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Accomodation

Many people move-out of home when studying at the Sydney Conservatorium for a plethora of reasons – moving city or country, independence, or more engagement with student life – but with all of them it can be quite a difficult and stressful time. Landlords and real-estate agents can try sketchy tactics due to frequent lack of knowledge from students about their rights and their typically young age. 

 

We've put together a guide of resources and accomodation options available to students at the University of Sydney, to help you be more aware of your options. 

What are the changes to NSW Rental Laws?

Last year, the New South Wales Parliament passed legislation to reform the rights of renters, and these came into effect on Monday 19 May 2025. These changes aim to create a fairer system for the state’s 2.3 million renters, including a significant number of students, seeing more stability and security when entering rental leases.

 

For up to date information on rental laws, and the rights and obligations of tenants, please visit the NSW Fair Trading website:

https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/renting-a-place-to-live

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End to no-grounds evictions

Landlords can no longer end a lease without a specific and valid reason, including:

  • Overdue rent or other breaches by the tenant

  • Sale or demolition of the property

  • Significant renovations and repairs

  • The landlord or family are moving in for longer than 6 months

  • Change in use of the property (i.e. residential to commercial)

 

Landlords must still provide a termination date for the lease, with longer notice periods applying to some leases.

 

This helps renters feel comfortable making requests for urgent and other repairs, without reprimand from their landlord.

 

A fact sheet on evictions can be found here:

https://www.tenants.org.au/factsheet-eviction

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Pets in rentals

Landlords will only be allowed to deny pets for specific and valid reasons, such as:

  • The landlord living at the property

  • Failure to comply with local council laws

 

A standard application form and process has also been developed. If there is no response from the landlord within 21 days, approval to keep pets in the property will be automatic.

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Fee-free ways to pay rent

Landlords and real-estate agents must provide a fee-free method to pay rent (i.e. without transaction fee), that is convenient and modern (such as direct bank transfer). This is instead of one or the other.

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Removal of paid background checks

Landlords and real-estate agents can no longer ask prospective tenants to pay for a background check (i.e. if they wish to do one, it must come at no cost to the prospective tenant).

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Rent increases limited to once a year

Landlords can only increase rental payments once every 12 months, for all lease types (both fixed-term and periodic leases).​​

Current rights you have as a tenant

All your rights are covered under the Residential Tenancies Act 2010. In addition to the changes outlined above, these are the rest of the current rights renters are entitled to.

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Landlords must provide at least 60 days written notice before increasing rent

As well as only increasing rent one a year, landlords also must provide a written notice that they will increase the rent 60 days before the increase comes into effect.

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Landlords entering the property

A landlord or agent can only enter the property without the tenant’s consent or without giving notice in the following circumstances:

  • An emergency,

  • To carry out urgent repairs,

  • Reasonable cause for serious concern about the health or safety of the tenant,

  • Or if the landlord has reasonable belief that the premise has been abandoned.

 

A landlord or agent must receive verbal consent from the tenant to enter in any other circumstance.

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Repairs

Landlords must provide and maintain the premise in a reasonable state of repair. They must also reimburse the tenant for any urgent repairs that had to be carried out no later than 14 days after receiving notice from the tenant. This does not apply if the tenant has intentionally or negligently caused the damage.

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Security and safety

Landlords must provide each tenant with their own key or any other opening device or information. Either the landlord or the tenant may only alter, remove, or add a lock or other security device with the consent of the other party, and must provide the other party with a copy of the relevant key or information within 7 days.​

Free caseworker advice and support

If you need tenancy or accommodation advice or support (especially to your rights as a renter), all students can freely contact caseworkers from their relevant University-wide student union.

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Undergraduates (SRC)

The University of Sydney Students' Representative Council (SRC) maintains a guide on advice of finding and maintaining housing during your studies as an undergraduate:

https://srcusyd.net.au/src-help/caseworker-help/accommodation/accommodation-guide/

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The SRC is funded by SSAF (Student Services and Amenities Fee), and provides a free caseworker service to assist all undergraduate students with academic and welfare issues. They can give you independent and confidential advice and support on:

  • Academic rights & appeals

  • Special Consideration & special arrangements

  • HECS & fee refunds, Academic misconduct & dishonesty allegations

  • Show Cause & Exclusion

  • Centrelink

  • Financial issues

  • Tenancy & accommodation

  • Harassment & discrimination

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You can contact the SRC caseworkers here:

https://srcusyd.net.au/src-help/caseworker-help/

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Postgraduates (SUPRA)

The Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA) maintains a variety of guides on tenancy rights and responsibilities, finding housing, and other accomodation advice:

https://supra.net.au/cpt_helps/know-what-type-of-tenant-you-are/​

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SUPRA is also funded by SSAF, with a similar caseworker advocacy service for their members (freely available to all postgraduate students):

  • Academic appeals

  • Academic integrity breaches

  • Bullying

  • Complaints

  • Contact with faculty or the University

  • Discrimination

  • Garassment

  • Higher Degree by Research issues

  • Housing and renting issues

  • Misconduct

  • Research integrity

  • Research supervision

  • Show Good Cause and exclusion

  • Sexual assault

  • Special consideration

  • Supervision

 

You can contact the SUPRA caseworkers here:

https://supra.net.au/cpt_helps/postgraduate-advocacy-service/

University accomodation

Whilst there aren't any accomodation options affiliated with the University near the Conservatorium's Macquarie Street campus in the Sydney CBD, there are a three-types of accomodation at the University's main campus in Camperdown-Darlington, all of which have their own cultures and amenities. 

 

In typical Sydney-fashion, all of these are fairly expensive (over $350 per week), ​​

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​University residences

There are four residential buildings directly-run and owned by the University on the grounds of the main campus in Camperdown-Darlington: Abercrombie, Regiment, Queen Mary Building, and Darlington House. 

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These are self-catered, either with shared kitchens and bathrooms, or as studio apartments (depending on costs, between $350-$500 per week). They participate in the Intra-mural Championship, with limited other social events.

​https://www.sydney.edu.au/study/accommodation/camperdown-darlington/university-residences.html​

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Off-campus accomodation

Various independent companies run (expensive) accomodation, such as Scape, Iglu, Sydney University Village, or UniLodge. There are also religiously-affiliated boarding houses, and the student-run Stucco (student co-operative).

https://www.sydney.edu.au/study/accommodation/off-campus.html

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The University also keeps a database of off-campus accomodation options for people looking for housemates to join their sharehouse, near the campuses of the University, particularly in the Inner West:

https://sydney.studystays.com.au/

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Residential colleges​

Institutions with long traditions (and controversies), there are seven residential colleges that originate in different Christian (and one Jewish) denominations. Whilst fully-catered with laundry services, they are incredibly expensive (over $750 per week), but there an extremely-limited number of equity scholarships are awarded each year. 

 

They have strong social cultures, with frequent extravagant events, networking opportunities, and competitions such as the Palladian Cup, but these opportunities are typically limited to the most privileged on campus. â€‹

https://www.sydney.edu.au/study/accommodation/camperdown-darlington/residential-colleges.html

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