UniAbode - Australian University Student House Assistance Program University share houses

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What is UniAbode Program?

UniAbode - Australian University Housing Assistance Program is a unique program of its kind hosted by fivestar group, one of the leading companies in the field servicing more than 14 years. Basically, we are a team of people who work for tenants find a suitable property or a place to stay according to the customers preferences. 

How can I enrol with the program?

Navigate to the 

1. Enrolment page

2. Accept the terms and get to Enrolment page.

3. Click on Step 1 - Choose your selection from the list and make the payment, screenshot the receipt

4. Come back to enrolment page, select Step 2, fill up the Enrolment form Attach the receipt, and send it.

In 48 Hrs you will get an Acceptance letter / Rejection letter from coordinators desk. if it is rejected you will get the instructions to fix the above steps and do the enrolment again. If accepted, you can wait till processing of your file start normally in two weeks of your arrival. In the meantime, if you have any questions you can message/WhatsApp on the given office number.

What is the kind of property you find for me?

The types of property available in Australian market for a Fresh permanent resident or student tenant.

1.  University Accommodation operated by universities for their students (Rent varies from $500 to $900 per week) 

2. University accommodation operated my private operator. (Rent varies from $300 to $500 per week)

3. Landlord or owner operated rooming houses. (Rent varies from $250 to $400 per week)

4. Student tenets operated house share. (Rent varies from $275 to $400 per week)

5. Paying guest accommodation. (Rent varies from $275 to $450 per week)

Even though these are the approximate prices we always try to find the low price housing setup. So, the choice is yours. You are the one who decides what types you need, and you can let us know what you wish while you enrol through website. We will be in touch with you throughout the process.

When will the processing starts after successfully enrolled in the UniAbode Program?

Normally after successful enrolment in the program your file will be allocated to one of our experienced multicultural, multinational staff for processing. Once your arrival day is two weeks away, we start sending request to our databanks and get in touch with owners and landloards for updates.  After we find a proper placement based on your requests and priorities, we will send you 1-3 listing for you to choose from depending on the areas. Due to the shortage of housing placements sometimes its hard to find all the 3 listings. 

Once you approve one of listing we will lock the room with the token advance we collect during the enrolment process and share contacts both parties.

Sometimes owners/Landlords ask to pay the full deposit to their bank account. So you might need to be prepared to do that.

How far will be the stays usually?

95% of the stays we find will be close to the university in a 10 km radius. In some cases, students prefer to get stays bit further away like 20-30 mins because the houses near universities are bit costly sometimes. But please be prepared to take the first one 30-50 mins away just in case of nonavailability of the room.

Will you give us a list of stays? how do you process my file?

Not particularly. How our system works is, once you enrol with us (Step 1 and 2 completed and you get the confirmation mail) our unique software will detect a completed form and assign your file to one of the agents of our multicultural team for processing. 

We are maintaining two types of data banks for the company

1. Owner's Bank 

2. Former students Bank. 

The members of both these data banks are handpicked having good standard of accommodation and easy to deal with for better stay experiences for our students. 

Once a file has been assigned to an agent and the customer arrival date is in two weeks, agent will get in touch with the hundred's listings by members of the owner's data bank and student data banks for any vacant rooms. 95% of the time we find the accommodation in this manner. And if not, we get recommendations from the students who willing to help to search fora suitable stay which they know.

Because the processing work like this we can't be able to give a long list of accommodation from there you can choose from. The trouble with the listing will bring uncertainty and confusion.

What if I can't afford it!!

There is a minimum rental market rate going on each state and each area.  Our coordinators know what the rental minimum of each area is. We all have been in the industry for many years, and we know what we offer. That doesn't mean that you will get a stay for next to nothing. For example, if you have 150 in your mind for rent per week and the minimum rental on the area going on 300/week which is the most common median rate throughout Australia, and you can't pay more than that, we won't be able to help you. If you need to know what the rate of stays at your area is, just let us know. We are determined to find the low rate as possible for our students no matter what. 

Keep in mind that you have informed in writing and submitted documents to Australian immigration that you can afford the study and expanses while you are in Australia. 

Can I will pay the enrolment fees after you provide the options.

Unfortunately NO. Australia work structure is not like other countries. There might be places like that, but we don't operate like that. We have several process until even first contact. We call spend hours just to give you information and explaining your questions. We have to call providers like owners/landlords/house in-charges to know and fix the room for you. there are several process and work before we give the first option. Our coordinators work more than worth 300$ each person. 

As per the Australin govts work policy there is a certain benchmark for salary for any people including you who indented to work in Australia. When you work, the workplace is going to give at least 25-30 per hr for the basic level jobs. That is rule. Some people will say i cant afford the fees or i cant afford the market standard rent, they have to understand that whatever you spend is the same scale whatever you earn. Noone will say i cant afford to receive the salary when you get one.

How much should I pay initially to reserve and move in to the room? 

As per Australian government rules and safe practice owners need two types of payment before you move in.

1. Bond or Security deposit which you will get back when you vacate the property after minimum rental period

2. One month advance rental payment 

For example, if your rent is 200$/. week you need to pay 1600$ to move into the room. that is 200X4=800 Bond and 200X4=800 advance rent. we usually collect 200$ while you register with us which will be given to the owners as token on the booking of the property. In that case, by the above scenario, you only need to pay 1400 as your token is already paid to the owner.

How much should I bring? Can i keep the money in the debit card like Forex card?

