My stay at Valeria's was much akin to time I've spent in hostels and boarding houses in the past, albeit without many of the amenities common to such places. There were multiple other guests staying within the building, some 8 bedrooms housing a baker's dozen with two bathrooms for them all (one of which can only be accessed from the outside). The equipment on offer in the sole kitchen was in poor condition and, from conversations with some of the other guests, kitchenware of your own that is brought is often seized by the cleaners if left out at the wrong time. There wasn't really a common space at all, or at least not one worth mentioning. If one is seeking a communal living experience while in Melbourne, I strongly suggest either a hostel or living-in with a reputable airbnb host. If one simply wants a room to stay in, there are cheaper alternatives available on airbnb that are of superior quality. That all being said, Valeria herself was an accommodating host and her communication was clear and prompt, so if her other properties are of superior quality then many of my concerns fall away.