Need help securing a rental

Hi everyone,

I am a renter, new to the market without any prior rental history.

I would like to know anything and everything I can do in order to give myself the best chance when applying for a rental property. Any unique ways I can differentiate myself would be appreciated.

How helpful are endorsements from other property investors I know, other tenants I know etc?

Thank you all for your comments! I am in desperate need of assistance.

 

Treat it like a job interview, and have your supporting docs ready. Have friends, colleagues who can serve as references. Follow up with the agent at reasonable intervals. When my agent puts forwards potential tenants some include a print out of their bank statement showing a consistent savings history (not a last minute deposit from family) which offers peace of mind that the rent can be paid even if the tenant took a break from work or got injured.

A long term history of working helps too.

 

We've recently rented a house after 14 years out of the rental market. A couple of things I think helped...

* Present yourself well. You don't need to wear a suit, but neat casual really helps. We encountered people that were fairly shabbily dressed, the agents gave us a lot more attention.

* Take your shoes off at the door without being asked. It shows respect.

* Think about your explanation of why you don't have a prior tenancy. Think about what is going to make it comfortable for the landlord. We've owned our own home and are developing the site. We need a new home to live for a few years. This kind of suggests we're financially doing quite well, but there's a legitimate reason we need to rent despite not having a recent history.

* Demonstrate that you can easily afford the rent. Be willing to share financial information. Payslips or tax assessment notices. Make sure it's enough to easily afford the rent.

* Engage the agent. Let them know you love the house, garden, etc. Let them get to know you a bit. Be memorable (but for the right reasons).

* Lower your standards a little. It sucks, but there's a lot of very average properties out there that only get one or two applications. The really nice properties (that are affordable) get a lot of applications. Unfortunately an average property often indicates an average landlord.

 

Besides the general things @Peter_Tersteeg has already mentioned and others that are similar, pay more than the asking price is a great way to secure properties or pay in advanced (monthly or quarterly to even a year in advanced.

The paying rent in advanced lowers the risk of the LL or paying more means they get more for the risk.

Just put yourself in the LL shoes, who would you prefer to rent to someone with 10 years rental history with no issues and great serviceability or someone with no history. You would likely take the 10 year person however if the 10 year one was going to pay $10 pw less then it might be worth taking on the 'risk'.

If you are the only applicant then the LL has the option of take you on at your price or hold out for someone with history (most will likely take you up, especially if you present well).

 

Demonstrate character, job security and history... Like applying for a loan the PM wants to assess your risk. Perhaps you have been paying a car loan consistently ? Saving ? Address the elephant in the room and be candid about being a first timer but offer to help demonstrate your risk. And offer as much as you can muster that doesnt overdo it. Make their job easy. Landlords and Pms will give you a crack as first timer if you have a good stable job and history of paying bills or saving and dont commit any no no's...Proof of what you earn and information they can check. You could help them with a copy of your credit history too. PMs cant access a credit report but you can. If its a good report of course.

Turn up looking tidy, respectful - Peter had some great tips. Dont turn up with three mates wearing bintang tshirts and thongs after a big night out. It looks like a party that hasnt finished. Think about your job and how it can look too. Some jobs sell easily eg ADF, Police, Public Service etc. Others can look dubious eg tour bus operator, commissioned income etc. Be prepared and dont embelish things to a lie either

Take care with the offer to pay in advance. It can also arouse suspicion. Dont appear over eager but a offer to pay a little further ahead if it helps and can be a good start.

 

Everyone has had some really great tips.

I personally love when tenants make an effort to talk to me, I will always greet someone and try to engage in conversation but couldn't tell you how many times people just ignore me. Small talk is awkward, but if I'm going to rent a property to you I do at least want to know a little bit about you and your situation.

First impressions count, be polite, well presented and also don't be afraid to ask the agent what the owner is like or what they're looking for too.

Write a cover letter, especially important when dealing with larger companies that might have leasing consultants or where the PM doing the open isn't the one processing the application/talking to the owner. It reiterates what you've said at the inspection, but also allows someone that's never met you know a bit about your situation - but don't make it a sob story (even if the reason you're renting is a sad situation).

 

Dont park in the driveway at a viewing. This annoys the crap out of me. Its not your house yet so dont treat it like it. Hahah Hump day rant

 

Ha, really? This would be a very natural thing for most people to do I would have thought?

 

Haha yes it drives me bonkers as I am showing the property I need to be able to get access to the property or the current tenant. It is a common thing among PMs a little pet peeve.

Majority of prospective tenants will park on the curb but that 1% that park in the driveway. Gahhhhhhh

 

Haha - I'd park in the driveway. I'm entitled that way - I'd drive up, see a park in the drive and think "Win!"

 

Although that said maybe not if it was a single drive, in which case I would not be inspecting the house.

 

Its a big topic on the PM forums. This one got 330 likes last year.

 

If only PC had a love icon lol to like

 

It p¡$$€$ me off no end where visitors, prospective tenant's or lazy #$&? park in or across the driveway.

You've got two legs, park on the street and get some exercise.

 

Did I open a can of worms. OOOPS

 

you did.

 

OOPS!!!!!!

 

Maybe that's why I never been rejected on a place I wanted to rent as I never parked on the driveway. To me it isn't my property until I have the lease or a mortgage, so why would I park on something that isn't public or mine.

 

Thats what will get you approved. @Big Will its people that park in driveway without being the tenant or the owner that grind my goat

 

Yeah parking in the driveway annoys me too!

I had one a couple of months back, very long skinny driveway - very tight to fit a car down and no other way to get to the front door. Had a woman drive up it, sit in her car for 5 mins before getting out, told me she left her child in the car (It was <10 degrees, but that's besides the point!) and then after she inspected sat in the car for another 5 mins before attempting to reverse which took her a solid 10 minutes to get out because she couldn't drive. In the meantime people were scaling the reasonably high retaining wall to get to the house. I was fuming!

It was pretty funny watching her try to get out and all the attempts though. Almost scratched her car too!