CDA ColivingHome/House Rules
House Rules
Part of your Occupancy Agreement (Annexure 1). If anything here differs from your signed agreement, the agreement prevails.
In these rules
- Lock all doors and windows whenever you go out.
- Don't leave personal belongings in communal areas. CDA doesn't insure residents' possessions — contents insurance is inexpensive and we recommend it.
- Report any damage to the premises by email as soon as you become aware of it.
- If you cause a breakage, tell us — reporting damage is never held against you, and fair wear and tear is never charged. Where we can identify who caused damage, the cost goes to that person. Where damage is in a shared area and nobody can tell us how it happened, the repair cost may be shared between the occupants who used that area. Ask us for the invoice and we'll send it.
- Never change, remove or install any lock or security device without CDA's prior written approval — CDA may restore the original lock at your cost.
- Some — not all — of our properties have CCTV, at the front entrance and in shared common areas. There are never cameras in bedrooms, bathrooms, toilets or laundries, and none is positioned to see into one. Your agreement tells you before you move in whether your property has CCTV — ask us and we'll confirm it for the property you're looking at. Footage is used to look into a reported incident, to answer a police request or court order, or to defend a legal claim. If you need to check footage yourself, ask us.
Keys & lockouts
Lost key: $70. Locked out? A CDA staff call-out costs $150, or hire a locksmith at your own expense.
This one matters — there have been real fire-hazard close calls, and only certain appliances are approved.
| ✅ Permitted | ❌ Not permitted |
|---|---|
| Pedestal fans (cooling) | Fan heaters |
| Oil-column heaters (heating) | Portable air conditioners |
| Portable electric panel heaters | |
| Radiant heaters |
✅ Permitted
Pedestal fan for cooling · oil-column heater for heating.
❌ Not permitted
Radiant heaters · fan heaters · portable electric panel heaters · portable air conditioners.
Reference images from Annexure 2 of your Occupancy Agreement. If your appliance isn't pictured, ask us before using it.
Most appliance requests are declined — and this is why
Portable heaters and air conditioners are among the most common causes of house fires, and our properties are older shared homes where several people draw power from the same circuit at the same time. A 2,000-watt heater in one bedroom while someone else runs a heater and the kitchen is in use will overload the circuit. That's why only two appliances are approved, and why an unapproved one is removed rather than discussed.
- CDA doesn't provide heating or cooling appliances in rooms.
- If we find a heater or air conditioner that isn't on the permitted list, we remove it and store it until you ask for it back. It is never thrown away. This rule is in your agreement and in this guide before you move in, so there's no surprise — it's a fire-safety and insurance requirement, not a negotiable one, and continued use after a removal is a breach of your agreement.
- Maintenance caused by non-permitted heaters is charged to you.
- In-house air-conditioning units require CDA approval before use — unauthorised use can make you solely liable for excess electricity costs.
- If in doubt, ask us first.
- Smoking (including e-cigarettes) is prohibited inside the house, in rooms and on balconies. Outdoor areas only — dispose of butts responsibly.
- Smoking indoors means the contractor's smoke-removal invoice is passed on to you — typically $200–$600. Ask for the invoice.
- If smoke alarms or sprinklers are triggered by smoking, incense or unattended heaters, the attendance fee Fire & Rescue NSW invoices (up to $1,500) is passed on to the person who caused it — ask us for the invoice.
- Drugs are strictly prohibited. Possession of illicit substances means termination of your agreement.
- Small gatherings (under 10 people, guests included) are allowed 9 AM – 10 PM. Large gatherings (10+) are prohibited.
- You're fully responsible for cleaning after any event. If it isn't done, we arrange a clean and pass on the actual cost, shared between the occupants who held the event.
- Guests must leave by 10 PM.
- Overnight guests need written permission from CDA in advance, plus a $50 guest fee for that week (Mon–Sun) whatever the number of nights — it covers the extra utilities and wear of another person in the house, and it isn't a change to your occupancy fee. Email us your guest's name, phone number and email at [email protected]. We need this because they'll be inside a house other people live in: we have to know who is on the property, and be able to reach them in an emergency or an evacuation. We use it for nothing else and don't keep it once the stay is over.
- Guests staying more than 7 days must sign their own agreement and pay rent.
- Nobody sleeps in communal areas — occupants or guests.
