Moving into a new room is exciting, but the first day and first week set the tone for your whole stay. A little organisation now can save you from disputes, lost bond, missed rent payments, and awkward misunderstandings later.
This guide is written for Nepali students, new migrants, and anyone moving into a shared house in Melbourne. Use it on the day you collect the keys and during your first week, so nothing important is forgotten in the rush of settling in.
If you have not yet chosen a room, read the Room Inspection Checklist and Questions to Ask Before Moving Into a Shared House first. This guide assumes you have already agreed on the room and are about to move in.
Why the first week matters
When you move in, you are trusting a room, a house, and a group of people you may barely know. Most problems in shared housing are not caused by bad intentions. They are caused by things that were never written down, never confirmed, or never checked.
The first week is the best time to:
- Record the exact condition of the room before you settle in
- Confirm the money details in writing
- Learn how the house actually works day to day
- Set up the practical things you need for study and work
- Build a good first impression with your housemates
Do these early. It is much harder to raise a concern about the room three months later than it is on day one.
Before moving day
A little preparation before you carry your bags in makes the day itself much smoother.
Before moving day, confirm:
- The exact move-in date and time
- Who will hand over the keys, and their phone number
- The full address and the best entrance to use
- The agreed weekly rent and bond amount
- Whether the bond has been paid and receipted
- Whether bills are included, and if not, how they are split
- What is already provided in the room (bed, mattress, desk, wardrobe)
- What you need to bring yourself
If any of these are still unclear, sort them out before you arrive, not while standing at the door with your luggage.
Keep a copy of every message where rent, bond, bills, and the move-in date were agreed. Screenshots are fine. If something is disputed later, this record protects you.
Collect the keys and check access
The first practical task is getting proper access to the house and your room.
When you collect the keys:
- Test every key you are given before the person leaves
- Check the front door key works
- Check your bedroom door key or lock, if the room has one
- Ask how many keys exist and who holds them
- Ask whether the locks were changed after the last renter left
- Find out how to get in if you are locked out
- Ask about any building entry, gate, or garage codes
- Save the contact number for the owner or head tenant
If you are given a key that does not work, or you are told "we will get you a copy later", do not leave it. Agree on exactly when you will receive working keys.
Knowing who else has keys to your room matters for your safety and your belongings.
Take photos and notes of the room condition
This is the single most important step on moving day. Before you unpack anything, record the exact condition of the room and shared areas.
Take clear, dated photos of:
- Every wall, corner, and the ceiling
- The floor or carpet, including any stains or marks
- The mattress and bed frame, if provided
- The desk, chair, and wardrobe
- Windows, blinds, and curtains
- Any existing damage, marks, holes, or scratches
- Power points and light switches
- Any furniture or appliances included in the room
- Shared areas you are responsible for, such as the bathroom or kitchen shelf
Photograph anything that is already damaged or dirty, and send a copy to the owner or head tenant on the same day with a short message noting it. This protects your bond, because you can prove the damage was there before you moved in.
If a written condition report is provided, fill it in honestly and keep a copy. Consumer Affairs Victoria explains how condition reports are used to record the state of a rental at the start of a tenancy.
Keep these photos safe for your entire stay. You will want them again when you move out, so you can compare the before-and-after condition of the room and protect your bond.
Confirm rent, bond, and payment details
Money misunderstandings are the most common cause of stress in shared houses. Confirm everything in writing during your first few days.
Confirm:
- The weekly rent amount
- Whether rent is paid weekly, fortnightly, or monthly
- The exact date your rent is due
- The payment method (bank transfer is safest and leaves a record)
- The account details for rent payments
- That your bond was received, with a receipt
- Whether bond is lodged with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) or held privately
- Whether bills are included, and if not, how and when they are split
- Whether you will receive copies of shared bills
Set a phone reminder a day or two before rent is due so you never miss a payment. Always pay by a method that leaves a record, and keep proof of every payment.
If you want to understand how bond, rent cycles, and "bills included" really work in Victoria, read Bond, rent and bills explained for new renters in Victoria.
The RTBA holds bonds for most Victorian residential tenancies. You can check whether your bond is registered on the RTBA Online portal.
Check the Wi-Fi and internet
For students, a working internet connection is essential from day one for online classes, assignments, job applications, and staying in touch with family in Nepal.
On your first day:
- Ask for the Wi-Fi network name and password
- Test the connection speed in your own room, not just the living room
- Check whether the signal is strong where you will study
- Ask whether internet is included in your rent or paid separately
- Ask whether there is a data limit
- Find out if the connection slows down in the evening when everyone is home
If the signal is weak in your room, ask whether the router can be moved, or whether a mobile data plan would be a better backup. Do not assume "the house has Wi-Fi" means it will be fast enough in your room.
Understand the bins and rubbish system
Rubbish and recycling seem small, but in Melbourne they are a common source of house tension and even council fines. Learn the system in your first week.
Find out:
- Which bin is for general rubbish, which is for recycling, and which is for green waste
- What day the bins are collected
- Whose responsibility it is to put the bins out and bring them back in
- Where the bins are stored
- Whether there is a roster for taking bins out
- What can and cannot go in the recycling bin
Most Melbourne councils have three bins with different coloured lids, and collection days vary by suburb. Ask your housemates how it works in your house, and offer to take your turn. Getting this right early shows you are a considerate housemate.
