This information is a guide and should not be used as a substitute for professional legal advice.
International students
International students, who frequently live in rooming houses or share houses, often don’t know their rights as renters or what support is out there for help with food, health, legal advice and other matters. Find out more on this page.
What is a rooming house?
Many international students live in rooming houses and may not realise what rights they have in this type of accommodation, as they have different rights and obligations compared with other types of renting.
A rooming house is a dwelling where 4 or more people live in rented rooms, some of which might be shared. The rooming house is managed by a rooming house operator – residents usually have separate agreements with the operator. The operator can decide who can live in the property without consulting the residents. If you are paying rent for a shared room in a shared house, chances are you are living in a rooming house.
A further explanation on the different types of accommodation is in the first episode of our Know Your Rights webinar series, also on this page.
Know your rights
Our Know Your Rights webinar series goes through the ins and outs of renting in Victoria, from the start to the end of the tenancy cycle.
The series aims to help renters understand their rights and obligations and to provide helpful tips on how to identify and troubleshoot common problems.
This video explains different legal definitions to help you better understand where you stand as a renter, as well as describing various types of tenancies, such as the difference between rooming houses and share houses.
This video explains what rooming house agreements and residential rental agreements are, and the differences between them. The webinar covers topics such as condition reports, transferring rental agreements, minimum standards in the rental property and bonds.
This video discusses common problems including processes for repairs and maintenance and breaches of duty.
This video includes information on overdue rent (also called rent arrears), notices to vacate, when and how the landlord or agent can enter your home, and evictions.
International student help services
The Study Melbourne Hub provides free help and advice to all international students in Victoria. Staff can support students with inquiries about topics including financial hardship, accommodation, wellbeing and mental health support, employment programs, legal information, and problems with education institutions.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
Address: 17 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
Contact: 1800 056 449
Email: info@studymelbourne.vic.gov.au
If you need help understanding the law or have a legal problem, the International Student Employment and Accommodation Legal Service can help. This service is free, independent, and confidential, allowing international students to speak with a lawyer about any employment or accommodation concerns.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
Address: 17 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
Contact: 1800 056 449
Email: info@studymelbourne.vic.gov.au
Food and finance resources
The services below may be able to help you with food and finances.
You can also find services in your area via Infoxchange’s Ask Izzy search tool.
Food
The Community Food Guide provides information about food access programs, services and resources in Melbourne’s centre and surrounding suburbs. It is published by the City of Melbourne council.
DIVRS assists people living in the Darebin region to access food. Its Emergency Relief Program offers food parcels. Proof that you live in the City of Darebin region is required.
Hours: Emergency Relief Program operates Monday-Thursday, 9:30am-12:30pm
Address: 285–287 High Street, Preston
Contact: 9480 8200
Community Information and Support Merri-bek (CIS Merri-bek) assists people to navigate local community information and support services. CIS Merri-bek helps people experiencing personal and financial difficulties by providing information, referral and support services, including emergency relief, to students living in the City of Merri-bek region.
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 10.00am-2.30pm
Address: 512 Sydney Road, Coburg
Contact: 9350 3737 or info@cismerri-bek.org.au
Finances
Utility services
The Victorian Government’s utility relief grant scheme makes grants to help pay electricity, gas or water bill that is overdue due to a temporary financial crisis. Eligibility requirements apply.
If you are concerned about the conduct of your power company, contact the Energy and Water Ombudsman. It resolves complaints about electricity, gas and water companies.
Legal services
Community legal centres
You can seek advice from a community legal centre. You can find the centre closest to you on the Federation of Community Legal Centres website.
Legal centres with specialist help for international students
The centre serves residents in the northern suburbs of Melbourne.
Make an appointment by phone or email.
Contact: 9310 4376 or admin@northernclc.org.au.
Make an appointment via the form on the service’s website.
Make an appointment by calling during opening hours.
Inner Melbourne Community Legal also runs the International Student Legal Information website, which has information on how to troubleshoot common tenancy problems.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm
Contact: 9328 1885
The La Trobe Student Association Legal Service is a partnership between the West Heidelberg Community Legal Centre and La Trobe Student Association. It provides free and confidential legal advice, information and referral to students enrolled at La Trobe University across all campuses.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm
Address: 21 Alamein Road, West Heidelberg
Contact: 9450 2002 or whlegal@bchs.org.au
Health services
Community health centres
Most community health centres provide low cost or free medical services in areas including optometry, podiatry, physiotherapy, counselling and general practitioner services. In extreme cases of poor dental health some dental assistance may also be arranged.
Mental health
Cognitive behavioural therapy uses psychological skills to transform thoughts, feelings, and behaviours to make positive changes. This Way Up offers self-help cognitive behavioural therapy courses that are self-paced. The courses are free when prescribed by a health professional (GP, psychologist or psychiatrist). This Way Up also has free online tips and tools. The organisation is a not-for-profit initiative of St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney and the University of New South Wales. Find out more on their website.
Community health centres
Most community health centres offer free counselling.
Universities
Every university has a free student counselling program. Ask your university for more information.
Visas
Getting home
If your visa has expired and you are in hardship, there are services that may be able to assist you to go home.
The 2 services listed below can assist with:
- information and confidential counselling about returning home
- arranging travel documents or a passport
- help to book your flight home
- assistance when you arrive in your home country
Contact: 02 6267 6600 or IOMCanberra@iom.int
Visa queries
Find government student visa information on this website.
Register through the Law Institute of Victoria’s Find Your Lawyer Referral Service for a free 30-minute interview with an immigration law solicitor to determine the nature of your visa query, discuss options and request an estimate of costs. LIV’s website lists immigration law firms that are part of the Find a Lawyer service.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
Contact: 03 9607 955
Refugee Legal is an independent community legal centre specialising in refugee and immigration law, policy and practice.
For advice by telephone call 9413 0100 on Wednesday and Friday, 10am-2pm. Night services are by appointment.
For Refugee Legal Temporary Protection (TPV/SHEV) Visa Clinics call 9413 0101 in business hours or email clinic@refugeelegal.org.au
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm
Contact: 9413 0101 or refugeelegal@refugeelegal.org.au