We recommend all our students to bring cash as that will be easier to handle for initial stages in Australia. Usually, the first payment to the owner on the date of arrival will be in cash. because you don't have a bank account here to send money to the owner or you don't have any other means of online transfer which an owner can get money on the time of your arrival. Most of the owners prefer cash then and there you arrive before getting into the house. 

You won't be able to pay the initial amount from forex cad up on your arrival. You can't withdraw money from Australian ATMs with Forex or travel card most of the times. You can use Forex for buying anything online or instore but no cash withdrawal. Forex card is good to load for expanse money but not good for initial expanses. We have cases of students who brought money on forex card and got denied entering house because of the failure payment. So don't take chances.

We recommend students to bring at least 4000$ cash for initial expanse. Normally it covers your expanse for at least 3 months. Like 1500-2500 will be the room initial payment and 500$ for public transport card, bedding and mobile sim-card, groceries like egg, bread and milk etc and few months rental as well. Australin culture prefers plastic money (Cards). So, once you come you need to get a bank account and you will get bank card in 5 working days which you can use anywhere even in small businesses. Bringing small amount of money and sending more money later is also not a good practice. Delay of money reaching the account is really bad sometimes.

Could you pls recommend a good mobile service?

We recommend our students to bring a local mobile number with one week roaming. 

Most of the airports have free Wi-Fi. you need to contact the owner up on your arrival on Australia from the airport so that they can be there when you arrive at the property. 90% owners we have has WhatsApp so that won't an issue. but still there will be a 10% who needed a call or a message once you reach at the airport.

Most of the airports have sim card shops. But the real fact is that the sim cards you find in airports are less efficient in calling minutes, internet data, mobile range, customer service etc. So if you bring your existing mobile number with a week of roaming, you can use it just like any Australian mobile for a week until you buy Australin sim card from local grocery stores like Coles, Woolworths, IGA etc.

Some agencies give their students sim cards, bank account etc which is also a good thing.

Our recommended mobile service providers.

• Telstra prepaid (they own the infrastructure and main network)
• Optus prepaid (they own the infrastructure and main network) 
• Amaysim Mobile free Indian unlimited calls 50gb data 28 days validity 30$+/month Optus network 
• Boost Mobile free Indian unlimited calls 25gb data 28 days validity 35$+/month Telstra network 

Do we get refund on cancelling your service?

Unfortunately, NO! In Australia we work and get paid for hours. From the time you enrol there are lot of work involved even before we start contacting owners for organising accommodations. As per the fair work policy everyone who involves in the operation needed to get paid. Because of that reason we wont be able to refund the registration charges which you pay initially. Your deposit advance we collect can be refunded. No issues. But in case of visa refusal after your registration, your money will be refunded fully except the PayPal handling fee, given the returning transaction charges will be deducted from the original amount.

What all things should i bring when I come Australia. (and what not)

Don't bring so many cloths Formalware and accessories. Please refer the link

What are the after moving in services?

These are things to be done as soon as you reach Australia.

• Sign up for a bank account.
• Get a mobile sim card.
• Get a public transport card.
• Buy primary foods like milk, bread and eggs.
• Find Indian store and general grocery store.
• Activate OHSC (students)
• Apply TFN (Tax File Number essential for job purposes)

We can help you guide through the process and any your questions above list. 

Please refer the LINK things to be done after moving Australia

What is the period of stay?

Minimum period of stay has been set by owner and landlords. Some of them ok with one month of stay a percentage of them ok with 3 months of stay and so on. But this is completely up to the owners. The usual lawful period is 6 months. If you break the minimum rental period, Uniabode or our associates or subsidiaries are not responsible to give help of any sort, for getting bond / security deposit back from owners or the court process if any landlord/owner/head tenant file against you.

What are the duties of general share household?

This will rase a question, do I have any duties? yes, you do. there will be roster for general area cleaning in most of the houses. this will be rotated around with each room share occupants. If you are cooking, you should clean the kitchen after you cook. And get the general pots and pans ready for next occupant, move all your excess food to container boxed and move into fridge. if its general fridge please don't stack up with your big pots and pans with old food. Don't touch or grab the food materials belong to someone else. Just mindful and respectful that you have more people staying in the house and be nice to them.

Even though you follow all the guidelines some of the occupants are not good in cleaning after you because of laziness or over work and all. So, you can report that to the house owner as they have the responsibility to keep your stay pleasant.

Toilet and Paper situation

99% of Australian toilets are divided to two parts. Dry area and Wet area. Wet area consists of shower cubicle, tub etc where people usually take bath or shower. Rest all is dry area. Australin homes built with timber and materials made from wood. Shower floor will be waterproof but not dry area. So, if there is presence of water on dry area will rotten floor and damage the house. So as soon as you spill liquid on dry area clean it straight away with tissues and mops available.

For toilets people use toilet papers also called as toilet tissues. People from Asian custom always find hard using toilet paper.  At this point if you are from a region who never use toilet tissues, there will two choices for you. Start and learn using toilet paper. Lots of information and how to videos available in YouTube. Or you can get a mug or cup and use water. This case you should be very cautious because if there is damage on the floor due to water spill, your deposit will not be refunded or if the damage is bigger owners have the right to prosecute you and get the damages through court.

Do you do airport pickups?

Yes we do. please contact us for the quotation. Australia is a safe country so if you look for a cheaper mode of travel TAXI is the best choice. most of the universities offer airport pickups that is free. UBER can't be done most cases as it need an Australian bank account or card details for the payment to be deducted. 

You can contact (Message) us through WhatsApp +61403099994, any time about anything you think you need advice about regarding life and in general in Australia even after the enrolment process finish.

If you have any questions, please do message us we are here to help you