Rental Property Application Advice

Obtaining rental property application approval is not without its challenges. The competition can be tough out there and turning up to an inspection to see more than a dozen other people waiting can be extremely discouraging. However, the agent’s priority is to get a good, reliable tenant into the property on behalf of the landlord. If you can convince the agent that is you, then you have just as good a chance as anyone, even without a rental history.

Preparation of Application Documentation

Collect as many documents as you think relevant, such as copies of personal identification, information about your residential history, current and previous employment history as well as financial statements – pay, salary and other income sources.  Make sure things are clearly labelled and referenced so the agent doesn’t get confused going through your application. They may have a lot of applications so make yours stand out by making it easy for them.

Well Dressed Appearance Matters

On a practical level, appearances are important too. Turn up early or on time to property inspections, make some effort with your appearance, and if you were asked to pre-register for inspections, make sure you have done so – it makes the process much faster for everyone and the agent will appreciate your cooperation.

Introduce yourself to the Agent at the Property Inspection

During the inspection, why not introduce yourself to the agent, ask some questions about the property and make some positive casual conversation. This puts you in their mind and helps put a face to the name when they process your application. If on paper your competition looks the same as you, your friendly personality may just be what gets you across the line.

Job Reference for Income Proof

Of course the most important part of a tenancy application is proving that you can pay the rent every month. First time renters may not have a rental history, so include the name, address and email of your employer or supervisor at your place of employment who the agent can speak to in order to seek confirmation of employment and salary.

Also, maybe you have a history of repayments for something else, such as room and board, a car loan or a gym membership?  Include a reference to these repayments in your application – you have a greater chance of being accepted if you have an established history of reliability when it comes to payments.

Personal Character Reference

Finally, the property manager will want to know that you are going to be a good, responsible tenant and take care of the property.  You don’t necessarily have to provide references from people that you’ve lived with. A simple character reference from a personal contact or an employer may be enough.  Avoid using friends or relatives though; they will have a less credibility than someone who is being asked in a professional capacity.

Remember, your first tenancy application will be the hardest.  Once approved, you will no longer need to worry about rental history, because, after six months of staying within the boundaries of your lease agreement, you’ll know you’ll have one!