The good things: the place is located near Homebush train station, only 10min walking from there. The other 7 housemates are nice and friendly and Josie is a warm and welcoming host. The place has the basic equipment and a kitchen area, although there is no common area like a living room for having a dinner or a chat with the other housemates. The former living room area seems to be rented out as a room now too.
The cons: The house is located next to a roundabout. This room only has one window which is facing towards the street and south-east. So in the morning at around 6.30 am it gets very noisy and bright in the room as there are only very basic window shades which are not light absorbing.
The walls are thin and the windows are single glazed only, which makes the noise worse. Moreover, you can basically hear everything that is going on in the house and outside. You can even hear people talking downstairs in the kitchen if your room door is closed.
The kitchen was ok but at first there was a lack of spoons and plates. Only one spoon and 2 – 3 plates were there for 8 people. Josie provided a few more spoons and plates after some of us complained about that. Furthermore, there were cockroaches in the kitchen, especially during the evening and night. The oven was dirty as it seemed not have been cleaned for a long time. There is a dishwasher in the kitchen but it is not working.
There was only one set of bedsheet, duvet and pillow cover provided. No towels provided.
I also wonder about this Jacq person who did some reviews but was definitely not there during my stay in November and the other told me that she has not been there in October either. Seems to be either a fake review or she was really that quiet that nobody noticed her presence at all.