How to rent in the Sydney area?

Welcome Mescu.

The estate agents put almost everything online nowdays so the only extra stuff you'll find in the paper will be private rentals which are not the best option if you are coming from overseas and don't know the rules. Sometimes they list stuff on there own websites for a few days before it goes onto the portals but not often.

Some of the agents also let you register with them online and specify what you are looking for. They then contact you if something comes up which matches.

Good luck, hope you enjoy Sydney.

Renting
Hi,

My wife has got a job that will be starting next month in Sydney. We're really looking forward to getting there. We are just wondering about when we get there how long it would take to find an apartment or unit to live in.

For example if a place is listed as available now, how long does it take the agents to check references, etc before you could move into a place? I'm a little nervous about getting there without a place already lined up to live in.

Also how long is the average lease on a place?

Thanks

Hello Cantraveler.

A good agent will process an application in a day or two at most. Leases are usually six months or one year. Some will do three months if you ask nicely.

Good luck, have fun.

Thanks for answering so quickly. That's great to know. I've seen plenty of places online that I really like already, and about a week before we arrive we'll try to setup inspections right for when we arrive.

We have good references from both New Zealand and Canada and my wife has a job in Sydney, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Appreciate your help.

When do you land in Sydney, Cantraveler? Maybe you can recomend me an agent after you rent..;o)

BTW: I'm having a tough time finding on the net a furnished house to rent. All places seem to be unfurnished:o( Should I expect to pay more for a furnished place vs. unfurnished?

Margo, Adrian & All, I would really appreciate any advise since time to land is running out...

Thanks,
mescu

Furnished rental propertys are pretty rare. Serviced appartments are often the only furnished things on the market.

Electrical goods can all be rented fairly cheaply and second hand furniture is easy to find if that's an option.

We're arriving this weekend mescu. I'll definately let you know how the rental process goes. We have a friend in Thirrol which is quite far away but at least if we really get stuck we can go and stay with her. I'm hoping to resolve it soon. I've contacted agents and setup appointments for when we arrive. I've found most on domain.com.au and realestate.com.au. Furnished places look like they'll cost a fortune. You're better to just get an unfurnished and buy second hand things. It'll be cheaper in the long run. We went through this process when we moved to New Zealand from Canada but Sydney itself is much bigger than all of New Zealand, so there is going to be differences.

Anyways I'm hoping it isn't too much trouble. Have to find a place that has broadband availability as well.

I'll let you know how it goes.

keep me posted, pls
Hope you had a successfull landing, cantraveler How is Sydney treating you so far? I know you've only been there for a few days only till now but...what's you first impression? Did you rented already?

Keep me posted please. I'm still planing so I can use any tips :wink:

mescu

renting in Sydney
hi guys. it's true that most places in Sydney are unfurnished. the best option usually would be to share accomodation (i.e. sublet from someone else) but if you have a big family it might not be viable.

you should find that Sydney is an easy place to live in. people complain about the property prices being high but the rent is still fairly cheap, thank goodness. the only place that rents are really exorbitant is really in the inner city & around the harbour in prestige locations

most suburbs have cable for broadband net and TV, of course.

good luck!

There's not much I can add to Adrian's advice above (as usual!)

How long you plan to be here, and where you want to live are, I guess, the defining things. If you are planning to be here for a while, you may do better to rent a serviced apartment for a couple of weeks, while you look around, and decide where. Sydney is so large (read spread out) that travel to work is a consideration, as well!

We haven't heard back from cantraveler yet!

Arrived safe and sound, and found a place in Westmead no problem. Been so busy getting things setup, I haven't really been online much.

It's really a renters market around here. The agent basically just checked to make sure my wife had a job, and they processed the application in 1 day. We also had a telstra/foxtel cable outlet built into the place, and the phone is adsl ready, so internet is great. Bank accounts were easy to setup. Just bring your passport. We went with Westpac.

As for advice. Units/flats, do not come with whiteware here, so you'll have to get your own fridge, and washer. Some units may have a dryer, or dishwasher. You can usually find these things second hand. In Westmead we basically just used the Parramatta sun, so find things we needed. There are plenty of garage sales or moving sales on weekends.

Big W is your friend. It's a very cheap place to shop and find good startup items. Kmart, the reject shop, and Target were also useful. Also if you need somewhere to stay when you first arrive, use ratestogo.com. They had great last minute deals on hotels.

