General House Usage

• Use your room primarily as your home. Do not use it for an illegal purpose.
• Do not advertise, license or use your room or any part of the Rooming House for short-term accommodation, paid accommodation, Airbnb or another commercial accommodation arrangement.
• Your right to live in the room is personal to you and cannot be transferred to someone else. A visitor must not move in without management’s written approval and completion of any process required by law.
• Residents must not obstruct, damage or misuse shared facilities or common areas.
• Residents must comply with reasonable directions issued by management regarding safety, cleanliness, security and property use.
• Where these rules require approval, obtain it in writing before acting. Approval must not be unreasonably withheld where the law requires this.

Visitors

• Visitors are welcome as long as they do not unreasonably disturb other residents, compromise privacy, safety, security or cleanliness, or breach lawful occupancy limits.
• Take reasonable steps to make sure your visitors follow the House Rules and behave appropriately. You are responsible for visitor conduct within your reasonable control.
• A visitor may attend only while you are present, unless management gives prior written approval.
• An overnight guest is a visitor who is at the property at any time between 10:00 pm and 8:00 am, whether or not they sleep there.
• Overnight guests are limited to one night in any seven-day period unless management gives prior written approval. Requests for additional nights will be considered reasonably, taking into account occupancy, safety, security, shared facilities and the effect on other residents.
• Do not give visitors keys or access credentials. Visitors must not store belongings as though they live at the property, receive regular personal mail or deliveries, use the property as a residence, use shared laundry facilities, or interfere with shared facilities or anyone else’s belongings.
• Management may investigate frequent or excessive visits if they materially affect utilities, security, cleanliness, noise or shared facilities, unreasonably interfere with others, or reasonably suggest the visitor has moved in.
• Where there are reasonable grounds to believe a visitor has moved in, management may require them to leave, invite an application to become an approved resident, or take other lawful action. Ordinary social visits are allowed.
• If evidence shows a visitor caused damage or another direct cost through intentional or negligent conduct, you may be responsible for the reasonable actual cost, but only to the extent permitted by law.

Hygiene & Cleanliness

• All residents must contribute to keeping communal and shared areas clean.
• Rubbish should be placed in bins daily to reduce the risk of pests, insects and odours.
• Communal areas must be kept clean, tidy and usable for other residents.
• Toilets, bathrooms, showers, sinks and benches must be cleaned after use.
• Toiletries and shower products should be stored in your room, not left in bathrooms.
• Hair, shavings and personal mess must be cleaned immediately.
• Dishes, utensils and appliances must be cleaned and put away after use.
• Store food properly, dispose of waste and take reasonable steps to avoid attracting pests. Seal food and fridge items and dispose of them when expired.
• You and your visitors must not move, borrow, use, remove or interfere with another resident’s food, laundry, mail or other belongings without permission.
• Maintain reasonable personal and room hygiene so that avoidable odours, accumulated waste, pests, mould attributable to you, sanitation concerns or unsafe conditions do not materially affect other residents, shared areas or the property.
• If evidence shows an infestation was caused by your intentional or negligent conduct, you may be responsible for reasonable treatment costs to the extent permitted by law.

Bins & Waste

• Council bin collection is generally conducted weekly. Refer to the calendar or property-specific instructions displayed at the house.
• Follow the weekly bin schedule or roster in the property-specific House Rules or displayed at the property.
• When it is your turn, put the correct bins out in time for collection, sort waste correctly, avoid contamination, keep lids closed, do not leave rubbish beside bins, and return the bins promptly after collection.
• Do not put hazardous, prohibited or oversized waste in household bins. If waste you generate cannot reasonably fit in the available bins, arrange lawful disposal of the excess.
• Bin tasks must be allocated reasonably for a shared house. Missing a task does not create an automatic fee, but repeated failure to complete tasks may be addressed under the agreement, House Rules and law.
• If evidence shows your intentional or negligent conduct directly caused a council charge, contamination charge or necessary extra waste-removal cost, you may be responsible for the reasonable actual cost to the extent permitted by law.
• Rubbish must not overflow in internal or external bins. Compress items where appropriate so bin capacity is used properly.

