general information · last updated 18 September 2026

somewhere to live

a visa and a job still need a legal place to sleep. bonroo does not list rentals and does not get you a lease. this is the order most people regret skipping.

• know the words

  bond, condition report, inspection, break-lease, share-house vs your name on a lease.

• use official pages

  tenancy authority for the state you will sleep in. we link. we don’t interpret your contract.

• don’t wire money to a stranger

  no holding deposit via crypto or gift cards. view or live-walk with a real agency.

• leases last longer than some visas

  if the stay is short and the lease is 12 months, that gap is yours to plan.

words that catch people out

• bond

  security money. in most states it is lodged with a government body, not kept in a landlord’s pocket. confirm on the official site.

• condition report

  writing plus photos on day one. that is what they compare when you leave.

• inspection

  routine look through. rules differ by state — official page, not a group chat.

• break lease

  leaving early can cost money. a visa change does not automatically cancel a contract.

• share house

  a room is not always a tenancy with full protections. know whose name is on the lease.

official tenancy sites

• NSW Fair Trading — renting
• Consumer Affairs Victoria — renting
• RTA Queensland
• Consumer Protection WA — renting
• CBS South Australia — renting
• Consumer, Building and Occupational Services Tasmania — renting
• ACT tenancy
• NT Consumer Affairs — tenancy

don’t wire money to a stranger

• no holding deposit via gift cards, crypto, or a personal account “to hold the room”
• real agencies exist. facebook rooms are where a lot of people get hit
• if you cannot inspect or do a live video walk-through, slow down
• bonroo does not list rooms and cannot certify a landlord

bonroo is not a real estate agent and not migration advice. we don’t list properties or get you a lease.