- Complaints from housemates, neighbours, council or police caused by you or your guests may lead to a termination notice.
Can my guest stay over?
- Cleaning supplies (dishwashing liquid, toilet paper, bin liners) are not supplied by CDA.
- Wash, dry and put away dishes immediately after every use — no dirty dishes in shared spaces or your room.
- Kitchen items are communal: clean and return them after use.
- Everyone shares cleaning of the living room, courtyards, hallways, stairs, bathrooms, kitchen and house front. We recommend a roster — ask us for suggestions.
- Routine inspections check house cleanliness. If shared areas are below standard we'll tell the house and give you 24 hours to put it right at no cost. If it's still not done, we arrange a clean and pass on the cost, shared between the occupants of the house. Ask us for the invoice and we'll send it.
- No cleaning between 10 PM and 8 AM (noise).
- Keep your bedroom clean. Signs of smoking or unhygienic conditions at inspection can mean termination (1 week's notice) plus cleaning and deodorisation charges from your deposit.
How often does a cleaner come?
That depends on how many people live in your property. The cleaning schedule, the suggested roster and what "clean" actually means day to day are all in Living at CDA → House Life.
Sort rubbish into the correct bin — council fines for illegal dumping may be charged to occupants, and uncollected bins mean a rubbish removal fee.
Yellow binContainer recycling
- Plastic bottles, tubs and containers
- Glass bottles and jars
- Aluminium cans, steel cans and empty aerosols
- Aluminium foil, scrunched into a ball, and clean trays
Red binLandfill
- Plastic bags and wrap
- Takeaway containers
- Foam and polystyrene
- Ceramics, crockery, glassware and mirrors
Green binFood & garden organics
- Food waste
- Flowers and garden prunings
- Leaves, weeds and grass clippings
- Small twigs and branches, under 10 cm
Blue binPaper recycling
- Clean paper and cardboard
- Newspapers, magazines and phone books
- Pizza boxes, with the food removed
- Milk, juice and cream cartons
Not every house has all four
Councils don't all run the same system — some properties have three bins, and what the green bin takes varies from one council to the next. Sort by the bins your house actually has: if all four are there, follow the full guide above; if one is missing, whatever it would take goes in the red bin. Your council's website has the list for your street, and the collection day with it. Getting the bins out on time is covered in Living at CDA → House Life.
- Take bins out and bring them in according to your house schedule.
- Report missing or damaged bins via the maintenance form.
- Check your local council website for detailed sorting instructions.
- Exhaust fans MUST be on when showering, cooking, doing laundry or drying clothes.
- Open windows and doors when weather permits (mind security).
- Don't use heaters excessively.
- Report any mould immediately after arrival via the maintenance form.
- Extra cleaning caused by poor ventilation or excessive heater use is charged to you; CDA doesn't reimburse cleaning products used on mould.
Full guide
The Mould Guide covers prevention, how to clean it yourself and when it becomes a maintenance job.
- Your Condition Report records the room's state at move-in, including that it's free of bed bugs.
- Check your bed, room and common areas in your first 7 days and report anything you find to [email protected]. Anything reported in that window is treated as pre-existing and is never charged to you — we treat it at our cost.
- Your room is inspected and recorded as free of bed bugs before you move in. If nothing is reported in the first 7 days, we rely on the Condition Report as the record that the room was free of bed bugs, and an infestation found later is normally treated as introduced during the stay — treatment costs go to the occupants of the affected room. If you believe that isn't the case, tell us and show us what you have; we'll look at it before charging anything.
- Keep your room tidy to avoid infestations.
- Never bring furniture, beds or appliances found on the street into the property. Used items brought in make you responsible for pest control and disposal costs.
- The washing machine is available to all occupants — don't leave clothes in it after your load finishes.
- CDA provides basic appliances only (typically a fridge, microwave, kettle, toaster, washing machine, and basic kitchenware). The appliances and items presented during your property inspection are those provided with the property.
- CDA repairs or replaces its own appliances for normal wear and tear; damage from misuse is charged at the item's depreciated value.
- Where dryers are provided: clean the lint filter after every use — damage from not doing so counts as misuse.
- Clothes racks are allowed only inside bedrooms and laundry rooms — never in hallways, living rooms or kitchens.
