What is the difference between a rooming house and a share house in Melbourne?
The distinction between a rooming house and a share house in Melbourne is not just about size — it determines your legal rights, your landlord's obligations and what protections you can enforce.
Share house:
- A standard residential property rented by one or more tenants who share living spaces
- You either sign the main lease (co-tenant) or sublet from the main tenant
- Governed by the Residential Tenancies Act 1997
- Your rights are those of a standard Victorian tenant
Rooming house:
- A property with five or more bedrooms where the total rent from all residents exceeds a set threshold, OR any property registered as a rooming house
- Each resident rents their individual room under a separate agreement
- Governed by Part 3 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 — specific rooming house provisions
- The operator (landlord) must hold a rooming house operator registration from Consumer Affairs Victoria
- Stricter minimum standards apply: each room must have an area of at least 7.5 m², lockable door, access to shared bathroom and kitchen facilities
Why this matters for renters:
- In a rooming house, you have additional protections around eviction, communal access and house rules
- In an informal share house where you are NOT on the main lease, your protections may be more limited — you are effectively a subtenant
- Always ask: "Am I signing a lease directly with the owner?" — this determines your legal standing
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