Welcome to the Share Housing Survival Guide

Each year, more and more people move into a share house. Now in its third edition, The Share Housing Survival Guide is designed to provide both practical and legal information for people in share housing. This guide is based on the law applying to residents in New South Wales in June 2016.

Looking for a Place and Moving In provide an overview of different housing options, how to budget and where you can get help with money. Living in a Share House will help you plan day-to-day living arrangements. See The Legal Situation if you need help sorting out tenancy problems, such as bond. Domestic Violence provides information on what to do if your housemates become violent towards you.

Moving Out looks at what happens if you want to leave or want your housemates to leave. Looking for a New Housemate gives you tips on how to find a new housemate and what steps to take once you’ve found one.

Some of the chapters in this guide contain jargon. Look up Glossary if you’re not sure what a specific word means.

This guide is designed to be a starting point for people living in a share house. If you’re a boarder or lodger, you might find more information in Boarders & Lodgers Kit (see Useful Resources). If you need further advice, contact your local tenants’ advice service (see Contact Points).

Download a Sharehousing Agreement

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this booklet is as up to date and accurate as possible, it is not legal advice. The law is complex and may change. It is not designed to comprehensively deal with every fact scenario but as a starting point for people living in a share house. Readers are advised to seek specific legal advice in relation to their particular situation. If you’re a boarder or a lodger, you might find more information in the Boarders & Lodgers Kit (see Useful Resources). If you need further advice, contact your local tenants’ advice service (see Contact Points).