A guide to smoker-friendly share houses in Australia

Tobacco, vapes and 420 often have different rules in the same house. Ask about each one, and ask where: "outside" might mean a covered back deck, the front porch or the footpath. It's worth asking whether the rules change in winter, when people visit, or when a housemate's partner stays over. Our house smoking agreement covers what to agree on.

Many leases say no smoking inside, and housemates can't agree to something the lease rules out. Breaking it can put everyone's bond at risk. Ask whether the lease has a smoking clause before you agree on house rules, and see where the bond goes in your state. Apartment blocks often have their own by-laws about smoking on balconies and in common areas too.

A room can be offered in a few different ways, and each one changes what you're signing up for.

• Joining the lease: you're added as a tenant alongside the others. The landlord (called the rental provider in Victoria) usually has to agree in writing.
• Replacing someone on the lease: you take over a departing tenant's place. The landlord usually has to agree in writing, the bond is moved into your name with the state's bond authority, and you usually pay the outgoing tenant their share of the bond. How that works in each state.
• Subletting: you rent from a head tenant rather than the landlord. Most states need the landlord's written permission for a sublet.

Every room on SmokoShare says which of these it is. Filling a room yourself? Our tips for hosts cover how to say it clearly.

One more case: if an owner or head tenant rents rooms to 4 or more people, not counting their own household, the property may be a rooming house or boarding house. Most states have separate rules for those, and some need them registered. SmokoShare doesn't list them yet.

A bond should be lodged with your state's bond authority, and you should get a receipt from them, not just from the person you paid.

New South Wales

NSW Fair Trading (Rental Bonds Online)

Victoria

the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA)

Queensland

the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA)

Western Australia

the Bond Administrator (Consumer Protection WA)

South Australia

Consumer and Business Services (CBS)

Tasmania

the Rental Deposit Authority

Australian Capital Territory

the Office of Rental Bonds (Access Canberra)

Northern Territory

no central authority: the landlord holds the bond in trust

Swapping one housemate for another? How the bond changes hands in each state.

Most share-house friction comes from small things: smoke drifting through a bedroom window, butts left in pot plants, washing on the line near the smoking spot, or guests who don't smoke. A quick chat about how often, where, and what happens when people visit saves a lot of awkwardness later. Write down what you agree with our free house smoking agreement, and bring the moving-in checklist to the inspection.

Cannabis law is different in each state and territory. In the ACT, adults can have small amounts and grow a couple of plants at home under ACT law, though it's still illegal under federal law, and buying, selling or sharing it is still an offence. Everywhere else, cannabis is only legal through authorised medicinal pathways, such as a prescription. Police may divert, caution or fine people for small amounts depending on the state, but none of that is guaranteed.

A prescription doesn't override a lease or house rules. SmokoShare is about finding housemates who are comfortable with each other's habits, and we remove listings and messages that offer to sell, supply or grow drugs. See rooms where 420 is allowed.

• Never pay a bond, rent or holding deposit before you've seen the room in person and met the people you'd live with.
• Get a receipt for your bond from the state's bond authority.
• Be wary of anyone who can't show you the room, wants payment by gift card or crypto, or pushes you to decide on the spot.

More in our safety tips.