Where to live in Sydney an experience - updated

Hi

I have moved to Sydney from the UK (Alba, Caledonia, Scotia ;-)) last year on a skilled / business visa. What follows is more or less a brain dump of my experience and research around looking for somewhere to stay in the greater Sydney area, also reflects some of the advice I have been given.

You should note that this is my view only and is not intended to be anything else.

Where not to stay:

Western or South Western suburbs, to name a few:
Redfern
Croydon
Bankstown
Campsie
Lakemba
Punchbowl
Cabramatta
Macquarrie Fields
Parramatta
MacDonald Town
Eastwood
Ashfield
Strathfield

South East suburbs such as Marouba and Cronulla
Although Marouba and Cronulla are OK and have undergone some transformation since the surfer gang days and the 2005 race riots.

I am not saying that the above are bad, I know expat’s living in some of those areas and there have been no complaints, generally there are nice areas and not so no nice areas and it all comes down to what you can afford.

Where to stay:

North Shore (upper and lower), to name a few:
North Sydney (mostly corporate businesses)
St Leonard’s (mostly corporate businesses)
Artarmon
Wollenstoncraft
Chatswood
Crows Nest
Gordon
Pymble
Lane Cove
Artarmon
Northwood
Naremburn
Roseville
Killara
Lindfield
Turramurra
Warrawee
Wahroonga
Fox Valley
Asquith
Berowra
Waverton
Waitara
Hornsby and surrounding area
Cremorne
St Ives
Terry Hills (along Mona Vale Road)

Northern Beaches, Mona Vale, Narrabeen etc.

North West such as Cherry Brook, West Pennant Hills, Beecroft, Castle Hill, The Hills areas.

Epping to Thornleigh on the Northern Line

Inner West suburbs such as Balmain and Rozelle

Eastern suburbs such as Rose Bay, Dover Heights, Vaucluse

Sutherland-shire

You also have the option to head out towards the Blue Mountains and some of the suburbs there, although this will mean a commute to Sydney by bus or car mostly.

Some people we have spoken to go as far North as Wyong, Newcastle and commute by train or car into the city each day, the further North you go the cheaper it is to rent or buy property, unless its got water/sea views or beach access

Be prepared

All listed rental prices are weekly, if you go for a monthly payment the agent will work out the rate on the basis of a day rate. For example - Week rent / 7 * 365 / 12 = month rent.

Be prepared to pay more the nearer you are to the city and/or train links, or coastal see views.
Be prepared to be shocked at what some people will charge for a poor condition property.
Be prepared to walk away from a place if it’s too expensive or disgusting

Hire a car and if possible buy a GPS navigation system otherwise you will get lost and you will miss inspection times for properties. For cheap car rental look at Bayswaters on William Street, near Kings Cross.

Agents will open properties for 15 minutes for inspection; it’s up to you to get there. Usually inspections are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Alternative inspections can be arranged so be prepared to miss a few hours of work here and there.

If you find something you like, be prepared to fill in an application form, if you really want it, be prepared to pay (in cash) 1 weeks rent as a reservation fee.

If there are many applicants the agent/owners will pick what they believe is to be the best applicant.

Ask the agent about the owner, i.e. what sort of people do they want in their house. Some can be fussy and want families or professional couples only. It may be in your advantage to offer photos of your previous home which demonstrates cleanliness.

Be prepared to give references and provide copies of passport, driving licence, previous rental agreements, mortgage statements, bank accounts, even if these documents are from the UK. I would recommend a covering letter/reference from a solicitor in the UK.

Check the demographics of the area you are planning to stay in, use websites such as:

id dot com dot au
wikipedia dot com
answers dot com

Be prepared to look at around 15-20 properties before finding something.

Talk to agents; ask them if they have any properties coming up in the next few weeks which are not listed yet.

Use the websites:

domain dot com dot au
realestate dot com dot au
justlisted dot com dot au

It’s also worth looking at the agent sites as well.

