Room type
Before you move in the rooming house operator must give you a notice telling you if you will be renting a room by yourself or a shared room.
The operator must use the forms on the Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) website.
Room to yourself
If you are the only person renting your room, you will have an ‘exclusive occupancy right’.
When you have an exclusive occupancy right, the rooming house operator cannot move anyone else into your room.
Sharing with someone you choose
If you are sharing a room with someone you have chosen, like your partner, but no-one else, you will also have ‘an exclusive occupancy right’.
The rooming house operator cannot move anyone else into your room.
Moving a partner in – increased costs
If you start out renting a room by yourself, but later want your partner to move in, your own rent will be reduced, but the amount you pay together could be more than what you were paying on your own.
Rents in rooming houses are based not only on renting the room but also on using shared facilities and utilities such as electricity.
Having someone move into your room will increase the use of facilities and utilities in the house, so you could end up paying more together than you would if you were renting the room on your own.
If you have had someone move in with you, and think the rent being charged is too high, you can challenge this by writing to Consumer Affairs Victoria and asking them to investigate.
You must do this within 30 days of your partner moving in and the new rent being charged.