What bills are typically included when renting a room in Melbourne?

Question

Accepted Answer

What is included in your weekly rent varies enormously between room listings in Melbourne. Understanding this before you sign prevents budget surprises.

Bills most commonly included in Melbourne room rentals:

Internet/WiFi — most furnished rooms and many share houses include broadband
Water — usually included as part of the property's overall bill, split between housemates
Gas — for cooking and heating; often included in all-bills listings

Bills most commonly NOT included:

Electricity — this is the largest variable; even in share houses that include other bills, electricity is often split separately among housemates
Personal phone and streaming subscriptions

All-bills-included rooms: Some listings advertise "all bills included" — this typically means electricity, gas, water and internet are covered in the weekly rent. These rooms cost AUD $50–$100/week more than equivalent rooms where bills are separate, but offer complete budget predictability.

Tips before signing:

Ask specifically: "Which bills are included and which are split?"
For bills that are split, ask: "How many people share the household and how are bills divided — equally or by usage?"
For electricity, ask what the average quarterly bill is for the household — this helps you calculate true weekly costs
In older Melbourne houses with poor insulation, heating bills in winter (June–August) can be substantial