Young couple reveal how they lived rent-free in Australia for three months

A couple have found a way to get around the crippling cost of rent in Australia while still living in the most covetable cities.

A young couple recently revealed their secret to living rent-free for three months while travelling across Australia, and their little-known hack is going viral on TikTok.

In the video, the woman, Esmae Lewis, explained how she and her boyfriend managed to avoid paying rent, bills, and even Wi-Fi and air conditioning costs during their travels.

“We didn’t spend a single dollar,” she claimed.

The pair said knew they wanted to live in Australia, as it’s such a “beautiful country with great weather”.

However, she quickly realised it also has a high cost of living, pricey food, drinks, gyms, and hostels, which aren’t always ideal for couples.

So, they found a platform called Trusted Housesitters, where people can look after homeowners’ pets and properties in exchange for free accommodation.

“We landed every sit we applied for,” she said, before sharing tips to help others succeed on the platform.

These included creating a detailed profile that showcases personality and experience, asking friends and family for initial reviews, personalising each application by referencing the pets and their quirks, and focusing on care and connection with the pets rather than the location perks.

Ms Lewis also recommended offering video calls or meetups to build trust with homeowners.

A young British couple spent three months living rent free in Australia. Picture: TikTok/EsmaeLewis

And they still managed to live in some of the country’s most enviable locations. Picture: TikTok/EsmaeLewis

The concept of house sitting is not a new one. Sitters care for pets, maintain gardens, keep homes clean and safe, and sometimes handle mail or deliveries, all in exchange for rent-free living.

This benefits both parties as homeowners get peace of mind while away, and sitters enjoy free accommodation.

Commenters loved the idea, with one saying, “Love love loveeee this! I’ve had my eye on signing up and starting this”.

“This is such a cool idea!” and “Love house-sitting!!! Such solid tips,” read other comments.

“I want to do this!” admitted a fourth.

They pet sit around the country using the platform Trusted Housesitters. Picture: TikTok/EsmaeLewis

They said they love animals so it doesn’t feel like a hard gig. Picture: TikTok/EsmaeLewis

“This is so useful,” said a fifth, as someone else mentioned they live in Australia already but are keen to give this a go.

“This is goals,” another TikToker declared.

House-sitting platforms like Trusted Housesitters and Aussie House Sitters have grown in popularity in recent years, offering thousands of opportunities across Australia.

These services often require a membership fee but provide a trusted community and support to ensure both sitters and homeowners feel secure in the arrangement.

Ms Lewis said she made the annual membership fee back in a couple of days just by not having to pay any rent.

Originally published as Young couple reveal how they lived rent-free in Australia for three months