Share House Rules in Australia: Free Template and What You Can Actually Enforce
The short answer: good share house rules cover guests, noise, cleaning, shared costs, pets, smoking and parking. Written into an agreement everyone signs, they're a clear record of what was agreed. They can't override your lease or tenancy law, and breaking one doesn't let you lock someone out.
Jump straight to the free share house rules template, or read on for what those rules can and can't do.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Tenancy rules differ between states and change often.
Describe your house and create a housemate agreement covering rent, bond, bills and your house rules, ready to e-sign from $3.99.
Free Share House Rules Template
Change the parts in square brackets to suit your house, and delete anything you don't need.
Home: [full address] Housemates: [names] Date: [date]
1. The lease comes first. Anything in the lease applies to everyone living here. If these rules and the lease differ, the lease wins.
2. Guests. Tell the house before having someone stay overnight. A guest may stay up to [3] nights in a row and [8] nights a month unless everyone agrees otherwise. Whoever invites a guest is responsible for them.
3. Noise. Quiet hours are [10 pm] to [7 am] on weeknights and [midnight] to [8 am] on weekends. Give [48] hours' notice before having people over.
4. Cleaning. Clean up after yourself the same day. Shared areas are cleaned by [roster or cleaner], and each person takes out the bins on [roster].
5. Shared costs. Shared household items are paid from [kitty amount and method]. Bills are split as set out in our housemate agreement, and paid within [7] days.
6. Food and belongings. Ask before using someone else's things. Shared items are [list]. Anyone who damages something replaces or repairs it.
7. Pets and smoking. [No pets / pets allowed with the landlord's approval.] [No smoking or vaping inside.]
8. Parking and storage. [Who uses which parking spot, shed or storage area.]
9. Raising problems. Talk to the person first. If that doesn't fix it, raise it in the house group chat or at a house meeting and record what was decided.
10. Changes. These rules can change if every housemate agrees in writing. New housemates read and sign them before moving in.
Signed: [each housemate's name, signature and date]
This sample is general information, not legal advice, and has not been tailored to your circumstances. The numbers are examples, not legal limits.
When House Rules Actually Count
A list on the fridge is a good start, but it can be hard to prove that someone agreed to it. Rules carry more weight when they're part of a written housemate agreement everyone signed. Queensland's tenants' service recommends putting your arrangement in writing so the rules are clear to both sides.
How far they go depends on your legal status in the house:
- Co-tenants are all on the lease. House rules are a private deal between you, and the landlord isn't part of it
- Sub-tenants rent from a head tenant, who has responsibilities like a landlord. Tenancy law can apply, whatever your rules say
- Boarders and lodgers often fall outside tenancy law, so their agreement matters more. The rules differ by state
- Rooming accommodation in Queensland has its own system: house rules form part of the agreement, and residents must get a copy before signing
For a summary of every state, see our share house laws by state table.
What House Rules Can't Do
- Override the lease. If the lease bans pets, housemates can't vote to allow one
- Override tenancy law. A rule can't remove notice or bond rights the law gives someone
- Justify a lockout. Breaking a rule doesn't let you change the locks or remove someone's belongings. See removing a flatmate who isn't on the lease
- Set up fines lightly. A "$50 fine for dirty dishes" may not hold up as a penalty, so it's safer to agree that people pay for actual damage or cost
If Someone Keeps Breaking the Rules
- Raise it directly, then confirm in writing what was said
- Keep a simple record of dates, costs and messages, especially when money is involved
- Try mediation through your state's community mediation service if you're stuck
- Separate money from behaviour. Unpaid rent or bills can usually be pursued. See what to do if a housemate won't pay
- Get advice before asking someone to leave. A tenants' advice service can tell you what notice applies
Put Your House Rules in a Signed Agreement
Describe your share house in plain English, then e-sign an agreement covering rent, bond, bills and house rules. From $3.99.
Start Your Agreement →Sources: Tenants Queensland — Share housing legal status, Tenants' Union NSW — Share housing, RTA Queensland — Rooming accommodation agreements, WA Consumer Protection — Shared tenancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What rules should a share house have?
Most share houses need rules on overnight guests, quiet hours, cleaning, shared costs, pets, smoking and parking. Start with whatever your lease already says, because the lease rules apply to the home whatever housemates agree between themselves.
Are share house rules legally binding?
They can be if they are part of an agreement both people signed, but it depends on your legal status and your state. Small breaches rarely justify legal action. Their main value is a clear record of what everyone agreed. Tenancy law can override them.
Can a housemate be kicked out for breaking house rules?
Not simply by being told to leave or having the locks changed. What notice applies depends on whether they are a co-tenant, sub-tenant, boarder or lodger, and on your state.
Can house rules ban overnight guests?
You can agree on limits with your housemates, such as a maximum number of nights. Keep them reasonable, and check that the lease does not set its own limits on who can live at the property.
Should house rules be separate from a housemate agreement?
Include them in the housemate agreement or attach them to it. That way they sit alongside rent, bond and notice, and everyone signs the same document.