I. Must You Attend an Inspection Yourself? Can Someone Attend on Your Behalf?
The Australian rental process emphasises “transparency and confirmation”. Most legitimate agencies require the tenant or an authorised representative to attend the inspection in person, to make sure the tenant understands the property's actual condition.
For international students who have not yet arrived in Australia, there are three ways to complete an inspection:
- Ask a Friend or Classmate to Attend on Your Behalf (Authorized Proxy Viewing)
You can ask a local friend to attend in person and explain to the agent by email in advance: “I would like to send a representative to attend the inspection on my behalf.”
Agents will usually agree, but may ask for your friend's name and contact number.
- Arrange a Trusted Representative and Confirm Agent Requirements
Ask a trusted friend or independently checked provider to inspect, confirming the agent’s permission and authorisation requirements first. QRent does not currently offer an active inspection-booking or fulfilment service.
- A Video Inspection Provided by the Agent (Virtual Inspection)
Some large agencies (such as Ray White and LJ Hooker) upload short videos or virtual tours, which can help you gain an initial understanding of the property.
📍Suggestion: Inspecting the property yourself is the most reliable approach. If you choose a representative inspection, make sure the entire process takes place through the agency's official communication channels, and retain email records or video files.
II. What Does open inspection Mean? How Do You Book One?
Open inspection (an open viewing) is the most common stage in Australian renting. It means the agent opens the property during a fixed period for prospective tenants to view it together.
A listing page often says:
“Open for inspection: Saturday 10:30am – 10:45am”
This means the property will be open for viewing on Saturday morning between 10:30 and 10:45.
How to book:
Click “Book Inspection” or “Register for Inspection” on the Realestate or Domain listing page;
Enter your name, email address and mobile number;
After submitting, you will receive a confirmation email or SMS reminder from the agent.
If you are overseas, you can add a note:
“I’m currently overseas and would like to request a video inspection.”
💡Tip: Properties in popular areas of Sydney and Melbourne (such as Kensington and Carlton) usually have very short inspection periods, so arriving 5–10 minutes early is recommended.
III. Is the Listing Information Genuine?
Realestate and Domain help locate properties, but appearing on a platform does not guarantee authenticity, the right to let, or current availability. Independently check the address, advertiser, authority and agreement.
However, you should still be alert to some high-risk sources, for example:
“Private rentals” on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree;
Unofficial listings circulated through social channels such as WeChat and QQ groups;
Advertisements with rents far below market rates and urgent requests for money transfers.
Tips for assessing whether a listing is genuine:
Verify the Agency Name—A legitimate agency displays its company name on the listing page (such as LJ Hooker Randwick).
Compare Multiple Sources—A social-only advertisement needs checking; the channel alone cannot establish authenticity.
Check Why a Price Is Low—Distinguish a bed, room and whole property, the billing period and included bills. There is no universal price threshold for authenticity.
Independently Verify Payment Instructions—Confirm the recipient and purpose. NSW RBO, other state bond authorities and legitimate private landlords may use different processes; an account name alone is not proof.
IV. How Can You Avoid Scams?
Verify the Recipient and Payment Purpose First
Do not pay an unverified recipient. A lawful NSW holding fee may be requested after application approval and before signing, capped at one week’s rent. Bonds and advance rent have separate rules. Confirm the purpose and retain a receipt; see NSW starting costs.
Ask for a Formal Contract and Receipts
Australia's standard contract is called a “Residential Tenancy Agreement”, and is managed uniformly through an agency or state government template.
Verify the Agent's Credentials
In New South Wales (NSW), you can check through the NSW Fair Trading website;
In Victoria (VIC), you can visit Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Keep All Communication Records
These include emails, text messages, inspection registration forms and transfer receipts.
Trust Official Channels
Realestate, Domain and QRent can provide leads; independently verify each property’s right to let, terms and payment recipient.
V. Qrent's Suggestions
Compare Current Advertisements: Compare like-for-like areas, housing types and whole-property or per-person prices. Old figures in this article are not current Sydney averages.
Plan 2 Months Ahead: If you have not yet arrived in Australia, you can first compare individual advertised prices and shortlist housing types in QRent, then sign a lease in person after arriving.
Budget Sensibly: Use actual bills, inclusions and furnishing needs. The source’s 30AUD/week bills and 2000AUD furniture figures are historical examples, not current or universal budgets.
Qrent is committed to providing international students with more genuine, transparent rental information that allows price comparisons, helping everyone understand the market clearly before arriving in Australia and avoid scams or information gaps.