Car Parking

• Residents using onsite parking must be respectful of other residents who also use vehicles.
• Visitors must park on the street and are not to use onsite parking.
• Follow the property-specific parking rules and any written allocation from management. Unless a space has been allocated to you in writing, do not claim a particular car park for your sole use.
• Malicious damage to vehicles should be reported to your insurer, police and management.
• Do not carry out mechanical repairs, spray painting or dismantling of vehicles, boats or motorcycles where this may cause damage, contamination, obstruction, nuisance or unreasonable interference with other residents.

Group Chats & Electronic Communication

• Threatening, intimidating, abusive, discriminatory, sexually inappropriate, harassing, aggressive or seriously disruptive behaviour towards residents, visitors, contractors or management is not permitted, including in group chats, messages and other electronic communication.
• Communicate respectfully. Do not repeatedly target, provoke or interfere with another resident. A complaint alone is not proof of a breach; management may make reasonable enquiries and consider the available evidence.
• Where a shared-living concern is reasonably identified, management may request practical corrective action within a reasonable time. Repeated or serious conduct may be addressed under the agreement, House Rules and law.

Noise, Alcohol, Smoking & Behaviour

• You and your visitors must not unreasonably interfere with another resident’s privacy, peace, comfort, safety or use and enjoyment of their room or shared facilities.
• Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm to 8:00 am every day.
• During quiet hours, keep music, television, calls, conversations, doors, appliances and other activities at a level that does not unreasonably disturb others. Take reasonable steps to make sure your visitors do the same.
• Parties or gatherings likely to cause unreasonable noise, congestion, safety concerns or interference with other residents are not permitted.
• Avoid unreasonable noise or interference outside quiet hours too. Repeated or serious breaches may be addressed lawfully under the agreement, House Rules and law.
• Bullying, verbal abuse, physical abuse or illegal activity is not permitted. Contraband drugs must not be used or stored at the property.
• Smoking, vaping, e-cigarettes and similar devices are prohibited in bedrooms, bathrooms, toilets and all other indoor common areas.
• You may be responsible for reasonable cleaning or repair costs if evidence shows you or a visitor caused smoke residue, odour, burns or other damage. Fair wear and tear is excluded.

Complimentary Services & Shared Amenities

• Management may provide extras at no separately stated charge, such as internet, common-area cleaning, gardening, vacuum cleaners or clothes dryers.
• An extra service, appliance or amenity is treated as complimentary and outside the rent calculation only if it is not expressly included in your prescribed agreement, condition report or inventory.
• Availability may be affected by outages, maintenance, repairs, replacement, supplier changes or reasonable operational needs. Management will take reasonable steps to address interruptions, taking account of the circumstances and its legal obligations.
• A complimentary service may be reasonably changed or withdrawn only where it is not required by minimum standards or other law and is not expressly included in your agreement, condition report or inventory.
• Common-area cleaning does not replace your responsibility to keep your room reasonably clean, clean up promptly after using shared facilities and follow the House Rules.
• Nothing in these rules removes any right or obligation that cannot lawfully be excluded, including any right to compensation or another remedy.

Shared Appliances

• Shared appliances must be left clean after use. Vacuum cleaners must be emptied after use.
• Residents must follow operating instructions for appliances.
• Take reasonable care of shared appliances. Any responsibility for damage must be supported by evidence and limited to reasonable costs permitted by law. Fair wear and tear is excluded.

Laundry

• Shared laundry facilities are for current residents only. Visitors must not use them.
• Follow operating instructions, use reasonably sized loads, do not overload machines, remove laundry promptly, leave appliances and surrounding areas reasonably clean, empty lint filters where instructed, and keep access clear for others.
• Do not tamper with, disconnect, modify or attempt unauthorised repairs to laundry appliances.
• Check that your belongings are suitable for washing or drying. Management is not responsible for damage caused solely by misuse, overloading or unsuitable items, except where liability cannot lawfully be excluded.
• If evidence shows your intentional or negligent conduct damaged an appliance or caused contractor attendance, you may be responsible for the reasonable actual cost to the extent permitted by law.
• A clothes dryer is treated as complimentary only where it is not expressly included in your agreement, condition report or inventory. The conditions in “Complimentary Services & Shared Amenities” apply, including your legal rights if service is interrupted.

Fixtures, Furniture & White Goods

• Get management’s written approval before painting, altering or renovating your room, or attaching fixtures, nails, screws, adhesives, signs or antennas, unless the law allows the activity without approval.
• At the end of your agreement, deal with alterations and fixtures as required by law and any written approval management gave you.
• Use furniture protection pads where reasonably necessary to prevent avoidable damage to hard floors. You are not responsible for fair wear and tear.
• Get prior written approval before installing, connecting or regularly using an extra fridge, freezer, washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, microwave or other cooking appliance, portable heater or air conditioner, large television, high-load appliance, fixed, plumbed or vented appliance, or similar equipment.
• Approval may be refused or given with reasonable written conditions where necessary for electrical capacity, fire safety, ventilation, plumbing, building or product compliance, avoiding property damage, keeping access and exits clear, shared-facility capacity or preventing unreasonable interference with others.
• Management may require an unauthorised, unsafe or non-compliant appliance to be disconnected or removed within a reasonable time. Immediate action may be required where reasonably necessary to address an urgent safety risk.
• If evidence shows unauthorised installation or intentional or negligent use directly caused damage or contractor attendance, you may be responsible for the reasonable actual cost to the extent permitted by law.
• These requirements regulate additional equipment; they do not set a fixed limit on reasonable utility use.

Showers & Water Usage

• Use water reasonably. Keep showers to a reasonable length and avoid deliberate or unnecessary waste.
• Bathroom floors must be dried after showering so the area is ready for the next resident.
• There is no fixed time limit on reasonable water use, and these rules do not restrict your rights under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic).

Your Room

• Get written approval before attaching Blu Tack, sticky tape, nails or similar items to walls, unless the law allows the activity without approval.
• Management’s insurance does not ordinarily cover your personal belongings. Keep them secure. You may choose to take out contents insurance, but the agreement does not require it.
• Nothing in these rules excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
• Keep your room reasonably clean and maintain reasonable personal hygiene. Do not allow avoidable odours, accumulated waste, pests, mould attributable to you, sanitation concerns or unsafe conditions to materially affect other residents, shared areas or the property.
• Food, rubbish, dirty dishes and perishable items must be stored or disposed of in a way that avoids attracting pests, odours or unsanitary conditions.
• Where a concern is reasonably identified, management may request practical corrective action within a reasonable time and address repeated or serious conduct under the agreement, House Rules and law.

Pets

• Get management’s prior written permission before bringing or keeping a pet or other animal at the Rooming House. Apply in writing with reasonable information about the animal and how it will be cared for.
• Management may approve the request, set reasonable written conditions or refuse it in accordance with the law. Relevant considerations include the shared property’s suitability, safety, animal welfare, allergies, noise, sanitation, and council or occupancy requirements.
• Permission is not granted until confirmed in writing. An approved animal must not cause nuisance, unreasonable interference, danger, avoidable damage, pests or sanitation concerns. Follow applicable laws and reasonable written approval conditions.
• If evidence shows your animal caused damage, infestation or extra cleaning beyond fair wear and tear, you may be responsible for the reasonable actual cost to the extent permitted by law. Concerns or breaches will be handled through a lawful process; permission is not an automatic ground for termination.
• These rules do not limit rights relating to assistance animals or protections under anti-discrimination, equal opportunity or other applicable law.

Heating, Cooling & Utility Usage

• Use electricity, gas, water and shared facilities reasonably. Avoid deliberate or unnecessary waste.
• Turn off lights and appliances when not needed, avoid unnecessary heating and cooling, and use laundry facilities responsibly.
• Turn off your air conditioning when you are not in your room. Close blinds and curtains when cooling is in use to help it work efficiently.
• Get prior written approval before installing, connecting or regularly using additional heaters, air conditioners or other equipment covered by the appliance rules.
• These conservation rules do not set a fixed limit on reasonable utility use or restrict any right under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic).

