HELP THE LANDLORD CHOOSE YOU

It is evident that things can get highly competitive among tenants as Australia’s rental market faces ‘extreme tightness’ in 2023. It is not uncommon to find yourself looking through a property with dozens of other eager renters at a property inspection.

How can you give yourself the best chance of being the successful applicant?

With organisation and effort – and a few tips like these to help – you will hopefully be on your way to collect the keys.

Recognise that landlords and property managers are your friends.

Put yourself in the landlord’s shoes. What would you want a potential tenant to be giving you, how would you want them to present themselves, if it were your property to be rented?

Have your rental profile in order.

Be totally honest. A complete and verified online rental profile immediately available is a key to success. If not, you might be scratching around trying to pull things together while someone else has secured the tenancy.

Your factual rental history is important and includes your current and previous rental information such as the address of the rented premises, lease start and end dates, amount of rent and details of the property owner and property manager. It should reflect that you paid the rent on time, looked after the property and were easy to deal with on matters such as repairs or inspections, for instance.

Cover all supporting documentation.

You will need 100 points of Identification to prove you are who you say you are, generally in digital format and in some cases, legally witnessed and stamped. Other documents to have at your fingertips include photo identification (driver’s licence, passport, proof of age card), Medicare card and Centrelink statement. Glowing reference letters from past landlords and employers are valuable; even more so are positive references for your pet. And go the extra with character or personal references. It’s a good idea to let the referee know, by the way. It is understandable that landlords prefer tenants with a constant and reliable source of income so including a few recent payslips and bank statements in your application is encouraging.

If you are renting with others, make sure to do your homework on any potential room-mates. Ask them the right questions to guarantee there are no red flags. Discuss expectations of how you’ll share and live together so you are on the same page from the start.

Have a point of difference.

While a cover letter might not be a necessity, having one might set you apart from other applicants and increase your chances. Think of it like a cover letter for a job application. It’s your chance to introduce yourself in a good light, in a professional yet personal tone, with a few paragraphs about who you are, what do you do for a living, and perhaps the reason for your move and why the property has great appeal.

Make an impression.

Look very presentable on the day of the open inspection. Wear a genuine smile. Be on time. Be friendly, courteous and well-mannered.

This could be the most important large group interview you’ve ever attended. Treat it like you’re going for your dream job.

Introduce yourself to the property managers. Don’t be obnoxious or arrogant; and help them help you.

You are being sized up from the moment you walk in the door; and they are the people who will present tenant options to the landlord and help them to make their decision.

Good properties in great locations may attract dozens of applicants who are all desperate to get hold of those keys, so stand out from the crowd.