Renting a house in Australia depends on many factors such as what time of the year you plan to be there, which part of the country or region you would like to stay and your preferences for the type of accommodation and lastly your budget. The types of accommodations are shared accommodations, home stay, hostels and rental homes or flats.  Most of the youngsters who come to Australia for studies or to begin their career prefer to rent a flat than a house as they do not want to tend to the gardens and other responsibilities related to the house.  They prefer the convenience of a flat where there will be less chores to do around the house.  The cost factor also plays a major role in deciding where you can stay.  If the duration is for more than six months it is advisable to rent a flat or house.  For shorter stays you can go for the other staying options.  If you would like to arrange for your accommodation in Australia from your home country, you can contact websites like Information Planet who can guide and assist you through the entire process so that you can hire a house even before you arrive in Australia. Once you have made the decision of renting a house you need to check your rights and responsibilities as a tenant under the laws of Australia under The Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) 1997.

You can visit www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/realestaterenting.html to understand all legal aspects of property lease. Your tenancy agreement should be for a minimum period of six months. Depending upon the number of people you are going to share the house with, you can rent a house with one or two bedrooms with a kitchen, living room and one or two bathrooms. You must also correctly understand the size of the rooms and the house. Once you decide your budget decide the place where you want to stay based on the location of your work or study and the availability of transportation and other facilities such as shops and entertainment etc. Mostly the houses are rented out without furniture except for a stove which is usually electric.  

Having decided the budget, place and type of house, you can start looking for the house. You can go through the classifieds of local newspapers and notice boards and from sign boards in various neighborhoods. You can also browse the websites dedicated to real estate for the house that suits you. You should also have all documents such as your passport, proof of your income and referees such as your employer or friends.  When you have found the place rental house you have to sign the contract after checking all the information including the amount of refundable deposit, the first payment, the condition report and the payment schedule for rent.  Make sure that any damages or issues such as scratches on walls or broken fittings and the like are mentioned clearly in this report.  Remember that the house should be in the same or in a better condition when you vacate. Termination of agreement is usually at the end of the agreement period or the lessor should give a 60-day notice.  In case of violations, the landlord has the right to terminate the agreement immediately.