are a few issues with living in student apartments. The accommodation fees are expensive, more expensive than homestays and renting your own place, and you have to learn to cook for yourself. For example, a studio apartment in downtown Melbourne costs around $350, and in areas like Swinburne, it's around $230+. Since there are many students living there, sometimes gatherings among classmates can happen frequently, occasionally affecting the quality of sleep at night. 3⃣️ Renting a House Directly Renting a house directly is quite distant for new students. Almost no freshmen can find a house right away because the process of finding and viewing houses, as well as buying second-hand furniture, can be quite troublesome. These are the main ways to rent accommodation in Australia. Generally, the more convenient it is, the more expensive it will be, and the cheaper options are more prone to scams. When you are new to a place, it's easy to be deceived by unscrupulous landlords, so remember to be cautious!