17 June 2016

Ask RiotACT: Where to rent for around $350, near shops and gym

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Ask RiotACT

I’m relocating to Canberra around January 2017 with my husband (we are both in our 20s). He will work in the Russell Offices area. We are still searching for the best suburb for renting.

We are looking for a place that:

  • will cost max $350 per week (can slightly go higher if the place rightly fits)
  • is very close to shopping malls (walking distance if possible) as we will only have one car and my husband will use that to commute to/from work
  • has got gym facilities/walking distance to local gym
  • is close to bus stops to get to the city
  • is not really in the sticks, LOL

I’ve been eyeballing at Belconnen, Woden and Gungahlin as they have big Shopping Centres. I understand for my budget it’s almost impossible to live in the Civic area. Coming from Jakarta with the most awful traffic congestion, we are not really that concerned about driving 20 mins to get to the city/work. So, do you have any recommendations?

Thanks heaps.

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rommeldog56 said :

The only thing is, public transport sucks but if you have a car and don’t mind paying $30 in an uber when you can’t avoid going to Canberra, you’ll be fine!

But if you want ready access to a bus route that will get you to central Canberra or anywhere in the ACT, then you won’t get that in Queanbeyan. The cross border bus is relatively expensive, infrequent, and has a separate ticketing system (i.e. you would need to buy another ticket to get around Canberra).

You could try the lake end of Kambah. There are 2 bedroom courtyard units there for $320. You can walk to the Hyperdome and there’s also a small shopping centre 5 mins walk with a 24 hour gym and an IGA. The lake is at your back door too for walking or cycling.

Queanbeyan for sure is the most cost effective, especially if you don’t mind Canberrans having a dig about ‘struggle town’. We’ve been living here for about 3 years after most of my life in Canberra and I wouldn’t live in Canberra again. The flexibility to walk to pubs, restaurants (and not just one pub or one restaurant) gyms etc etc is brilliant.

The only thing is, public transport sucks but if you have a car and don’t mind paying $30 in an uber when you can’t avoid going to Canberra, you’ll be fine!

Try Swinger Hill in the Wodne/Phillip area.

Rollersk8r said :

I think some of the larger shopping centres might fulfil your criteria?
For example, Chisholm shops has an anytime gym and two excellent Xpresso bus routes to Russell (about 25 mins). It also has a Coles, butcher, medical centre, dentist, chemist etc.
There is a duplex in a very nice street with views (Bainbridge – about 7 mins walk to shops) for $360 at the moment.

Don’t forget the soon to open “Subway” at Chisholm shops. You know when when a suburb is growing up when a subway opens up
!!!

Do Subway sell pulled pork and truffles?

I think some of the larger shopping centres might fulfil your criteria?
For example, Chisholm shops has an anytime gym and two excellent Xpresso bus routes to Russell (about 25 mins). It also has a Coles, butcher, medical centre, dentist, chemist etc.
There is a duplex in a very nice street with views (Bainbridge – about 7 mins walk to shops) for $360 at the moment.

Don’t forget the soon to open “Subway” at Chisholm shops. You know when when a suburb is growing up when a subway opens up
!!!

I think some of the larger shopping centres might fulfil your criteria?
For example, Chisholm shops has an anytime gym and two excellent Xpresso bus routes to Russell (about 25 mins). It also has a Coles, butcher, medical centre, dentist, chemist etc.
There is a duplex in a very nice street with views (Bainbridge – about 7 mins walk to shops) for $360 at the moment.

Raging Tempest10:03 pm 17 Jun 16

If you know where you will be working, check the action bus maps and work out where there are direct routes that suit your start and end times and work backwards to which suburbs might work for you.
A quick and dirty search of allhomes.com.au shows plenty of options in that price range in 2 bedroom units near woden (south) and Belconnen (north) malls.

You might jag a 1br or studio in Narrabundah, but I doubt it. Queanbeyan offers reasonable value, might even score an older 2br unit of townhouse for that.

I’d be looking to flat mates website, could score a granny flat…

How can you say that with the four properties (1 & 2 bedrooms) in the link I attached with rents from $280 to $350? I can only think you didn’t bother to click on the link.

You might jag a 1br or studio in Narrabundah, but I doubt it. Queanbeyan offers reasonable value, might even score an older 2br unit of townhouse for that.

I’d be looking to flat mates website, could score a granny flat…

After the traffic and smog of Jakarta you will love the blue skies, fresh air and bushland of Canberra.
It is possible to get a rental in your price range, close to Russell and within walking distance of Civic. Reid is a good suburb, near the lake and this place is in your budget, including a car space:
http://www.allhomes.com.au/ah/act/rent-residential/59-14-boolee-street-reid-canberra/1317223553511

There will soon be a glut of apartments in Canberra so you will have no trouble finding one. However, demand is highest in December-January with the annual PS intakes. My suggestion is to contact an agent with advice on timing and preferences and see if they can find the right place at the right time. If they have you lined up and checked out as a potential tennant, it saves on advertising.

There are some one & two bedroom apartments to rent in Narrabundah for about that amount. Many are on bus routes that will take you directly to Woden in about 15 minutes, and longer to Civic. Some might have a fifteen minute bus service weekdays. Perhaps not easy walking distances to the local shops and cafes, but very easy cycling distance.
Check out allhomes.

http://www.allhomes.com.au/ah/act/rent-residential/narrabundah/121484210

Try Emu Ridge – walking distance to Belconnen Mall and to the Belconnen fresh food markets, and the older properties there are cheaper to rent than the new apartments in the Belconnen town centre. Woden is a bit more expensive, but you might find something in your price range among the older properties near the CIT (think it’s called Central Park). Not sure about Gungahlin.

pink little birdie11:17 am 17 Jun 16

Try the suburb of Belconnen. There are lots of older places in Belconnen for rent about that price and are fairly walkable to the Mall.
We currently pay $360 a week for 2 bed town house there.

That price will get you a one bedroom apartment in Belconnen, Woden, or Gungahlin. If you want more space, you’ll need to spend about $100 a week more. Otherwise, you can get places further out from the city centres in areas like Kippax, Charnwood, and other smaller centres (still about 25mins drive to Russell). They will be walking distance to shops, but not malls.

Most everything in Canberra is about 20mins on average from the city/Russell.

Alexandra Craig8:30 am 17 Jun 16

Walking distance to shopping malls will prove a bit tricky. 6 years ago I was renting a one bedroom apartment in the Gungahlin town centre for $350 a week. Not sure where rentals are at currently, you might get a one bedroom in the Belconnen town centre for $350. Check out allhomes.com.au if you haven’t already 🙂

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