How Bills Work in Share Houses
In most share houses, the head tenant or one designated person puts utilities in their name and splits the bill among housemates. Common split methods: equal division by number of residents, or proportional by room size.
Electricity — The Biggest Variable
Australian electricity is among the world's most expensive. Average share-house electricity bill: AUD 100–200/month for 4 residents. Your share: AUD 25–50. To minimise: use airconditioner sparingly (it's the biggest power draw), hand-wash lightly, and hang-dry clothes instead of using the dryer.
Internet
Most share houses have a shared NBN plan. Average: AUD 60–90/month for unlimited data. Split 4 ways = AUD 15–22/person. If you're moving into an existing share house, the internet is usually already connected — just ask to be added to the bill split.
Water
In NSW and VIC, water is usually included in the rent (billed to the landlord). In QLD, tenants sometimes pay water usage charges. Ask before signing.
Apps for Bill Splitting
Splitwise (free app) is the standard tool used by share house residents in Australia. Log all bills and expenses, and the app calculates net amounts owed between housemates automatically.
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