Agreeing on a stay

Homees helps guests and hosts find each other. You agree on the stay between yourselves: Homees doesn't collect rent or bonds, or sign agreements for you. This checklist covers what to sort out before anyone moves in or pays.

Before you pay anything

• See the place first, in person or on a live video call. Photos alone aren't enough.
• Meet or video call the person you'll be living with.
• Ask the host to confirm they're allowed to sublet. In NSW a tenant generally needs the landlord's written permission to sublet part of a rented home.
• Agree on everything in writing before any money changes hands.
• Pay by bank transfer to an account in the host's name and keep the receipts.

What to agree in writing

• The exact move in and move out dates
• Rent per week, when it's due and how it's paid
• Which bills are included
• The bond: how much, who holds it, and when and how it comes back
• Keys, and when they're handed over and returned
• House rules: guests, pets, smoking, cleaning, quiet hours
• How much notice either of you gives to end the stay early
• The room's condition. Both take dated photos at move in and move out.

Bonds

Agree in writing how much the bond is, who holds it and what would be deducted from it. The rules on bonds depend on your arrangement, for example whether you're a co-tenant on the lease or subletting a room. Check the NSW Government guides below, or call NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20, if you're not sure what applies to you.

Agreement template

A starting point to fill in together. Change it to suit your stay.

STAY AGREEMENT

Host: ______________________   Guest: ______________________
Address: ________________________________________________
Room: __________________________________________________

Dates: from ____________ to ____________

Rent: $______ per week, paid ____________ (e.g. weekly in advance)
by bank transfer to (account name / BSB / account no.) ________________

Bills included: ________________________________________

Bond: $______, held by ____________
Returned within ______ days of moving out, less any agreed costs for
damage beyond normal wear and tear.

Keys: ________________________________________________

House rules (guests, pets, smoking, cleaning, quiet hours):
__________________________________________________________

Leaving early: either of us gives ______ days notice in writing.

Condition: we have both taken dated photos of the room at move in,
and will take them again at move out.

The host confirms they are allowed to sublet this room
(e.g. the landlord has given written permission).

Host signature: ____________  Date: ________
Guest signature: ___________  Date: ________

Official help

• Sharing a residential rental property (NSW Government)
• Residential rental bonds (NSW Government)
• What to look out for in share accommodation (City of Sydney)
• Tenants’ Union of NSW

This page is general information, not legal advice.