Moving out as a young, queer person can be an exhilarating yet turbulent time.
In a time of change and transition, we all need support and tips.
So, whether you’re an international student trying to find queer-friendly accommodation near uni, a trans guy moving out from the parents, or a young professional gay relocating for work, look no further as we take you through this guide for LGBTQ folk looking for a new home in Australia.
We’ll take you through everything you need to know: from finding your queer neighbourhood to navigating queer and trans roommates.
What to consider when moving out?
The budget
Moving out for the first time requires managing your personal and household budget. In Australia’s competitive housing market, this can be a big adjustment to living at home. When you begin your housing search, keep in mind the ongoing (rent, bills) and one-off costs (bond, removalists) of moving out. A handy guide for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule: allocate 50% of your income to ‘needs’ like rent and bills, 30% to ‘wants’ like clothes and going out, and 20% to your future in the form of savings or paying down debt. Check out Money Smart’s article to help work out your budget. You may also be eligible for financial support schemes such as rent assistance, youth allowance, or international student support.
Consider the costs of furnishing the place as well. This is a great excuse to hit up local thrift stores, op-shops, Facebook Marketplace and community groups (such as freebies and trading groups) for budget-friendly home essentials and knick-knacks. Check out some of our queer home styling articles for more inspo:
The place
There are a couple of things to keep in mind when searching for a room, house or apartment:
- Accessibility – make sure the place has the right accessibility requirements for you, especially in the entry (steps) and bathroom
- Size – consider the size of the bedroom, shared spaces, and bathroom, in line with your lifestyle choices. If you’re a serial thrifter (like me) or drag performer, consider how much storage space there is, or if you’re a work-from-home queer, if there’s enough space for a desk set-up in your room or shared spaces.
The roommates
Moving out usually means having to share with roommates. As a queer person, you may want to room with other queer people. Similarly, if you’re trans, gender diverse or a queer person of colour, you may feel more drawn to others who share your experience.
If you’re moving in with someone you don’t know, meeting them a few times to chat and ensure you get along well is a good idea. Ask about their interests and work/life schedules to see if you’ll be compatible as roommates. Some questions to ask your potential queer roomie:
- Do you or the other roommates have partners?
- What’s your favourite Charli XCX song?
- What are the rules about hosting parties, friends, or hookups?
- What kind of queer events, venues or parties are good around the area?
Just be careful if you think you might get on TOO well with a new queer roomie. Not to worry if you do find yourself attracted to your roommate; we have just the article if you find yourself questioning, ‘Should I shag my flatmate?’.
If you’re planning to move in with a partner or queer bestie, make sure your relationship is stable enough to handle living together. Consider how long you’ve been together to perhaps avoid U-hauling. Are they going to pull their weight with housework? Are you both financially stable and do you talk openly about money?
The area
Moving out might give you the chance to live in a different area, city or even country. If you’re looking to be amongst fellow queers, consider moving to a known queer-friendly area. This may be close to queer bars, restaurants, clubs, and cafes.
If you’re moving interstate, visiting the city before you move is a good idea. Then, you can get a feel for different areas and check out the gay scene. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a new roomie on the dancefloor or reaching for the same copy of your favourite gay book at a queer café-bookshop. Check out our queer travel guides for cities around Australia to find out where to stay and what to do on your visit:
Where to look
There are quite a few places and sites where you can look for queer housing.
You can start by reaching out to your queer networks. For instance, post a story on social media saying you’re looking to move out; you can also include the area and budget. This article has a few more tips on how to find LGBTQ roommates.
There are a bunch of Facebook groups which can connect you with queer and trans-friendly rooms and houses around Australia.
If you’re looking to rent a property, you can try apps such as GayShare, Domain, Realestate, Flatmates and Rent.
For international students looking for accommodation, have a read of this article by Study Australia. You can find accredited properties near your uni via this website.
Know your rights & get advice
Becoming a renter for the first time, it’s good to know what your rights are and where to get support as a renter. Click on the tenant union or advocacy services for the state or territory you are moving to:
Take charge of your sexual health in a new city
Tick one thing off your list by making sure you have a sexual health strategy in place before you move. Make sure you have enough lube, and PrEP, condoms or HIV medication so you can dive right into the gay scene once you arrive. Check out our article on finding a gay-friendly doctor or use our interactive map to locate where you can get tested for HIV and STIs near your new digs.
Further reading
If you need some more help and want to know more about the process of moving out, give these articles a read: