Operating a prescribed accommodation business

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Find out about the rules and regulations that owners must follow when operating a prescribed accommodation business.

What is a prescribed accommodation business?

Prescribed accommodation provides accommodation for 4 or more people (not including family members) in exchange for payment.

These properties usually have:

residents sharing common areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundries
a rooming house operator who manages the property, but doesn’t live there
each resident with their own lease or occupancy agreement.

Prescribed accommodation businesses include:

rooming houses and student dormitories
hotels and motels
hostels
holiday camps
labour hire accommodation
caravan parks.

What you need to do

Register with Council

All prescribed accommodation businesses must be registered with Council before they start operating. This is a requirement under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.

Find out more on our Register a prescribed accommodation business page.

Follow the regulations

The Public Health and Wellbeing (Prescribed Accommodation) Regulations 2020 (the regulations) outline specific requirements for prescribed accommodation premises. Council regularly inspects prescribed accommodation premises to make sure they are complying with these regulations.

Regulation requirements include:

No overcrowding.
Each bedroom must have a minimum floor area of 7.5m².
At least one toilet, one bath or shower and one wash basin for every 10 residents.
All bedrooms, bathrooms and shared facilities are kept in a clean and hygienic condition and in good working order.
A reliable supply of safe, drinkable hot and cold water to all toilet, bathing, kitchen, laundry and drinking water facilities.
A reliable sewerage system or an approved wastewater treatment system that is kept in good working order.
Enough rubbish collection containers that are cleaned and collected regularly.
A register must be kept with residents' names, addresses, arrival dates and departure dates. The register must be kept for at least 12 months after the last entry.

For more information and to access a copy of the regulations, visit the Victorian Department of Health website.

You can also find more guidance for rooming house operators in the Running your business overview – rooming house operators.

Rooming house enquiries and concerns

For information about rooming houses currently registered in Victoria, visit Consumer Affairs Victoria's Rooming House Register.

If you believe a property is operating as a rooming house without the necessary permits or approvals, contact us.

Tenants with general residential tenancy concerns can visit Consumer Affairs Victoria for information about their rights and how to lodge a complaint.

Need help?

Email [email protected] and we will get back to you.

Or call our Health Services unit on 9298 8000.