As for living. I find Australia very similar to living in Canada, so I enjoy that part. I also love the warm weather. The train system is very good, although we will be looking for a car soon. It's a pain to drag grocery's home without a car, though I think I'll start buying groceries online until we get one.

Good to hear you got all landing strighten out, cantraveler. We'll be joining you soon

On renting: I see rent quotes in amounts per week+bond. Do they usually require a few months in advance or is it usually just the first momth + bond to pay upfront?

Thanks all who replied

Mescu

We had to pay 4 weeks bond, plus 2 weeks rent in advance, now we're just paying weekly in advance.

Hope that helps. Good luck with your move.

Relocating a family to Sydney
It looks as though I may have missed this debate by a couple of months, but I am also seeking some assistance from Sydneysiders regarding relocation to Sydney.

Married with 3 young kids, we need to ensure that we find a family friendly area of Sydney. My backpacking days are long gone and I am nearing final stages of securing a job in the city which will probably be with a large company / central base.

If anyone can point me to a suburb that has a mixed bunch of people who enjoy living life to the full, but also think that privacy; healthy living; respect for others and community care are also important, I would really appreciate it.

Big order, philomate - but welcome to A2K anyway!

Sydney is a hugely spread out town, and you gets what you pays for - eg: it's expensive to live close to the city or near the beaches or harbour, and less expensive the further out you travel. There are family friendly suburbs everywhere. A lot depends on where you are going to work - don't necessarily presume it will be in city centre. If it isn't, then transport becomes an issue - all public transport seems to be in a sort of spoke arrangement, leading into the city. If you have to travel elsewhere, location is very important.

Does you family like beaches, picnics, gardens, football, wide open spaces....let's hear some more of the sort of thing you require.

where to rent in Sydney
Hi,

My family and I are in the same boat - we are relocating to Sydney for a year where my husband will be working at UNSW and I'll be in CBD. Our boys (ages 4 and 8) will be attending school in Paddington. (We are moving in early July.)

Our big decision now is where to rent an apartment. We are looking for a 2 or 3 bedroom that is affordable and near public transportation since we hope to live without a car for the year. My husband will be taking the kids to school, so I will just get myself to work in the mornings.

We want to be near parks, libraries, running trails, beaches and good restaurants with the ease of getting around the city. Of course, safety is an issue as well.

Some friends recommended Waverly, Coogee and Bondi. What can anyone tell me about Randwick? Any other suggestions or places to avoid???

Thanks!

-Tracy

Hi Margo - you seem to be the knowledge for us wannabe sydneysiders.

The location job is likely to be central CBD, York street is looking likely.

Having spent 2 hours today on motorways around London, this is something that I am looking to avoid and whilst we are keen to be close to the beaches, I would imagine that cost is going to prevent this. If we buy, we would probably be looking at the A$1 - 1.5m range.

The family crave the outdoor lifestyle and we currently long for warm weekends, when we visit beeches in the UK (with warm clothing!). We bike ride, play sports (the eldest son is getting into Aussie rules but currently plays soccer), picnic - and would love to BBQ more.

Somewhere near all of this, that still has a good supply of babysitters, restaurants, pubs - and maybe the odd nightclub if we are feeling young enough.

So you have a suburb called heaven ?

Philomate

Hi all,

I'm also looking for some help in finding a place in Sydney.

I'm a recent university graduate and I live in Toronto. I've never lived away from home and living in Sydney will be my first time. I'm looking for something reasonable to rent for four months beginning mid-May. Preferably a studio or one-bedroom.

I've been searching on smh.com.au and have found some places in Woolloomoloo (The Astor Apartments) and some places in Surry Hills. However, I haven't contacted agents yet because I feel it's too early (I don't get into Sydney until May 17th).

Ideally, I'd like to have something lined up before I get there.

I'm quite worried about finding a place. I plan on finding a job once I'm in Sydney, but I haven't secured one yet.

Any advice?

G'day Yusuf and Philomate

Yikes - an absolute rush of people moving to Sydney.

For both - it'd be unwise to arrange a rental without having seen it. You should probably plan on a week or so in a short stay apartment - and contact the agents you have already had some ddiscussions with.

Philomate, the eastern or southern suburbs sound good for you - close to the beach, and transport to the city.

Yusuf - sorry, no decent suggestions - I've been out of the rental market for a long time. If anything comes to mind, I'll pm you