99.9% of properties are unfurnished, what you will get is a cooker/oven/hob and usually dishwasher. No other domestic appliances.

If the garden is high maintenance check to see if garden maintenance is included in the rental cost.

If the property has a pool then check to see if pool maintenance is included in the rental cost. Pools must be fenced off if you have kids.

Don’t expect agents to call you if you leave a message, you are in control of the search; you need to make it happen.

If you need a garden for kids then avoid anything that mentions forecourt or courtyard. Most townhouses don’t have gardens only courtyards.

If you have kids then an enclosed garden is what you need however enclosed in the description of the property doesn’t necessarily mean anything, check for yourself by inspecting the property.

If you have kids and the house has a pool then you should check to see if the pool is fully enclosed by fence from the rest of the garden.

Agents will describe properties as cosy or quaint, what this means is small.
Tidy can mean anything. Light filled home can mean anything. Refurbished can mean new carpets and fresh paint, but be prepared as paint wont mask the smell of cats.
Pristine means very clean to immaculate. Outside laundry means outside laundry.
Low maintenance garden means a simple lawn or courtyard with shrubs.

If you go for an apartment, be practical check the stair case/elevators for how easy it will be to get your furniture delivered and/or taken upstairs.

If you have kids then you will want to check out the public schools and catchment areas, alternatively you may wish to check the private schools. There are many private schools but many have a religious affiliation, Catholic or Anglican, that sort of thing. If that’s your cup of tea be prepared to part with fees. For public schools there may be a payment required, depending on what type of visa you have.

Don’t be scared to get out on foot and have a wander around the area; locate the nearest shops, schools, hospitals, parks and transportation. If the property is located on a busy road, then that road will be very busy.

Once you get a property, to arrange utilities (gas, electricity) and insurance cover for the property, be expected to answer the following questions:

Q: What type of hot water system is used, gas, electric, off peak 1 or 2?
Q: Is the oven powered by gas or electricity?
Q: The stove/hob/top is powered by gas?
Q: As a tenant I will be arranging contents insurance, do I include the kitchen appliances as contents or are they already covered by the owners insurance.
Q: What year was the property built, approximate year would be fine?
Q: What is the construction of the walls, for example double brick, or brick veneer etc?
Q: What is the construction of the roof, for example concrete tiles, or slate tiles etc?
Q: What type of alarm is fitted, for example local, or back to base?
Q: Are deadlocks fitted to all external doors?
Q: Do the windows have internal locks fitted?

Connecting the basic utilities is not so stressful; the main providers tend to be AGL for Gas and Electric or Energy Australia for Electricity.

The largest telephone providers are Telstra and Optus, be prepared to accept that the service they provide may not be as good as BT back in the UK.

To get broadband at home its best to shop around, there are quite few providers. Some appear better than others. It can also be expensive. When connecting it will usually mean a home install where they disconnect their competitors’ lines and replace it with their own connection.

They don’t all run through the same telephone lines here! It may mean drilling holes and installing sockets and boxes in your home. Many of the broadband deals have capped download limits. The broadband market is likely to change over the next while as Virgin has started to offer free internet if you take a land line with them. The main providers offer bundle options but the savings are not that great.

For television, the 5 terrestrial stations broadcast analogue and digital broadcasts, including HD broadcasts. There is no free view. If you want cable or satellite digital TV then you don’t set your expectations too high. Foxtel is not as good as Sky; it has less channels and looks to be more expensive.

There are other providers but what you get is basically Foxtel at the end of the day. They have a Sky+ equivalent called IQ but it adds to the expense. Not all of the terrestrial stations are broadcast by Foxtel

There are options like subscribing to Eastern European satellite channels, and Sentanta which can be organised by installing your own satellite equipment.

Finally…

Use all the resources you can.

Maps
Local newspapers many of which are free
Online websites
Don’t be scared to ask locals about areas
Seek the advice of any colleagues
If you bump into other expats, ask their view


Cheers
B