About residential services
If you pay rent for your room and share facilities outside your room, we call this rooming accommodation. The facilities you share can include a kitchen, bathroom, dining room and common room.
Residential services are a type of rooming accommodation that has been checked and registered with the Queensland Government. This is to ensure the accommodation meets standards, including for safety, security and cleanliness.
A residential service that meets these standards and is registered with the government is accredited. All residential services must be registered and accredited with the government to lawfully operate in Queensland.
You can ensure you’re renting in an accredited residential service by checking that it’s listed on the Find registered accommodation website or in the Register of Residential Services.
Benefits of accreditation
Some of the benefits of living in registered accommodation include:
- a safe and clean living environment
- regular smoke alarm and fire safety testing
- a security and emergency plan in case of fire, flood or other severe events
- your right to privacy
- procedures to protect residents from abuse and neglect
- a way for you to raise a complaint.
- meal services in aged rental complexes and supported accommodation homes.
Types of residential services
There are several types of residential services you can consider when looking for a place to live. These include:
- boarding houses—usually accommodation only
- rentals for seniors—known as aged rentals; these usually include meals
- supported accommodation—includes food and personal care services for people with particular needs.
Services
Residential services can include:
- accommodation only
- accommodation and food
- Accommodation and personal care
- accommodation, food and personal care.
Accommodation
All accredited residential services must provide:
- a clean and safe living environment
- regular maintenance of smoke alarms and fire safety equipment
- a security and emergency plan; e.g. what to do if there is a flood or other severe event
- privacy
- processes to ensure the accommodation is free of abuse and neglect
- a way for you to raise a complaint if you need to
- freedom of choice if it doesn’t unreasonably affect others.
Food services
Some residential services also offer food services. The food services must include:
- nutritious food
- safe and hygienic delivery, storage, preparation and service of food
- kitchen and dining facilities that meet minimum requirements.
Personal care
Some residential services also offer personal care services. These vary depending on your needs but can include:
- access to external support services; e.g. people who visit to help you with daily living tasks like cleaning or shopping
- help with your medication and health care
- help with financial and clerical support
- help with clothing and hygiene management such as showering and laundry
- leisure activities
- social networking
- participation in decision-making about the services you receive and the lifestyle you lead.