Editing Melbourne (section)

=== ''' Finding a home ''' ===

You can find others to share a home through the '''[http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=9766 Looking for a housemate in Melbourne] group'''. There is quite a lot of talk about where the best suburb in Melbourne to live is. This [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=707&post=13183333 thread] discusses the pro's & con's of many inner & outer suburbs to help your choices. Also the [http://www.cityhobo.com/cities/melbourne CityHobo] website will give you a more formal overview. Also, to see a breakdown of crime rates throughout Melbourne, check the 2011/2012 figures [http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=782 here].

Other places to find housemates are: 
* [http://melbourne.gumtree.com.au/f-Unit-House-Real-Estate-W0QQCatIdZ9296 Gumtree]
* [http://www.flatmatefinders.com.au/ Flatmate Finders] (they charge a $20 fee if you successfully find a flat through them, which CouchSurfers have been successful doing)
* [http://flatmates.com.au Flatmates]
* [http://flatmate.com Flatmate.com]
* [http://www.housemates.com.au Housemates]
* [http://www.easyroommate.com EasyRoommate]
* [http://www.ozflatmates.com Oz Flatmates]
* The window of [http://www.readings.com.au/carlton Readings Bookstore] on Lygon Street in Carlton
* at the coffeeshop at [http://www.ceres.org.au/ CERES] in East Brunswick

Renting a new property, search:
* [http://www.domain.com.au/ Domain]
* [http://www.realestate.com.au/rent RealEstate.com]
* [http://www.rentfind.com.au/ Rent Find]
* [http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-real-estate/melbourne/c9296l3001317 Gumtree]
* Additionally, you can search the real estate agents directly, but there's usually no point since they list on the search sites.
* And if you want to be extra careful I'd recommend getting [http://www.aami.com.au/home-insurance/renters-insurance renter's insurance].

Here is one CSer's advice for renting an empty/ new property:

''If you want to rent a new property, you should go for an inspection first, which is most of the time once per week for 15 minutes, and then fill a detailed form about you, your job, income, pets, friends, and habits, all supported with photocopied passport, driving licence, work badge, the more the better. Afterward you just wait another week or so for response from agency, because agency has to provide an ranking list of possible tenants to the property owner. If you are lucky (a strong candidate with excellent references) you will get the a call from agency that you are eligible for renting and you can go to sign the tenancy agreement. You might be thinking it is over, but it is not, commencement date may be in a week or 3 days or tomorrow, so you should wait until that time. And don't forget that you will need to pay a bond to the [http://www.rentalbonds.vic.gov.au/ Rental Tenant's Bond Authority (RTBA)], which is a full month's rent to secure the property against damage, paid to the real estate at the time you sign the lease and pay the first month's rent.''

You may also check out [http://www.tuv.org.au/our+services/phone+advice Tenants' Union Victoria] and [http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/CA256EB5000644CE/page/Renting?OpenDocument&1=910-Renting~&2=~&3=~ Consumer Affairs Victoria] for help with tenants' rights in case of a landlord dispute.