If you’re an international student about to make the big move to Australia, you’re certainly in for a very exciting time indeed! Although there are many things to look forward to, there are also a few things that you should keep an eye on for your own peace of mind, particularly when it comes to student accommodation. In this article, we look at a few of the most common ways that international students are taken advantage of so you can be better prepared for managing any such issues that you encounter during your time here.
Scams are certainly out there
If you’ve landed your dream student accommodation in Perth, it’s never a bad idea to work out if you’ve been scammed. It’s important to keep in mind that just because Australia is generally an extremely safe country, that does not mean that there aren’t people ready to take advantage. Unfortunately, this is not as uncommon as you might think, as international students are particularly good targets for people looking for vulnerable people to scam. Some general tips to help you avoid some of the more common scams include not booking rooms through generic portals, no matter how good a deal it seems. This is particularly the case for portals that are located overseas – go for Australian portals, well-known portals, or preferably, both even if you do end up getting a room (which might not actually happen. It might be very different from the photos that you may have seen on the internet. Although Australia’s accommodation can be expensive, going for properties that seem much cheaper than they otherwise should result in you losing out even more, which can spell disaster for those already on a tight budget.
More tips to keep your money in your wallet
Another common way you might be taken advantage of as an international student is by getting in touch with illegal housing providers. Identifying illegal providers can help ensure you are afforded all of the typical legal rights you have as a tenant and don’t have to live in an over-crowded and unclean place. Although you might save a small amount of money by agreeing to such an arrangement, there’s just as much chance that you might run into financial trouble, or worse, because of it. A lot of these issues can be managed before they damage you by taking the time to really understand your needs and the total length of your stay. By knowing exactly how long you plan on staying, you can work out what kind of lease suits you best so that you aren’t overpaying, and this can also help you do not have to resort to seeking out the services of illegal providers due to your improper evaluation of your own circumstances.
Stay aware when looking for accommodation
By taking the time to do some research about where the best places for students to live are in Australia – even if it’s just for a few weeks while you get your bearings – you’re sure to have a much nicer stay than you otherwise would. Keep the above things in mind. Your memories of Australia should hopefully be much more pleasant than they otherwise might have been – although it’s a safe and friendly country, staying on your guard if something seems too good to be true can definitely pay off!
Featured Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash
