Author: Phoebe Lee
I remember the time when my mum lived with my husband and me for nearly ten years.
I love her dearly. But even so, there were moments of tension — not because anyone was doing something wrong, but because our routines didn’t always align.
Small things. Different habits. Different expectations.
Over time, those differences required constant adjustment to avoid friction.
Even when living with people you love, shared living requires clear boundaries.
The same principle applies to shared housing.
At Iris, each resident has their own private room, while sharing common areas like the kitchen, bathroom, and living spaces. Everyone comes with their own lifestyle, beliefs, schedules, and ways of doing things.
From our experience, shared living works best when people respect boundaries and minimise the impact of their living habits on others.
That’s why Iris is not right fit for everyone — and we believe it’s important to be honest about that upfront.
Iris shared housing is designed for independent adults.
Our homes work well for people who:
These expectations are about maintaining a clean, comfortable and respectful environment so everyone can feel at ease.
Iris shared housing suits people who value long-term, stable, peaceful, and respectful housing.
Socialising is optional.
Keeping to yourself is normal.
Privacy is respected.
Some residents receive external support, such as NDIS-funded assistance (for example, cleaning support).
Independent shared living tends to work best when residents are still able to make sound daily decisions and work cooperatively with their support providers to meet shared living expectations.
At Iris, we believe affordable housing does not mean low standards, giving up on life goals, or having no lifestyle choices.
People living on low or limited incomes still deserve dignity, stability, and the opportunity to plan for their future.
One of our residents, Leandra, was offered public housing twice but chose to remain at Iris. After carefully reviewing her budget, she realised that with rent and utilities included, Iris provided greater financial stability and peace of mind. She is now saving toward buying a new car and is in the final year of completing a Diploma of IT Security.
As she shared with us:
“When I look at my situation — my health, the network I’ve created here, and financially — it is better for me to remain a tenant here.”
Another resident, MJ (female tenant in her 60s) shared her experience after moving into Iris.
Before Iris, she lived in two other shared houses — one in Salisbury and one in Elizabeth.
At Iris, she describes the difference clearly:
“It’s no stress here. It’s quiet compared to other share houses I’ve been in. I feel more relaxed. I don’t worry about someone knocking on my door. It’s very comfortable.”
This is the environment Iris is designed to provide — quiet, stable, and peaceful shared living.
It only works when residents value privacy, respect shared spaces, and are comfortable with clear expectations.
The outcomes we see at Iris don’t happen by accident.
They are the result of:
At the time of writing, when Iris is the right fit, shared living tends to be long term — with many residents staying beyond two years, and some choosing to remain for five to ten years or more.
(Tenancy length data is based on current residents as at 4 February 2026.)
We know people want quick answers and fast outcomes. We value your time — and ours — which is why we ask you to read this before applying.
We are all different. We have different routines, expectations, and life circumstances. Iris shared living is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
If I said Iris was right for everyone, I would be lying.
Being honest about fit helps us — and our residents — maintain a peaceful, respectful living environment, and helps the right people find a home where they can genuinely feel at ease.
Iris is designed for long-term, stable shared living.
If you are looking for emergency or short-term accommodation, Iris may not be suitable. Stability takes time, and frequent move-ins and move-outs make it difficult to maintain a calm living environment.
Iris operates on a one-bedroom-per-person policy.
From our over ten years of experience, lower-density shared homes tend to be more peaceful, with less congestion and fewer points of friction.
Iris homes are designed to be quiet and low-traffic.
If you regularly have visitors, overnight guests, or are looking for a highly social living environment, Iris is unlikely to be the right fit.
To protect residents’ privacy and quiet enjoyment, a No Visitor Policy applies. Exceptions may be made for recognised professional support workers attending in an agreed capacity (such as NDIS-funded services).
Because Iris is shared housing, we require recent housing history and verifiable references.
Recent housing history helps us understand an applicant’s current day-to-day living routines, how they have maintained their previous living environment(s), and whether independent shared living at Iris is likely to be a good fit.
As a general guide, housing history that reflects recent living circumstances (for example, the past one to two years) usually gives us enough information to assess an application alongside the other details submitted.
Housing history that is very short, fragmented, contains significant gaps, or focuses mainly on much older living arrangements can make it difficult for us to understand current shared-living suitability. In these situations, we may be unable to assess the application and it may be closed.
Iris shared housing works best for people who want:
If that sounds like you, we may be a good fit. You can view our available rooms and apply here.
If not, that’s okay too — and being honest about it helps everyone involved.
If you’d like to stay informed as we publish more guides on share housing renting, you can join the mailing list using the form below.
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Thanks for reading — and I hope this helps you make a more confident, informed decision about your next home.
Last Updated: 9 February 2026
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