Security, Keys & Emergency Issues

• If something is life threatening, call 000 first and then notify management.
• For urgent issues outside business hours that cannot wait until morning, contact management.
• Use the urgent-repair contact details in your signed agreement. The reporting process does not restrict your repair rights or remedies under the law.
• Front and back doors must be locked after entry and exit. Residents are provided with one front door key and one room key unless otherwise advised.
• Do not change, damage, obstruct or tamper with locks, access controls, alarms or security devices, except as permitted by law.
• Do not copy or provide keys, access devices, entry codes or security credentials to non-residents without management’s written approval. Visitors must not be given a key or access credential under the visitor rules.
• If a key, remote or access device is lost, damaged or not returned, you may need to pay the reasonable actual replacement or re-keying cost where the law permits. There is no automatic fixed fee.
• Refer requests by third parties to enter a resident’s room or other non-public areas to management so privacy, security and legal entry requirements can be considered.
• Management may install and operate cameras in common areas, including external entrances, hallways, kitchens, dining areas and other shared spaces, for lawful safety, security, incident investigation and property-management purposes.
• Cameras will not be installed in bedrooms, bathrooms or toilets. Their positioning and use must not unreasonably intrude on residents’ privacy and must comply with the law.
• Unless separately disclosed and lawfully authorised, cameras record video only, not audio or private conversations. Footage may be reviewed and shared with police, emergency services, insurers, council, VCAT or another relevant authority only where lawful and reasonably necessary.
• You and your visitors must not cover, obstruct, disconnect, move, damage or tamper with cameras or associated equipment.

Room Entry & Inspections

• Management will enter your room only in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic), including the applicable reasons for entry, notice periods and timing requirements.
• The Additional Terms do not give management blanket permission or consent that cannot be withdrawn to enter your room.

Smoke Alarms, Fire Safety & Candles

• No fires are to be lit inside or outside the property. Candles and incense are not permitted.
• Portable kerosene or oil-burning heaters and storage of flammable liquids or gases are not permitted in the Rooming House. Ordinary domestic products may be safely stored and used for their intended purpose.
• If there is smoke, fire, serious danger or risk to life, call 000 immediately.
• Do not damage, disconnect, cover, obstruct or tamper with smoke alarms, fire doors, extinguishers, fire blankets, emergency lighting or other safety equipment.
• Notify management immediately if fire-safety equipment appears damaged, disconnected, obstructed or faulty. Confirm the report in writing as soon as practicable.
• If evidence shows that a false alarm, damage or contractor attendance was directly caused by your or a visitor’s intentional, unlawful or negligent conduct, you may be responsible for the reasonable resulting cost to the extent permitted by law.

Damage & Property Condition

• The supplied furniture, fixtures and other items covered by your agreement are those listed in your condition report and any attached inventory provided at the start of your agreement.
• The condition report records the condition of your room and supplied items. It does not limit either party’s rights under the law.
• Take reasonable care to avoid damaging your room, common areas, facilities and supplied items, and take reasonable steps to make sure visitors do the same.
• Tell management as soon as practicable after you become aware of damage, a defect, a safety issue or a maintenance problem that could cause injury or further damage.
• You and your visitors must not put grease, oil, food waste, wipes, sanitary items or other unsuitable material into sinks, toilets, drains, sewerage or stormwater systems.
• If evidence shows that you, or someone you allowed onto the property, caused damage or a blockage through an intentional or negligent act or failure to act, you may be responsible for the reasonable cost of fixing it to the extent permitted by law. Responsibility is not automatic, and fair wear and tear is excluded.

Repairs & Maintenance

• Report non-urgent repairs through management’s nominated repair system, currently the QR-code/Jotform process, unless management directs otherwise.
• Report urgent repairs using the urgent-repair contact details in your signed agreement. The reporting process does not limit your repair rights or remedies under the law.
• Do not undertake electrical, plumbing, gas or other work that requires a licence.

Pool, Garage, Shed & Storage Areas

• The pool, garage, garden shed and additional storage areas are not included for tenant use unless expressly stated.
• Follow the property-specific rules and any written allocation from management for external and storage areas.
• Promptly report damage or faults affecting garden taps, pipes, irrigation, water tanks or water meters.
• Residents must not tamper with pool covers, pool chemicals, fencing or pool-related equipment.
• Management’s insurance does not ordinarily cover personal items left in storage areas. Nothing in these rules excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
• Belongings left behind will be handled in accordance with the law. Management will not impose an automatic disposal fee.

Minimum Cleanliness Expectations

Residents are expected to maintain shared areas in a clean, hygienic and usable condition at all times.

