UOW student Chandan Saini on a seemingly impossible mission to find a rental

The 27-year-old arrived from India on Thursday morning. By Thursday afternoon he was asked for $150 for the privilege of inspecting a room.

The University of Wollongong student's search for a rental began kilometres away in early December but with the travel date fast approaching and still no luck, he had no choice but to continue his search after flying in to Wollongong.

Mr Saini booked a three day stay at an Airbnb hoping to find a room by the end of it, but unfortunately it didn't quite go as planned.

"I arrived in Australia on Thursday after a 30-hour long travel and soon after I was at room inspections ," he said.

The Master of Business Analytics student said the few promising accommodation options he had been looking at were taken by the time he arrived and the ones available were either too costly or had poor living conditions.

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"There was a place which was up for $375 a week, I can't afford that," he said.

Mr Saini said there have also been a few landlords who have tried to take advantage of his desperate situation.

"A lady asked me for $150 just for inspection. She said if I took the room it would count towards the bond, if not she'll refund it to me but I didn't want to take that chance so I didn't go for the inspection," he said.

The 27-year-old however believes there is still some kindness out there, thanks to the "wonderful Airbnb host couple".

"When I couldn't find a place at the end of the three days at the Airbnb the couple said I could move into their caravan because the Airbnb was booked further," he said.

The Woonona couple has "very kindly" let Mr Saini stay at their house rent-free as he continues on his seemingly impossible mission to find a room during the peak of the rental crisis.

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Asian International Student Association (AISA) vice president Navneet Mittal said a lot of international students were facing increased difficulties in finding accommodation in the highly competitive and expensive rental market.

"Students are hence exploring various options for temporary accommodation before moving into a rental property. Airbnbs, motels, staying at friends and relatives' place are some of them," he said.

Mr Mittal believes it is hard to improve living conditions for international students in Australia without support from the government and lack of regulation.

"Each year students contribute approximately $44 billion to the economy and create jobs in the community but as students they receive very few benefits," he said.

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