Short-term and private accommodation

Off-campus accommodation

If you'd prefer to live off-campus, there are various short-term/temporary and private accommodation options available.

Short term/temporary accommodation may be suitable if you are looking for somewhere to stay while you are in Adelaide for placement, an intensive topic, or for a week or so while you are looking for long-term accommodation.

Alternatively, you may be looking for accommodation in the private rental market — we advise starting your search early.

Short Term Accommodation

Private Accommodation

Short term / temporary accommodation

It’s important that you find the right accommodation for you – ensuring that you inspect a property, meet your housemates and feel comfortable is important to making sure you have a good experience.

We would also suggest viewing a range of properties to see where you feel most comfortable.

This means that you may need to find some short-term accommodation, so you can take your time finding the right long-term home for you.

Accommodation providers

Flinders University’s main campus is in Bedford Park, so you should search for properties in this suburb and surrounding areas.

Homestay

Homestay is another option, which is used by International Students who are under 18, but is available for domestic students and for over 18’s.

What is Homestay?

A homestay is a cultural exchange between an international student or visitor and a local individual or family in the host country. The “host” provides accommodation and support for an agreed-upon period of time and rate. Homestays can be tailored to provide meals, assistance and other activities.

Homestays are designed to support international students and visitors who come to the host country to learn about its culture and lifestyle, improve their language skills, or study academic courses. Properly managed homestay is the ideal way to be introduced to a new country. Students learn to understand the language, culture and customs of the region in which they are studying. Many of our students make life-long friends with their host.

The Australian Homestay Network believes that a homestay program should provide international students with much more than a place to sleep and eat. Each homestay experience should provide an opportunity for the student and the host family to learn from each other, share interests, and establish a foundation for a successful stay in Australia.

Learn more

Private accommodation

With Flinders University’s convenient location and so many transport and accommodation options available, living off campus is easy.

Suburbs close to Flinders University, Bedford Park campus and accessible by public transport are Bedford Park, Clovelly Park, Edwardstown, Melrose Park, St Marys, Mitchell Park, Flagstaff Hill, Panorama, Pasadena and Sturt. Some students choose to buy a car, which broadens their options. The beachside suburbs of Brighton and Glenelg are popular. Suburbs between Bedford Park and Victoria Square campus are Mile End, Plympton, Cumberland Park, Goodwood and Camden Park.

If you would prefer to live in the CBD, The Switch is Flinders University’s preferred accommodation provider. There are also other providers of student accommodation, including:

Yugo also offers incentives to Flinders University students for some room types, depending on demand and availability – please email adelaidecity@yugo.com quoting Flinders2023 in the subject line for further details or to make a booking. Bookings made through the online booking tool will not attract any incentives.

For accommodation closer to Bedford Park campus, Flinders Living runs a free database that lists private rental accommodation available in the local area. Please read the disclaimer below.

The Switch

Private accommodation database

Accommodation listings database disclaimer

The Accommodation database has been designed to assist students in their search for housing. To attract as many listings as possible the database is provided free-of-charge to any person who would like to list available housing.

The Flinders Living Accommodation Database is monitored and moderated taking account of University Bylaws, and relevant State and Federal Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination legislation. Flinders Living is under no obligation to assist lessors and retains the right to refuse to list any property or to remove any property from the database without explanation.

Flinders Living does not screen or otherwise recommend users of this service and the proper checking of tenants remains the sole responsibility of the lessor.

Flinders Living does not inspect the premises listed in the database, and students should treat the information provided on the basis that it has been volunteered by proprietors, their agents or others. It is the responsibility of students to satisfy themselves that the accommodation and amenities are suitable for their intended use.

Flinders Living and Flinders University shall not be liable to any person, business or organisation making use of the accommodation database for any dispute, loss or damage arising from any act or omission on our part.

Flinders Living recommends that users of the Accommodation Database familiarise themselves with the Residential Tenancies Act (1995) before entering into any agreement for accommodation. Information on the Act and tenant and landlord responsibilities can be found at Consumer and Business Services (CBS), Ph 131 882 and their website.

To view the accommodation listings database, you must agree to the terms and conditions stated above.

Tips and tricks for finding private accommodation

In this video, Student Housing Service Officer Kate Evans provides advice to students on securing appropriate accommodation in the private rental market.

View presentation slides

If you have not already done so, you should register with real estate websites (e.g. www.realestate.com.au, www.domain.com.au). These have the facility to create a tenant profile, so that your basic information is completed before you want to apply for a property – making the process faster. Whilst most questions are factual, the key section is the personal statement or equivalent. This is your chance to sell yourself and stand out from the other applicants – tell them about your hobbies and interests, in a way that shows you to be responsible.
Set email alerts for the type of property you are looking for in your areas of choice – this means that you will get to see the latest listings without having to search all the time
When you see a property that you think is suitable, you should apply for it as soon as possible, making sure you provide ALL the information required. This means that your application will be ready to be assessed by the property manager as soon as you have attended an inspection of the property. If you are unable to attend the inspection yourself, you could ask someone you know in Adelaide to attend on your behalf
If you have rental references, you should speak to your landlord / property manager and ask their permission to give their details for a reference check
If you do not have rental references, you should think about who you can ask for a character reference – employers, university professors, people who have known you for some time but are not related to you. Again, it is important to ask their permission to use them for a reference
The landlord’s main concerns are that prospective tenants are able to pay the rent and look after the property. Any references should address these points
Landlords will require a bond and two weeks’ rent in advance. In South Australia the bond can be no more than 4 weeks’ rent if the weekly rent is $800.00 or less, or 6 weeks’ rent if the weekly rent is $800.01 or more
Bear in mind that when you sign a lease (or tenancy agreement), you will be committing to a contract, and if you should leave early (or not move in at all), you will be liable for significant costs
When you sign a lease, you will be given two copies of an Inspection Report. It is very important that, preferably before you move any of your belongings into the property, you inspect the property yourself and note any issues on the report – these could be things like damage (even small chips and scratches), stains on walls, flooring or fittings, window coverings listed on the report but not there – anything that you think is not recorded accurately on the report. This is important because, at the end of your lease, the property manager will conduct another inspection and compare the condition of the property with what is shown on the report. If you have not noted issues (and returned one copy of the amended report to the property manager) at the beginning of the tenancy, you may have part or all of your bond withheld at the end of it. It is also a good idea to take photographs at this time
Finally, remember that it is likely to take some time to find a property – in the current market, there are many more people looking for accommodation than there are properties. However, new properties come on to the market every day, and just because your first few applications are not successful doesn’t mean your next one won’t be!

SCAM ALERT

Beware of false rental advertisements on the internet.
Be very suspicious of offers that seem too good to be true
Insist on personally inspecting the interior of the property. If you can’t inspect it yourself, ask a trusted friend or relative to inspect it for you
Do not pay any money until you have inspected the property, met the landlord/property manager and are satisfied that the offer is genuine. If paying in cash, insist on a receipt at the time of payment
Do not send money e.g. via money transfer, which is untraceable
Use recommended lease agreements and forms in English
If unsure, contact us at flinders.living@flinders.edu.au or call us on 7221 8900 for advice.