On this page you will find information on:
Why share a house? Finding a housemate or share house Things to consider Problems with a housemate
Why share a house?
If you share a house and split the rent you may be able to afford a bigger house in the area you want. You can share household bills and responsibilities, and housemates can be a good source of support, security and friendship.
This is a good option for students, young people and singles but is also becoming more popular with single parent families.
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Finding a housemate or a share house
Several websites and newspapers advertise housemates and share houses:
If you are a student in tertiary education,
university accommodation may be available. Most universities and colleges have accommodation officers who can provide advice and information.
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Things to consider
The lease agreement
How you are listed on the lease agreement will affect your legal rights and obligations:
- Head tenants have sole legal responsibility for meeting the conditions listed on the lease agreement. This includes responsibility for rent payments, the behaviour of everyone in the property and reporting maintenance issues.
- Sub-tenants rent from the head tenant and usually have an individual lease agreement with them rather than the landlord. Sub-tenants are responsible to the head tenant in the same way as the head tenant is to the landlord.
- Boarders or lodgers rent a room from the person who owns the property who will also be living there. They are not responsible for the behaviour of other tenants. If three or more boarders are living at the property it becomes a rooming house.
- Co-tenants are two or more people listed on a lease agreement with a landlord. All rights and responsibilities arising from the lease agreement are shared.
For information on the types of lease agreements used, what they mean and what your responsibilities as a tenant are - see Lease agreements and tenant responsibilities or contact Consumer and Business Services (CBS).
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Bills and rent
If one person is renting a smaller bedroom they may want to pay less rent. Consider how bills for utilities used by everyone will be divided up. Many share houses have a household kitty for communal groceries or utilities.
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Household chores
Consider who is going to be responsible for what and when around the house. You could have a roster that splits responsibilities equally - eg mowing the lawn, doing the dishes, putting out the bins.
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House policies
House policies should be agreed upon and understood by everyone living in the property. These could cover:
- people staying overnight or longer
- noise inside and outside the house
- borrowing money or belongings from housemates.
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Furniture and white goods
Some properties may be furnished but others may not. Second-hand shops, garage sales and classifieds are good places to get started. Many organisations may be able to help you get necessary household goods.
You can
find services in your area through the SA Community website.
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A housemate wants to leave
If your head tenant wants to leave you may have to move out too. If you want to stay you could talk to the landlord about taking over the lease agreement for the property.
If your co-tenant wants to leave you will still be responsible for paying all of the rent and for meeting all other conditions listed in the lease agreement. You may be able to negotiate with the landlord. If you leave you will be breaking the lease agreement.
If you are renting a room directly from the landlord and have signed a separate lease agreement your tenancy will not be affected if someone else moves out.
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Problems with a housemate
If you are having problems with a housemate you should first speak to them about it in a calm and courteous manner.
CBS can provide advice and independent, non-biased assistance to help resolve the problem.
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More information
On this site Information for first time rentersLodging and boardingPrivate rental bonds and assistanceBeing a tenantRenting: a basic guideOther websites Getting outLeaving home - Bursting the bubble
Advice to young people about renting - Consumer and Business Services
Downloads About co-tenancies (PDF 194KB)
For an alternative version of these documents contact
Consumer and Business Services (CBS) tenancies branch.
Sharehouse Toolkit (PDF 235KB)
How to find a sharehouse (PDF 142KB)
For an alternative version of these documents contact
Shelter SA.
Contact CBSSupport agencies