Frequently asked questions

UniSA requires providers to comply with all relevant laws, such as the Residential Tenancy Act 1995 and local council by-laws. We recommend that you contact the helpful Consumer and Business Services (Tenancies) and your local council for free advice.

This is a free service aimed at helping UniSA students find suitable, affordable accommodation. We simply require you to comply with relevant laws, including the Residential Tenancies laws.

Generally, international and interstate students prefer furnished accommodation, but some students may have their own furniture.

We cannot advise you on the rent. However, most students are on low budgets and want clean, affordable properties in reasonably convenient locations. Consider the facilities which you are providing and take a look at other advertisements on the Rental Database.

Bonds for residential tenancies and rooming houses must be lodged. The process is quite simple. Just lodge it using the free  Residential Bonds Online Service or complete the bond lodgement form and send it to Consumer and Business Services.

Here is some useful information regarding your income tax rights and responsibilities.

Appropriate landlord's insurance is a great way to protect yourself against damage to your property, loss of rent, etc. It's also tax-deductible. Definitely a good idea! Shop around for a suitable option.

As well as completing the check-boxes we provide for your listing, try to include as much additional detail as possible about your property to make it more appealing to students. Keep it clear and simple, as international students will be browsing the Rental Database. Using dot-points is a good idea.

• for share-houses, describe the culture of the household (eg. age, students, family, lifestyle of occupants)
• public transport details
• proximity to shops and university
• any pets currently living in the household
• special features of the property or room (eg. ensuite bathroom, quiet area, fast internet)
• size of the property or room
• furnishings and amenities included
• condition of the property (eg. freshly painted, newly renovated)
• include photos

Note. You will be able to preview and edit your listing before submitting it.

People always want to see what a property looks like, so we recommend that you include photos of the property. Photos will also improve the ranking of your listing in search results.

Simply drag and drop the photo files into the space provided in your listing. Or you can click to choose photo files from your computer. Remember to save your changes.

The beginning of the year (January - March) is the period of greatest demand, followed by June - July. However, you can advertise anytime. It's a free service and there are students looking for accommodation at all times of year.

The Rental Database is a free internet-based service. All advertisements are to be submitted online only. If you do not have access to the internet at home, you could seek assistance from a friend who has a computer or at your local library.

You can choose whether the student rings or emails you. It is up to you to screen the student for suitability.

Once your vacancy has been filled, you will need to close your listing.

Simply sign in, select Go to your dashboard, select your listing and click on the Close Now button.

Your listing will remain on your dashboard, so you can re-activate it later.

Simply sign in and select Go to your dashboard. Select your listing and click on Make changes.

Any changes will be subject to approval, but in the meantime, the previous version of your listing will remain visible.

Once it has been approved, your listing will be available for viewing for 2 weeks. You will receive an email a few days before the end of this period, giving you the option of re-listing your vacancy.

Please remember to close your listing as soon as the vacancy has been filled. Simply click on the blue Close now button.

Simply sign in, select Go to your dashboard.  Select your listing,check the details and then relist it.

Taking the time to select the right person can save you a lot of time, trouble and money.

If the vacancy is a room in a share-property, think about the current occupants: age, lifestyle, etc. When you meet the potential tenant, ask questions to determine whether they will be a good match for the current household. Answer any questions they might have. Be open about what you expect from your tenants.

Arrange for them to meet the current occupants before making a final decision.

Allow them plenty of time to read and understand the lease before signing it.

Once you have a good tenant, you'll want to keep them, of course. Or when they move on, you'll want them to refer their friends.

So, deal with repair requests promptly. Encourage them to let you know if there are any problems. Ensure that you abide by relevant laws and treat your tenants fairly.

Your email address.

Use the Forget your password tool on the Sign in page. after signing in, you can also change your password.

UniSA Accommodation Services
accommodation@unisa.edu.au