In short:
Converting a study into a bedroom can create extra space or rental income, but the room and its price should reflect what is actually being offered.
Different Use For Space
With an extra bedroom potentially making a home more useful and creating another source of rental income, converting an unused study can be tempting.
But a desk coming out and a bed going in does not necessarily make the room equal to the other bedrooms in the house.
Making The Conversion Work
A study can make a perfectly usable bedroom when there is enough space for a bed and other furniture without making the room cramped.
Natural light, ventilation, privacy and storage should also be considered. In Victoria, rental properties must meet minimum standards, including adequate ventilation in habitable rooms, appropriate lighting and window coverings in rooms likely to be used for sleeping.
For homeowners, the change can also make sense where a dedicated study is rarely used. However, sacrificing a useful home office for a tiny additional bedroom will not necessarily improve the overall appeal of the property.
Not Every Room Is Equal
If the room is being rented separately within a share house, its limitations should be reflected in the price.
A converted study that is considerably smaller than the home’s established bedrooms, has no built-in storage or offers less privacy should not automatically command the same share of the rent.
Rather than simply dividing the total rent equally, occupants can consider the size and features of each room when agreeing on what each person pays.
A smaller room can still represent good value, provided the price reflects what the renter is actually getting.
What Renters Should Check
Prospective renters should look beyond how a room is described in an advertisement.
Check whether there is enough usable floor space once a bed is installed, along with ventilation, natural light, privacy, power points and storage.
Renters should also compare the asking price with the property’s larger bedrooms before agreeing to an equal split.
Different rules can apply where four or more people rent individual rooms in a property operating as a rooming house. Victorian rooming houses have additional minimum standards covering residents’ rooms, including privacy, security, power outlets and heating.
Ultimately, converting a study can put otherwise unused space to work. The important part is making sure the room, and the price attached to it, match what is actually being offered.