- Where the laundry is too small to dry in, your property has a covered drying area assigned instead. Ask us which one is yours. Drying clothes in a closed room causes mould — see the Mould Guide.
- Bikes go in the front or back yard — never inside the property or bedrooms.
- CDA takes no responsibility for theft or damage — your equipment is your responsibility.
- E-bike battery safety: charging e-bikes and e-batteries is not permitted inside bedrooms. Charging should only take place outside the property, or in a designated garage or laundry area, kept away from wood flooring, bedding, clothing, curtains, paper, furniture and other combustible materials. Batteries must never be left charging unattended or overnight. Continued non-compliance with this safety requirement may be considered a breach of the occupancy agreement and may result in its termination.
- Property damage from battery misuse or negligence is your financial responsibility.
- Wi-Fi is included, offered primarily for communication, work and study.
- CDA doesn't supply the internet — an outside telecommunications provider does. That means we can't promise a particular speed, or that the connection will never drop: outages, faults and maintenance at the provider's end are outside our control, and so is how far the signal reaches in an older house.
- What we do promise: if the connection is down, report it through the maintenance form and we log it with the provider and follow it up until it's fixed. If you need a connection you can rely on for work or study, a mobile data plan is a sensible backup.
- Gaming consoles are allowed, but their use is secondary — if the house experiences slow speeds, console use may be restricted.
- "Andy" is CDA's official corporate WhatsApp account (not a personal account) — announcements and house info are broadcast there. It's for quick questions — formal notices (like your move-out) must go by email or the forms.
- Maintenance requests: cdacoliving.info/Maintenance or [email protected] — this keeps everything documented and tracked.
- Move-out notice: 4 weeks in advance, in writing, via the Move-Out Form or email to [email protected].
- Rent: pay by the agreed method and on time; payment questions go to [email protected].
These are the standard charges set out in Annexure 3 of your Occupancy Agreement. These figures are maximums, based on quotes from our suppliers and contractors — where the actual cost of a job is lower, the lower amount is what's charged. Ask us for the supporting invoice or receipt for any charge and we'll email it to you.
Fair wear and tear is never charged.
If you think a charge is wrong
We tell you in writing what the charge is for and what it costs. Ask and we'll send you the invoice or receipt. If something looks wrong, tell us within 14 days and we'll review it before it's final. If we still disagree, you can take it to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).
General items
| Item | Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Room cleaning | $100 |
| Carpet cleaning | $120 |
| Sofa cleaning | $150 |
| Fridge space cleaning | $100 |
| Dirty curtains / blinds | $120 |
| Room deodorisation | $200 – $600 |
| Personal items left behind | $150 |
| Lost room key | $70 |
| Lost strata key | From $300 |
| Lockout — staff call-out (9am–5pm, if the team is available) | $150 |
| Lockout — outside business hours (emergency locksmith) | From $200 |
| Change lock | $150 |
In-house cleaning
| Item | Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| General house cleaning | From $170 |
| Deep cleaning | From $350 |
| Fridge deep cleaning | $150 |
| Sorting out the bins | $150 |
| Emptying cupboards for pest control | $100 |
Replacement of furnishings
| Item | Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Mattress protector | $50 |
| Mattress | $300 |
| Slats | $50 |
| Bed frame | $300 |
| Side table | $90 |
| Wardrobe | $350 |
| Desk | $120 |
| Chair | $90 |
| Lamp | $90 |
| Mirror | $120 |
| Decorations (per item) | $80 |
| Couch | $450 |
| Television | $600 |
| Removing furniture from an occupied room (on request) | $170 |
Appliances
| Item | Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Bar fridge | $300 |
| 205L fridge | $450 |
| Stove top | $170 |
| Washing machine | $650 |
| Dryer | $500 |
Damage to the building
| Item | Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Door (hole in the door) | $400 |
| Floor damage | Quotation |
| Wall hook removal (per unit) | $40 |
| Broken glass | Quotation |
| Hole in gyprock | $200 |
| Repaint wall | Quotation |
| Wall damage | Quotation |
Pest control
| Item | Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Bed bug treatment — individual room | $300 |
| Bed bug treatment — entire house | $800 – $1,000 |
Moving out?
The Move-Out Guide shows the same charges alongside the deep-clean checklist that helps you avoid them.
Next guide
Living at CDA — maintenance, rent & transfers