Rooming houses

We work with Consumer Affairs Victoria to improve conditions in Victoria's private rooming house market.

Residents of a rooming house have an individual agreement with their rooming house operator/manager. They have either exclusive occupancy rights or shared occupancy rights to a room. In most rooming houses, residents have shared access to communal facilities such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundries and living areas.

Rooming houses must be registered with the local council. 

Find information about local councils.

Registration and licensing

Consumer Affairs Victoria has established a public register of rooming houses and rooming house operators. This allows the public to check if a rooming house is registered with the local council and to confirm that a rooming house operator is licensed.

You can search to find a registered rooming house near you.

Consumer Affairs Victoria hosts information about the public register of rooming house operators.

Looking for accommodation

If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness or family violence there is help. Visit the Housing.Vic website for help with crisis and emergency accommodation.

The HousingVic website also has:

Improving private rooming houses

Rooming House regulations have been made that include a suite of minimum standards for rooming houses, which focus on improving privacy, safety and amenities for rooming house residents. The standards are enforced by Consumer Affairs Victoria.

Visit Consumer Affairs Victoria for information about the standards for rooming houses.

Managing closures

We implemented a protocol designed to improve collaboration between homelessness assistance services and local government authorities. This is so they can work together when responding to the needs of vulnerable rooming house residents affected by closures.

The protocol focuses on ensuring residents are appropriately supported to relocate to alternative affordable and safe housing. It also minimises the potential adverse impacts on their lives.

For more information, see Related resources.

Contacts
Are you homeless or at risk of homelessness?
Call 1800 825 955

Free 24 hour phone line. Someone will take your call to get you help nearby. If after hours, they will refer you to the Salvation Army Crisis Services.

Are you escaping family violence?
Call 1800 018 188

Free 24 hour phone line. Someone will take your call from Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre.