In rooming accommodation, residents rent a room in a property from a provider/agent or property manager. The residents share facilities such as bathrooms, kitchens and common rooms.
The Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (the Act) lists the rights and responsibilities of people living in and owning or managing rooming accommodation.
What is rooming accommodation?
Rooming accommodation is a type of accommodation that’s available for rent where each resident:
- has a right to occupy one or more rooms
- does not have the right to occupy the entire premises
- does not occupy a self-contained unit
- shares common rooms and facilities with other residents.
Rooming accommodation includes:
- boarding houses
- supported accommodation services where a person pays for a room and support services (e.g. meals and/or personal care)
- student accommodation (not including on-campus accommodation) and
- a property where the provider/agent lives on the property and rents out 4 or more rooms.
For more information on what rooming accommodation is covered by the Act, see the rooming accommodation coverage fact sheet.
Rooming accommodation agreements
A Rooming accommodation agreement (Form R18) is the written agreement between the resident and the provider/agent which sets out the terms that apply to the resident's stay in the accommodation.
The resident must be given a copy of the Rooming accommodation agreement on or before the day they move into the room. If the resident is not given an agreement to sign, they still have protection under the law.
A copy of the house rules must also be given to the resident. House rules form part of the terms of the agreement.
Rental bond
The provider/agent may take a rental bond. If a bond is paid, it must be lodged with the RTA within 10 days using RTA Web Services or the paper Bond lodgement (Form 2) .
For more information, see rental bonds.
Condition report
A Condition report (Form R1) must be completed if a bond is taken. This report records the condition of the resident's room at the start of the agreement. Provider/agents and residents may want to complete a Condition report regardless of whether a bond is taken.
For more information, see entry condition report.
Breaches of the agreement
If either party to the agreement doesn’t act in accordance with the terms of the agreement or the Act, it may be considered a breach.
For more information about the steps to take, see breach of the agreement.
Ending an agreement
Rooming accommodation agreements can only be ended in a way approved by the Act. Ending an agreement or removing residents without following the steps in the Act is unlawful and can result in penalties.
For more information about the processes involved, see ending a tenancy agreement.