Moving out of home

Moving Out of Home for the First Time

There’s a moment, usually somewhere between your mid-twenties and a quiet Sunday afternoon at your parents’ place, where you look around and think: it might be time.

Maybe the bedroom you grew up in has started to feel smaller. Maybe you want to come home at whatever hour you like without explaining yourself. Or maybe your mum has started leaving passive-aggressive notes about the dishwasher.

Whatever the trigger, moving out of home for the first time is one of the bigger decisions you’ll make, and it’s worth doing it with your eyes open rather than just winging it and hoping the bond cheque clears.

You’re Not Behind. Everyone’s Doing This Later

If you’re still at home in your mid-twenties and feeling sheepish about it, don’t. The data is pretty clear: staying home longer isn’t a personal failing, it’s a structural reality.

According to the 2021 ABS Census, 69% of Australians aged 15 to 24 were living in the family home, up from 64% in 2011. And the housing numbers explain why. In 2024, the average number of years a typical Australian needed to save for a deposit hit a near-record high of 10.6 years, while the share of homes that a median-income household could actually afford dropped to just 14% — the lowest level on record.

It’s not much easier elsewhere. In the UK, the average age for moving out of the family home was 25 as of 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics — up significantly from previous decades. In 1997, more than half of 21-year-olds had already left home. By the 2021 census, most people in their early twenties were still living with their parents. Portfolio of Hope

In the US, nearly a third of adults aged 18 to 34 — 32.5% — were living with their parents in 2024, according to the American Community Survey. Eye on Housing And the US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the average age of moving out at 27, though around 80% of young adults at that age have left at least once. Salarship

The short version: the timeline has shifted for everyone, across every comparable country, and the main reason is housing affordability. You’re not a failure for being at home. You’re living in the same economy as everyone else.

Is It Actually Time to Go?

The honest answer is: you’ll know. But if you want a checklist of signals, here are the real ones.

You’re ready to move out when you can cover rent, bills, food, transport, and the occasional social life without it breaking you. The classic rule of thumb is that rent shouldn’t exceed 30% of your income. In practice, for most Australian cities right now, that’s a stretch, which is exactly why shared living has become the default entry point into independent life rather than the exception.

You’re also ready when you’ve got a bond saved. In most Australian states, that means four weeks rent upfront, held by your state tenancy authority and returned at the end of the lease if you leave the place in reasonable shape. Budget for that separately from your moving costs, because it’s a significant chunk of cash that isn’t available to you during the tenancy.

The classic parental hint, by the way, remains unchanged: if your childhood bedroom has been converted into a home office, a sewing room, or a yoga space, that’s probably a sign.

Friends or Strangers: The Real Trade-off

When you first move out, unless you’ve got an unusually generous income, you’re looking at shared living. That means deciding whether to live with people you already know or people you don’t.

Both options have genuine upsides and genuine risks.

Living with friends feels safer because the relationship already exists. But that existing relationship is also what’s at stake. Friendships that work brilliantly over dinner don’t always survive one person leaving dishes in the sink for three days or playing music at midnight. If you go the friend route, treat it with the same formality you’d give a stranger arrangement: have the boring conversations about cleaning, guests, bills, and noise before you sign anything. Those conversations feel unnecessary at the start and essential six weeks in.

Living with strangers is often underrated. You go in with no assumptions, no history to protect, and — if it doesn’t work out — no real personal cost. The relationship either develops into something good or it stays functional and professional. Either outcome is fine. The key is asking the right questions early: lifestyle, work hours, cleanliness standards, approach to guests, whether they have a partner who effectively lives there.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has noted that the share of young Australians living in flat shares with non-family members shifted notably during and after the pandemic, as affordability pressures pushed more people toward shared arrangements rather than living alone. Reserve Bank of Australia That trend hasn’t reversed. Share housing isn’t a temporary workaround — for most people moving out for the first time, it’s the starting point.

Finding the Right Place

Before you fall in love with a listing, run the numbers. Rent is only part of it. Add utilities, internet, groceries, transport, and whatever buffer you need for unexpected costs. A good rule is to work out your monthly liability first, then look for places that fit that ceiling rather than stretching to a place you love and hoping the numbers work.

Things worth thinking about beyond price: commute to work or uni, proximity to public transport, whether the lease requires you to maintain a garden you don’t have time for, off-street parking if you need it, and — genuinely — what the neighbourhood feels like after dark. Safety isn’t paranoia, it’s part of the decision.

If you’re moving into an existing share house rather than setting one up from scratch, ask about the existing dynamic as much as the property itself. A great apartment with difficult housemates will wear you down fast.

What You Actually Need Sorted Before You Go

The bond. Four weeks rent, lodged with your state tenancy authority at the start of the lease. Get a receipt. Keep it. You’ll want it at the end.

Moving costs. Unless you own almost nothing and have a friend with a ute, budget at least a couple of hundred dollars for the move itself. More if you’re going any distance or have furniture to shift. If your parents are offloading the old couch and the spare fridge, even better, but factor in the logistics of getting those items to where you’re going.

Basic cooking. Not masterchef, just functional. The ability to put together a few cheap, reasonable meals will do more for your physical and financial health in the first few months than almost anything else. If your repertoire currently starts and ends with two-minute noodles, spend a few weeks expanding it before you move.

Bills and utilities. In a share house, these are usually split. Work out from day one who manages what, how costs are divided, and how you handle someone not paying on time. “We’ll sort it out” is not a plan.

Mail and change of address. Update your address with the ATO, Medicare, your bank, your electoral enrolment, and anything that sends you physical mail. A PO Box is an option if you expect to move around in the first couple of years, though it adds a small ongoing cost.

Your lease. Read it. Actually read it. Know the notice period, the conditions around guests, what you’re liable for if something breaks, and the process for getting your bond back at the end. Most first-timers don’t read their lease and it catches them eventually.

A Note on Shared Living and What It Actually Means

Moving into a share house isn’t just a financial arrangement. You are, for better or worse, building a small community with people you may not have chosen in any other context. That’s part of what makes it interesting, and part of what makes it occasionally hard.

The houses that work well tend to have a few things in common: people who communicate directly rather than letting things fester, a basic agreement about how common areas are managed, and a willingness to flag issues early rather than waiting until someone reaches a breaking point.

The ones that don’t work tend to collapse on the same things every time: money, cleanliness, guests, and noise. None of those are hard to agree on in advance. They’re just easy to skip when everyone’s excited about moving in.

Moving out of home is the beginning of something genuinely good. It just goes better when you walk into it with a plan rather than optimism alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do I need to move out for the first time in Australia? As a starting point, aim to have your bond (usually four weeks rent), first month’s rent in advance, and moving costs covered before you go. In most Australian cities, that means having at least $3,000 to $5,000 saved, depending on the rental market in your area. A buffer for unexpected costs in the first month is also wise.

What is a rental bond in Australia and how does it work? A rental bond is a security deposit paid at the start of a tenancy, held by your state or territory’s tenancy authority for the duration of your lease. It’s generally equivalent to four weeks rent. You get it back at the end of the tenancy provided the property is left in good condition and rent is up to date.

Is share housing a good option when moving out for the first time? For most people, yes. Shared living significantly reduces individual costs and splits the responsibility for bills and upkeep. It also makes the transition to independent living feel less overwhelming. The key is choosing housemates carefully and being clear about expectations from day one.

What age do most people move out in Australia? The ABS Census data shows most Australians in their early twenties are still living at home, with the trend moving later over the past decade as housing costs have increased. There’s no right age — the question is whether you’re financially ready and practically prepared, not whether you’ve hit a particular birthday.

Should I live with friends or strangers when I first move out? Both have real trade-offs. Living with friends carries the risk of straining the friendship if things get difficult. Living with strangers offers more flexibility and lower emotional stakes if it doesn’t work out. Whichever you choose, a direct early conversation about house rules is the thing that makes the biggest difference.