• Bathrooms should be free from clothing, hair, soap scum, makeup residue and personal items left behind.
• Toiletries and sanitary items should be stored away appropriately.
• Kitchens should be left with dishes washed, dried and put away.
• Benches, sinks, stovetops and dining areas should be clean and free from food, rubbish and dirty items.
• Food should not be left open on counters.
• Rubbish must not overflow and should be placed in the correct outside bin.
• Clothing must not be left drying in living rooms or shared common spaces unless specifically permitted.

Rent, Bond & Payments

• Your rent, payment frequency, due date and bond are set out in your prescribed agreement. Management will provide at least one fee-free payment method as required by law.
• You are responsible only for your own rent and other lawful amounts under your agreement, not another resident’s rent.
• Any rent increase must follow the law. Under the Additional Terms, an increase must also not exceed 8% in any 12-month period unless both parties later agree otherwise in writing and the increase remains lawful.
• Any bond will identify the resident and room number and will be lodged with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority within the time required by law.
• An indicative monthly rent figure is calculated as weekly rent ÷ 7 × 365 ÷ 12, rounded to the nearest cent. For example, $305 per week gives an indicative monthly equivalent of $1,325.30.
• That monthly figure does not change your weekly rent, payment frequency or due date. It does not allow management to require more than 14 days’ rent in advance.

Moving Out & Ending Your Agreement

• For a fixed-term Rooming House agreement, give management at least 14 days’ notice of your intention to vacate. For a periodic Rooming House agreement, give at least 2 days’ notice.
• Your notice must state the intended vacate date. Management requests written notice to avoid uncertainty. The law permits oral notice in some circumstances, but you must provide it in writing if management asks you to.
• Give notice using a method permitted by law, including email where electronic service has been validly agreed. Different rights may apply if the property becomes unsafe or unfit to live in, family violence provisions apply, VCAT makes an order, or both parties agree in writing to another end date.
• When leaving, remove your belongings and rubbish, return all keys and access devices, report damage and leave the room reasonably clean and substantially as it was at the start, allowing for fair wear and tear.
• Items left behind will be handled in accordance with the law. There is no automatic disposal fee.
• Validly ending a fixed-term Rooming House agreement with at least 14 days’ notice does not make you liable for rent for the rest of the fixed term.
• You remain responsible for rent up to the termination date in a valid notice, subject to the law. If you leave sooner, rent after leaving is limited by section 142Y of the Act, including the effect of a replacement resident moving in.
• If you leave without notice, section 142X limits rent after leaving to the shorter of: 14 days for a fixed-term agreement or 2 days for a periodic agreement; and the period until another resident moves into the room.
• If you leave without the required notice, leave before the termination date without management’s written agreement, or otherwise end the agreement in circumstances where reletting costs can lawfully be recovered, management may seek the reasonable costs actually incurred described below.
• Reletting costs may cover processing enquiries, inspections, applications, occupancy documents and arranging a replacement resident. They are capped at two weeks’ rent using the weekly rent in your prescribed agreement.
• Re-advertising costs are limited to reasonable external or direct costs actually incurred and are capped at $50.
• These costs are not automatic and do not apply simply because you validly end a fixed-term agreement with at least 14 days’ notice. Any claim must be lawful, supported by evidence, avoid double recovery and remain subject to VCAT’s decision. It may be reduced if management has not reasonably minimised its loss.
• Reletting or advertising claims do not allow management to charge rent beyond the limits in sections 142X and 142Y, including the effect of a replacement resident moving in.

Your Agreement, Documents & Rights

• In these summaries, your agreement means your prescribed fixed-term Rooming House agreement together with its Additional Terms Schedule. Management refers to the Rooming House operator, and “you” means the resident named in that agreement. The Act means the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic).
• The signed schedule records that you received the current House Rules and any property-specific cleanliness guide, including the bin schedule and notice of common-area cameras. These documents remain subject to the law and do not remove your statutory rights.
• The signed schedule also records receipt, where applicable, of the Rooming House Residents Guide, the statement of rights and duties, the exclusive or shared occupancy notice, and required notices about services or charges.
• House Rules operate separately under the Rooming House legal framework and may only be introduced or changed through the process the law requires.
• If either party delays or does not enforce a lawful right, that does not mean they give up that right.
• Changes to the Additional Terms Schedule must be in writing and signed or otherwise validly agreed by both parties, unless the law permits another process.
• If a provision is invalid or unenforceable, it is to be narrowed as far as possible so it can operate lawfully. The remaining provisions continue to operate.