The first time you move out of your home is one of the most exciting times in your life. As you take concrete steps towards independence, finding a place to call your own is liberating, exciting and fun.
If you’re moving interstate to Sydney or leaving the nest for the first time, you will need to ensure you find a reputable removalists with experience moving to Sydney. It’s no secret that Sydney rental prices are continuously on the rise, making the cost of living high and budgets tediously tight. Living comfortably in Sydney is not out of the equation if you’re open to the options available.
With the median apartment rental cost sitting at $520, Share houses have been steadily growing in popularity over the past few years. Share houses provide you with the freedom to live where you want for a fraction of the cost.
You will not only be saving money, having housemates provides a sense of home-security, allows you to develop friendships and meet new people – especially important if you’re making an interstate move.
Moving interstate and not sure what to expect from a share house?
Like many people moving interstate to Sydney, your biggest concern is probably finding a place to live with the right person or people.
If you have not made up your mind completely, we urge you to forget every housemate horror story you’ve heard, it’s best to explore this experience with an open mind.
Living in a share house could prove to be the best move you ever make. Like any relationship, the key to a successful share house is open communication, patience, and trust.
Below are standard things to expect when it comes to sharing a place with others:
1. Tenancy Agreements
Share houses are usually set up as co-tenancies or sub-lets. Before anything else, you need to establish a lease, rent amount, and other pertinent details, e.g. car parks. All parties must be agreeable to the terms of the residence so people are all on the same page about rights and responsibilities.
TIP: Make sure you retain a digital and paper copy of your Tenancy Agreements.
2. Paying Rent
When it comes to determinants of success, rent is as big as it gets. From the get-go, have an agreement on when payments are due as well as the amounts. Depending on the personalities of people, you may also choose to have a designated person tasked to remind everybody of rental dues.
TIP: If you set up recurring payments on your bank account, as well as calendar reminders, you should not run into any problems.
3. Learn from Experience
Expect to experience a lot of “firsts” when you live in a shared home. As everyone lives on different schedules, you will be slow to learn about your housemates, but make sure to pay close attention – the more you know about their idiosyncrasies, the easier it will be to live together. Although some housemates don’t require any formal systems, you may be interested in setting up weekly assignments, designated spaces, or timely routine.
TIP: Don’t be afraid to ask questions during your first viewing, the more you learn about your potential housemate(s) before signing, the less unprecedented surprises there will be in the future.
4. Household Chores
Your level of comfortability depends on how well all of you can co-reside. Brainstorm ways where everyone is given equal responsibility. Doing household chores is tedious enough but you will soon find having people to share those tasks with can lighten the burden immensely.
TIP: Depending on your budget, it may be a good idea to hire a cleaner to do major cleaning tasks like vacuuming, mopping, and cleaning the bathrooms. Split between two to four people, this hired help will definitely prove affordable and worthwhile.
5. Bonding
This has got to be one of the most rewarding parts of share housing. Be it a chat with a glass of wine or sharing dinner, as you and your housemates get more and more acquainted, you will learn things about yourselves. This type of bonding will make living together more comfortable and fun. As mentioned earlier, more than survival, shared houses allow people to connect with others and open up social networks.
Choosing Perfectly-Positioned But Affordable Sydney Suburbs
Whether you’re looking to share a place with friends or find an established share house you can live in, the location you decide to settle on is of utmost importance.
As previously mentioned, Sydney rent has become extremely pricey – that is putting it delicately. With no indication that the trend will be turning the tide anytime soon, people are opting to live just outside central locations. Here is a list of affordable suburbs just outside the Sydney inner-city, where you can find the ideal share house.
All rental costs are based on a per-week basis in shared housing.
1. Leichhardt
This suburb is only 5 km outside of Sydney and as of January 2017, the average rent in this suburb was recorded at $275 a week. Leichhardt has a diverse demographic makeup and is incredibly accessible. With an Italian vibe, there is culture and food galore!
2. Greenwich
Second on the list and coming in at $275 is Greenwich. It’s 4.4km from Sydney CBD and is notable for being peaceful and quiet. It offers parks and recreation along with reliable public transport and nearby highways. The community of Greenwich provide a safe supportive environment.
3. Kensington
Coming in at third, Kensington has a slightly higher average rent cost of $277. With a highly accessible location, this suburb is under 5km from the Sydney CBD. Particularly enjoyable for single professionals and young families, it features great connectivity, open spaces, as well as a large selection of recreational options.
4. Lilyfield
Located in the inner west of Sydney, rent in Lilyfield is around $289. Roughly 4km from the CBD, Lilyfield has light rail access, parklands, ovals, walking paths, and monthly Farmer’s Markets. Featuring old-world Victorian charm, you will be pleasantly surprised by the renovated interior of the houses in Lilyfield.
5. Enmore
Enmore is a small, village-like suburb less than 5km from Sydney CBD, which will cost you about $292 to rent. It’s bustling with lively restaurants, pubs, and bars. It’s primarily a residential community with a commercial strip along Enmore Road. It’s got great schools and for music aficionados, a theater that is renowned for its music and comedy performances.
Preparing To Move Into a Share House
As the saying goes – you can’t choose your family, but you can choose your housemates – and subsequently – your home. Don’t worry if you’re being ‘picky’, this is definitely a decision worth care and deliberation.
Similarly, once you’ve decided which suburb is best for you, the next step is to hire a trusted interstate removalist. With everyone that one has to deal with when relocating, hiring professionals to help you transport all your belongings will make the experience much more manageable.
Sharing a house is a money-saving alternative, and with the above suburbs coming in at under $300, there are definitely options for all. More than financial survival, by choosing to live in a share house, you’re allowing yourself the opportunity to live in a suburb that would otherwise be out of your price range. By splitting monthly expenses with others, you can save as well as afford a home with a better location and amenities.
For experienced and reliable interstate moving services, Santa Fe Wridgways has decades of industry know-how to help make the transition as stress-free as possible.
Need help making the move to your new share house in Sydney? Contact us or request a callback here.
The post Super-Affordable Sydney Suburbs For House Sharing appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.