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Sharing a room in your home

How to advertise a private or shared room, what an existing tenant can and cannot do when screening applicants, and when the landlord or managing agent gets involved.

For: Existing tenants sharing a room, Property owners and landlords, Renters and applicants · Last reviewed 28/09/2026

Advertising a room

A room shared with an existing tenant: how an application progresses
  1. Step 1 of 5: ApplyThe applicant applies for the room.
  2. Step 2 of 5: Screening by the existing tenant (advertiser)Summary only. This is not landlord approval.
  3. Step 3 of 5: Send to landlord / managing agentOnly if the existing tenant sends it. The invited person accepts.
  4. Step 4 of 5: Applicant agrees to shareNothing is shared unless the applicant agrees to share with that named person.
  5. Step 5 of 5: Landlord / managing agent reviewThey review the full application and may select it.

Outcome: Selected (in PlaceNest), or not progressed. Any arrangement for the room is made outside PlaceNest.

Steps 3 to 5 happen only if the existing tenant sends the application to the landlord or managing agent.

Create an advertisement and choose "Private room" or "Shared room" as the listing type. Add a room label, for example "Room 1" or "Front bedroom", and use the same label if you relist that room later.

Then answer "Who is advertising?". For a room the choices are "Property owner / landlord (e.g. resident owner)", "Real-estate agent / property manager" and "Existing tenant (e.g. head tenant sub-letting a room)".

Important: Your answer is shown as stated by you; it is not verified by PlaceNest. Declaring yourself an existing tenant does not give you, or show, any landlord authority.

If you own the home and live in it

Choose "Property owner / landlord (e.g. resident owner)". You then review the full application and decide yourself ("Approve application").

If you are an existing tenant

Choose "Existing tenant". On the application you are shown as "Existing tenant (advertiser)". You screen applicants to decide who you would like to share with. That is your own sharing decision. It is not landlord or managing-agent approval, and you cannot approve or select an applicant in PlaceNest.

Important: Your own lease may require your landlord's consent before someone moves in or before you sub-let. Check your lease and talk to your landlord or managing agent. PlaceNest cannot tell you what your lease allows.

Screening applicants as an existing tenant

You see a screening summary only: the applicant's name, household, move-in date, lease term, pets, living-situation type, employment status and notes. You never see their contact details, income, referees or documents.

  • "Mark under review" lets the applicant know you are looking at it.
  • "Request additional information" can ask only about household, current living situation or other information. One request can be open at a time.
  • "Shortlist" marks someone you are interested in. It is not an approval, and the applicant is told that.
  • "Do not progress" ends the application as your own sharing decision.

The applicant's progress shows "Screening by the existing tenant (advertiser)", then an optional "Landlord / managing agent review — only if the existing tenant sends the application to them", then "Outcome — room-share arrangements".

Important: PlaceNest does not rank applicants or decide for you, and it does not verify your authority to share the home.

Sending an application to your landlord or managing agent

If your landlord or managing agent needs to consider the applicant, use "Send to landlord / managing agent".

  1. Enter their name and e-mail address (and agency name for a managing agent, if you like).
  2. They receive a one-time link valid for 14 days and must sign in with that e-mail address and accept.
  3. The applicant is asked to agree to share their full application with that named person. If they decline, nothing is shared.
  4. Once both have happened, the landlord or managing agent reviews the full application. They may select it: "Select this applicant (in PlaceNest)", shown as "Selected (in PlaceNest)".
  5. Your own review is then complete. You can still see the summary of the versions you reviewed.
  6. Tenancy documents are not available in PlaceNest for a shared room yet. A selection in PlaceNest is not a signed agreement; any arrangement for the room is made outside PlaceNest by the people involved.

Important: Accepting the invitation only confirms the person controls that e-mail address. PlaceNest does not verify that they own or manage the property. "Selected (in PlaceNest)" is not a confirmed landlord approval and not a signed agreement.

Applying for a room

If the room is advertised by an existing tenant, they see only a summary of your application. Your contact details, income, referees and documents are shared only with a landlord or managing agent, and only after you agree to share with that named person.

Room share or lease transfer?

A room share adds someone to your household while the tenancy stays as it is. A lease transfer hands over a whole tenancy, or replaces a tenant, and always involves the landlord or managing agent. If you are leaving and want someone to take over your lease, use Lease Transfer instead.

This guide explains how PlaceNest works. It is general information, not legal advice. For your rights and obligations, check the official tenancy information for your state or territory or get independent advice.

Where to find it

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