Where is the cheapest to rent a house?

RENTING on the cheap doesn’t mean living in a suburb no-one wants to live in. For around $250 a week you can live in some beautiful locations.

Michelle Hele

RENTING on the cheap doesn’t have to mean moving to a suburb no one likes to drive through let alone live in.

You might not find yourself lapping up it up in luxury in the middle of the CBD, but for around $250 a week you can rent in some of the most beautiful locations in Australia.

There are 504 suburbs or towns in Australia where the median weekly rent is $250 a week or less, none of them though are in Canberra or the Northern Territory.

The cheapest median rental in Australia is holiday town Sussex Inlet in New South Wales.

The median unit price in the area is only a $115 a week while the median house rent is $308 a week.

According to online property listing site realestate.com.au you’ll have to be quick if you want to move there as there are only eight properties listed for rent.

They range from $220 a week for a one-bedroom, one bathroom unit across the road from the bowling club to $240 a week for a two-bedroom unit in a complex on the waterfront with a tennis court, barbecue area and a swimming pool.

For $250 a week at Bucasia in Mackay you can rent a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit which is a 100 metre walk from the sand.

Or at Bilinga, a southern suburb on the Gold Coast a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit is renting from $250 a week. It is metres from the sand at Bilinga Beach.

In Semaphore, South Australia, $250 a week will rent you a two-bedroom, two-bathroom top floor unit which has partial water views and is among shops, cinema, hotels and cafes.

Cygnet in Tasmania, about 55km south west of Hobart, in the Huon Valley, $215 a week will rent a two-bedroom cottage with a stream at the rear of the property. It has open-plan living areas and woodheating.

Stawell, in the Wimmera region of Victoria, about 240 kms from Melbourne, a three-bedroom home with a wood fire is renting for $250 a week also.

There are things to think about when deciding on a place to rent. There are also things you should check when you inspect a property.

There are also standards that all rental properties must meet. View the minimum standards on the Tenants Victoria's website.

Some things to think about

Work out the place that's best for you.

What can I afford?

• Do a budget to work out how much rent you can afford. MoneySmart has a budget planner that may help you. Don't forget to include ongoing water, gas and electricity costs
• You'll need to pay rent in advance. This can be up to one month rent
• There will be fees to get the gas, water and electricity connected
• Check if you are eligible for Commonwealth Rent Assistance
• Check if you are eligible for an interest free bond loan
• Research rental prices to find the most affordable areas according to your budget.

You may be eligible for an interest free bond loan from us, rent in advance or rent assistance from Centrelink. 

Where do I want to live?

• If there is a certain suburb or town where you want to live, consider neighbouring suburbs.
• Think about how close you need to be to things you need, like:
  • Work
  • Health facilities or doctors
  • Cultural facilities
  • Family and friends
  • Schools
  • Public transport.

Local councils sometimes have information on facilities and services. Visit the Victorian Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure's website to find your local council by map or look at the full list of Victorian councils.

What kind of place do I need?

• Think about how many bedrooms you need.
• Do you have any pets? Check that they are allowed.
• Do you need somewhere with reliable mobile phone or internet coverage?

Finding places for rent

Ways you can look for a place to rent:

Searching online

There are lots of websites that have places for rent listed, like real estate agent websites or other sites.

They let you search by location, type of accommodation, number of bedrooms and weekly rent.

You can also see what searches bring up: try 'rental accommodation', 'student share housing' or 'house mates'.

Newspaper property listings

Check the local paper in the areas you want to live for any rental listings they have.

Local real estate agents

Visit real estate agents in the areas you want to live and see what is on display in their windows.

Ask for a list of available rental properties and check their website.

Ask if they have a mailing list that they can put your name on.

Noticeboards

Look on the noticeboards at TAFE colleges, universities, shopping centres, supermarkets, local shops and cafés for shared accommodation.

Ask friends and family to let you know if they hear of something that might be suitable.

National Rental Affordability Scheme

This scheme helps low and moderate income earners rent privately at an affordable rate. The properties are owned and managed by non-government organisations and private developers.

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