Inspect appliances and how things work
In your first few days, learn how the everyday things in the house actually work, and check that shared appliances are functioning.
Check and ask about:
- The heater: what type it is, how to use it, and any rules about running it
- Cooling or air conditioning for summer
- The hot water system and how long hot water lasts
- The stove, oven, and range hood
- The fridge and freezer, and which shelf or space is yours
- The washing machine, and any laundry days or rules
- Where to dry clothes
- The microwave, kettle, and other shared kitchen items
- Smoke alarms in the house
If an appliance is broken or does not work properly, report it to the owner or head tenant straight away, in writing, so it is on record. Fixing the responsibility for a fault early is much easier than arguing about it later.
Ask about anything that is not obvious, such as how to switch on the hot water, reset the heater, or use the washing machine. There is nothing wrong with asking on day one.
Confirm the house rules
Every shared house runs on rules, some written and many unwritten. Confirming them in your first week prevents most housemate conflicts.
Confirm the rules on:
- Cooking times and strong-smelling food
- Fridge and pantry space
- Kitchen cleaning after use
- The bathroom cleaning roster
- Quiet hours and noise at night
- Guests during the day and overnight visitors
- Shared cleaning of common areas
- Laundry days or time limits
- Parking, if you have a car
- Smoking and alcohol
- Shared household items and who buys them
If there is a written house agreement, read it carefully and keep a copy. If the rules are only spoken, it is worth confirming the important ones in a message so everyone shares the same understanding.
For a fuller explanation of how shared living usually works, read Shared house rules every student should understand.
Save important contacts
Before you get busy with study and work, save the numbers and details you may need in an emergency or an everyday problem.
Save:
- The owner or head tenant's phone number
- At least one housemate's number
- The nearest hospital and medical clinic
- Your university or college contact and student support line
- The emergency number, 000, for police, fire, and ambulance
- Your local council's contact for bins and neighbourhood issues
- A trusted friend or relative in Melbourne
- Your own address, written out, so you can give it clearly if needed
If you are new to Australia, remember that 000 is the number for genuine emergencies. Consumer Affairs Victoria's renting pages are a good reference for your rights as a renter.
Meet your housemates
Your housemates will shape your daily experience more than the room itself. A friendly start makes shared living much easier.
In your first week:
- Introduce yourself to everyone in the house
- Learn their names and rough schedules
- Ask about anything you are unsure of, rather than guessing
- Be tidy in shared spaces from day one
- Take your turn with bins, cleaning, and shared tasks
- Be considerate about noise, especially late at night
You do not need to become close friends with everyone. You do need to be respectful, communicate clearly, and pull your weight. A good first impression makes the whole house easier to live in.
Set up the practical basics
Alongside the room itself, there are a few practical things worth sorting out in your first week in a new area.
Consider:
- Working out your route to university, college, or work
- Checking public transport options and travel times
- Topping up your Myki card for trains, trams, and buses
- Finding the nearest supermarket and grocery shops
- Locating the nearest Nepali or South Asian grocery, if that matters to you
- Noting the nearest pharmacy and medical clinic
- Updating your address where needed, such as with your bank or university
You can compare travel times from your new address using the Public Transport Victoria journey planner. A room that felt convenient on paper can be very different once you try the daily commute.
Watch for problems in the first week
Your first week is also when you find out whether the room and house match what you were promised. Pay attention if:
- The room is different from what you inspected or saw in photos
- Promised furniture or appliances are missing
- The keys or locks do not work as agreed
- The rent, bond, or bill arrangement changes from what was agreed
- You are asked to pay extra costs that were never mentioned
- House rules are suddenly stricter than you were told
- More people are living in the house than you expected
If something is wrong, raise it early and in writing, while it is easy to prove what was agreed. The longer you wait, the harder it is to resolve.
Quick moving-in checklist
Use this list on moving day and during your first week:
- I tested every key before the person left
- I know who else has keys to the house and my room
- I took dated photos of the room and any existing damage
- I sent the photos to the owner and kept a copy
- I completed and kept a copy of the condition report, if provided
- I confirmed the rent amount, due date, and payment method
- I have a receipt for my bond
- I know whether bills are included and how they are split
- I have the Wi-Fi password and tested the connection in my room
- I know the bin days and the rubbish and recycling system
- I checked the heater, hot water, fridge, and other appliances
- I reported anything broken, in writing
- I confirmed the house rules
- I saved the owner's, a housemate's, and emergency contacts
- I introduced myself to my housemates
- I worked out my transport route and topped up my Myki
If you can tick most of these in your first week, you have started on the right foot.
How HamroRooms can help
HamroRooms helps Nepali students and newcomers in Melbourne find shared accommodation more clearly, with listings that show room details, bills information, and availability before you reach out.
With HamroRooms, you can:
- Browse rooms by suburb
- See which rooms include bills, parking, or internet
- Contact room owners directly before you commit
- Compare rent and availability across suburbs
- Find rooms listed by people within the Nepali community in Melbourne
Even after you have found a room through HamroRooms, use this checklist when you move in so that everything important is confirmed and recorded from the start.
Final advice
Moving in is not just about carrying your bags through the door. The habits you set in the first week protect your bond, your money, and your comfort for the rest of your stay.
Take photos before you unpack, confirm the money in writing, learn how the house works, and be a considerate housemate from day one. A calm, organised start is the best foundation for a good experience in your new home in Melbourne.