Who This Residence Suits
32 Grattan Street Carlton works best for students who value community interaction and responsive on-site staff over absolute privacy in sleeping quarters. The property runs regular social events — movie nights, eSports tournaments, outdoor sports — which one reviewer explicitly credited to a staff member named Avi Maurya. If you are new to Melbourne or want to build a social circle without leaving the building, this residence provides structured opportunities to connect.
The non-ensuite room type means you share bathroom facilities, which keeps the weekly price lower than studios or one-bedroom apartments. Students who are comfortable with shared living and want to keep accommodation costs predictable will find the bills-included model helpful. There are no separate charges for electricity, gas, water, or internet — one monthly figure covers everything.
Independent house units are also available. These suit small groups of friends who want to live together under one roof while still having access to the residence’s common facilities such as the gym, BBQ area, and laundry room. The dual occupancy tag on the listing confirms that some rooms can be shared by two people, which can bring the per-person cost down further.
Location is a clear advantage. Carlton sits directly north of Melbourne’s central business district and is within walking distance of RMIT University’s city campus. Public transport along Swanston Street connects to other universities, and the Carlton neighbourhood is known for its restaurants, supermarkets, and the Queen Victoria Market.
Who It May Not Suit
Students who need a private ensuite bathroom should look elsewhere. The non-ensuite rooms mean you share facilities with other residents on your floor. If privacy in your own shower and toilet is non-negotiable, this is not the right fit.
The property does not offer self-contained studio apartments. All units fall into either shared-house or non-ensuite categories. Students who prefer cooking and living entirely alone will find the communal kitchen and shared living areas limiting.
One reviewer, Florence Lin, removed a star from their rating because of an unspecified issue — the full text ends abruptly with “I” — which suggests the reviewer had a concern worth investigating. While the overall Google rating of 4.1 from 41 reviews is solid, a small number of dissatisfied guests exist. It is worth asking the operator about any common complaints before committing.
The minimum lease of 26 weeks (around six months) means short-stay visitors or exchange students on semester-only programs may find the commitment too long. If you need a four-week or eight-week booking, this property will not accommodate you.
What Residents Actually Say
The three Google reviews provided give a realistic picture of day-to-day life.
Allan Thomas (5 stars) highlighted the community programming: “Great and comfortable stay. Very good service and staff support. Special thanks to Avi Maurya for conducting ResLife events. Really helps to bond with other residents and indulge in fun activities such as outdoor and indoor sports, movie night, game screenings, eSports tournaments. Would suggest to make it more regular.”
This confirms that the social calendar is a genuine draw and that staff put effort into activities.
Nicolas Zambrano Ortegon (5 stars) focused on individual staff quality: “I’ve been to other UniLodges, but I’ve never found someone more qualified and kind than Melody. Her assistance was truly exceptional , honestly a 1000/10. She was incredibly nice and tried to help me with every single thing she could. I would definitely come back to this UniLodge just because of the staff, especially M.”
This suggests that even if the building itself is average, the human factor makes a difference.
Florence Lin (4 stars) gave a nuanced view: “One of the view accoms that allows flexi stay, was grateful that the staff replied very fast, very kind and helpful in explaining everything and answering my inquiries regarding to the rooms. There’s kitchen, gym, laundry room, and other facilities available (on website). Really sorry but taking one star off because I ”
The truncated review makes it impossible to know the exact reason for the deduction, but the overall rating of 4 indicates a mostly positive experience. The mention of “flexi stay” is noteworthy — it suggests the operator may offer some flexibility beyond the standard minimum lease, which is worth confirming directly.
Price Positioning vs the City’s From-Price
The city-wide from-price for student accommodation in Melbourne is AUD 219 per week — that is the lowest entry point across 137 listed properties. 32 Grattan Street Carlton starts at AUD 330 per week and goes up to AUD 430 per week. All prices here are indicative — confirm with the operator.
At roughly 50% above the city floor price, this property sits in the mid-range segment. You are paying for:
- All utility bills included
- On-site gym and BBQ facilities
- Regular social programming
- A Carlton location close to the city centre
Compared to the cheapest shared rooms in Melbourne, you get more amenities and a stronger social framework. Compared to premium studios that can reach AUD 600+ per week, you save significantly by accepting shared bathrooms and communal living.
For a student on a moderate budget who wants bills predictability and does not need an ensuite, the AUD 330–430 range is reasonable for Carlton, which is generally more expensive than outer suburbs like Brunswick or Footscray.
Room-Type Guidance
Non-ensuite rooms are the lower-cost option within the weekly price range. You get a private bedroom and share a bathroom with a small number of floor-mates. Exact bathroom-to-resident ratios should be confirmed with the operator, as they vary by floor plan.
Independent houses are separate units within the same overall property. These suit groups of two or more people who want to live together. The dual occupancy tag means some rooms can accommodate two occupants, effectively splitting the weekly rent per person.
If you are booking alone, a non-ensuite room is the standard choice. If you come with a friend or sibling, ask about dual-occupancy pricing in the independent house option — it may work out cheaper per person than two separate non-ensuite rooms.
No studios or one-bedroom flats are available at this address. If that is your requirement, filter properties by “studio” or “ensuite” on the platform.
Booking Timing
The property’s available_from field is not specified in the data, meaning availability fluctuates throughout the year. For a 2026 start, the general Melbourne market tends to fill up from October to December for the February intake, and from May to July for the July intake.
A 26-week minimum lease aligns with one academic semester. If you are starting in Semester 1 2026 (February), aim to secure a room by October–November 2025. For Semester 2 (July), begin enquiries by April–May 2026.
The low number of reviews (41) and the 4.1 Google rating suggest the property is moderately popular but not in the highest-demand tier. You may not face the same competition as more heavily reviewed buildings, but last-minute bookings carry risk — especially for the independent house option, which has fewer units.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are utility bills included in the weekly rent?
Yes, the listing is tagged “bills_included”. This means electricity, gas, water, and internet are covered by the rent you pay. There should be no separate utility invoices. However, confirm the exact coverage with the operator before signing a lease.
Can two people share one room?
The property is marked “dual_occupancy”, which indicates that some rooms are designed to be shared by two people. This typically applies to specific room types — likely in the independent house category. The per-person cost would be lower than a single occupant. Ask the operator exactly which rooms allow dual occupancy and whether a couple or two friends are both acceptable.
Is a 26-week lease the only option?
The minimum lease term listed is 26 weeks. One reviewer mentioned “flexi stay”, which may indicate the operator is open to shorter or longer terms depending on availability. If you need a lease outside the standard range, raise this during your enquiry. Short-term stays of less than 26 weeks are not guaranteed but may be negotiable.
Sources & Data Date
All property data, pricing, ratings, and reviews are sourced from the platform inventory and Google reviews as of July 2026. Prices are indicative — confirm with the operator. University proximity refers to RMIT University Melbourne city campus. City from-price (AUD 219 per week) is based on 137 active Melbourne listings on the platform.
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