Property Overview
This listing is for a single room within a four‑bedroom apartment located at 5 Kirk, Ultimo, in Sydney’s inner‑city suburb. The property is categorised as a non‑ensuite room in an independent house—meaning you share bathroom, kitchen and living areas with three other tenants. Weekly rent ranges from AUD 445 to AUD 520, which is an indicative band – confirm the exact figure with the operator at the time of enquiry. The minimum lease term is six months, and bills (including unlimited Wi‑Fi) are included in the rent.
With an overall Google rating of 3.7 out of 5 based on 21 reviews, the property receives mixed feedback. Three reviews are provided in the data, and they are quoted verbatim in the section below.
Who This Residence Suits
Students who want to be close to campus without relying on public transport – The location in Ultimo places you within walking distance of several major Sydney educational campuses. The review from John Mayer (5‑star) notes: “I stayed at Unilodge for over a year while finishing my studies. It’s in a great location, 5 minute walk to the Broadway shops, 15 minutes to Central. Also being to walk to campus instead of take a train was great, I was never late to class. The building was newly renovated when I moved in so I was the first person to [use it].” If you value a short walk to classes and prefer not to depend on trains or buses, this apartment’s position is a clear advantage.
Tenants who want bills included – The listing tag “bills_included” covers electricity, water, gas and unlimited Wi‑Fi. For a weekly rent that already bundles these costs, you avoid the hassle of splitting utility bills and tracking usage. This can simplify budgeting, especially for international students unfamiliar with local utilities.
Groups of friends or known housemates – Because it is a four‑bedroom apartment with shared common areas, this unit works well if you already have three people you want to live with. You can coordinate the move‑in together, which reduces the risk of mismatched lifestyles. The property type “independent_house” typically offers more autonomy than a managed student hall.
Who This Residence Does Not Suit
People who expect high‑quality management and responsive staff – Two of the three available reviews describe serious service issues. Ava Cavalerie (1‑star) states: “Genuinely the worst experience. Overpriced, rude staff, and extremely exploitative. I moved in and found cockroaches in my room. The hallways and room was constantly filled with fruit flies, the air conditioning/ heater turns off every few minutes and don’t actually work. They never communicated with me yet kept almost [demanding money?].” Cheong Lin Li (2‑star) adds: “Rooms decent but don’t bother trying to wait for the receptionist to come out if there’s a break sign. They do not show up. Had to wait all afternoon to get my room card. Not all that helpful either I had to figure out the wifi login error myself. 🫠.” If you anticipate a high level of customer service or pest‑free accommodation from day one, these reports suggest you may be disappointed.
Anyone wanting an ensuite or private bathroom – The room is “non_ensuite”, meaning the bathroom is shared among the four flatmates. If you require a private bathroom, this unit is not suitable.
Those on a very tight budget – Sydney’s cheapest listed room in this data set starts at AUD 175 per week. The room at 5 Kirk is priced roughly 2.5–3 times that floor, representing a premium for its location and inclusive bills. While the inclusion of bills partly offsets the higher rent, budget‑sensitive students should compare with other properties in the same suburb or nearby.
What Residents Actually Say
The three reviews provided in the data give a balanced but cautionary picture:
John Mayer (5‑star): “I stayed at Unilodge for over a year while finishing my studies. It’s in a great location, 5 minute walk to the Broadway shops, 15 minutes to Central. Also being to walk to campus instead of take a train was great, I was never late to class. The building was newly renovated when I moved in so I was the first person to [use it].”
This highlights the convenience of a walkable location and a recent renovation. However, note that this review refers to “Unilodge” – the data source lists the property under a different operator name (Amber), so the building may have changed management since this review was written.
Ava Cavalerie (1‑star): “Genuinely the worst experience. Overpriced, rude staff, and extremely exploitative. I moved in and found cockroaches in my room. The hallways and room was constantly filled with fruit flies, the air conditioning/ heater turns off every few minutes and don’t actually work. They never communicated with me yet kept almost [demanding money?].”
This describes serious pest problems and HVAC failures, and accuses staff of being uncommunicative and exploitative.
Cheong Lin Li (2‑star): “Rooms decent but don’t bother trying to wait for the receptionist to come out if there’s a break sign. They do not show up. Had to wait all afternoon to get my room card. Not all that helpful either I had to figure out the wifi login error myself. 🫠.”
Another complaint about poor reception service and lack of support.
Taken together, the positive feedback focuses on location and walkability, while the negative feedback centres on management responsiveness, maintenance issues, and pest control. Prospective tenants should weigh these factors carefully.
Price Positioning vs Sydney’s From‑Price
The city’s cheapest listed room (from the same data source) is AUD 175 per week. This room’s indicative range of AUD 445–520 per week places it well above that entry level. However, rent at this property includes all bills (electricity, water, gas, unlimited Wi‑Fi), which adds significant value. In Sydney, shared household bills for a four‑person apartment typically cost AUD 30–60 per week per person. Adding that to the cheapest city room would bring the true cost closer to AUD 205–235 per week. The Ultimo room remains substantially more expensive, but the location within walking distance of multiple university campuses and the Broadway shopping precinct partly explains the premium.
There is no deposit listed in the data, so you should ask the operator about any bond or security deposit required.
Room‑Type Guidance
This listing is for a single room in a four‑bedroom apartment. The unit type is “non_ensuite” and “independent_house”. That means:
- You will have your own lockable bedroom.
- The bathroom/s are shared among all four tenants (likely one or two bathrooms).
- The kitchen and living area are shared.
- There is a laundry facility on‑site (tagged in the listing).
- The apartment is not managed as a purpose‑built student accommodation block; it is a standard residential house divided into private rooms.
Because the property is an “independent_house” rather than a managed residence, you are responsible for coordinating with your housemates on cleaning, noise, and daily living. If you prefer a structured environment with regular cleaning and front‑desk hours, consider purpose‑built student accommodation instead.
Booking Timing
The listing is tagged “not_available”, which may indicate that the room is currently taken or that the operator has paused bookings. If you are reading this article in 2026 or 2027, availability may have changed. Generally, for a shared apartment in Sydney, you should start your search 3–4 months before your intended move‑in date. Because lease terms are a minimum of six months, plan to align the start with a semester or trimester. If you are an international student arriving in mid‑2026, you would ideally begin contacting operators in early 2026.
Given the mixed reviews, it is especially important to inspect the property in person (or via a live video tour) before committing. Ask the operator about the current condition of the air conditioning, pest history, and who to contact for maintenance issues after hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I choose which bedroom in the apartment?
The data does not specify whether rooms are assigned on a first‑come, first‑served basis or if you can select a particular room. You should ask the operator directly. In a four‑bedroom unit, room sizes and natural light often vary, so it is worthwhile requesting photos of the actual room you would occupy.
What happens if a housemate moves out early?
Since this is an independent house, the remaining tenants are typically responsible for finding a replacement or covering the empty room’s rent until a new tenant is found. Check your lease agreement for “joint and several” liability clauses. Some operators manage replacements, others leave it to you. Confirm this before signing.
Are utilities really fully included?
The listing tag “bills_included” covers electricity, gas, water, and unlimited Wi‑Fi. However, “unlimited Wi‑Fi” may be subject to a fair‑use policy or speed throttling. One reviewer (Cheong Lin Li) mentioned having to troubleshoot the Wi‑Fi login herself, indicating that internet setup may not be seamless. Ask the operator whether there is a usage cap and what the typical internet speed is.
Sources & Data Date
All prices, ratings, reviews, and property details are sourced from the housing platform Amber (inventory ID amber‑937413) and are current as of July 2026. Prices quoted are indicative – always confirm the exact weekly rate and any additional fees with the operator before committing.
For live availability and to ask specific questions about this room, use the on‑site assistant on the housing platform.
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