Accommodation & settling in
Renting in Australia without local references, payslips or a credit history is the part that catches most people out. Here's the playbook.
Before you fly
- Ask your hospital about staff accommodation. Many regional and rural hospitals provide subsidised housing for the first months — sometimes free. Always ask; it's often not advertised.
- Book 2–4 weeks of bridge accommodation (Airbnb monthly rate or a house share) rather than committing to a lease unseen.
- Gather your rental CV: employment contract, UK landlord reference, bank statements, passport and visa grant letter. Australian agents love paperwork.
Getting your first lease
- Applications go through agents on realestate.com.au or Domain — set up profiles on both (and 2Apply/Snug where used).
- Your employment contract is your strongest card. A letter from the hospital's medical workforce unit confirming salary works wonders.
- Offering a slightly longer lease (or rent paid monthly in advance where legal) can offset having no local history.
- Expect a bond of 4 weeks' rent, lodged with the state bond authority — never pay a bond directly to a landlord in cash.
First-fortnight admin checklist
- Australian bank account (can usually be opened online before you arrive).
- Tax File Number (TFN) — apply online, free, takes minutes.
- Medicare enrolment — UK citizens are covered by the reciprocal agreement from day one.
- Australian SIM and driver's licence conversion (state-dependent deadlines apply).
- Superannuation fund choice — your employer pays ~12% on top of salary into it.