QUESTION: I’m originally from the UK and my partner is Aussie. We are in good jobs and can easily afford the rent but whenever we apply for a property it gets rejected and the agent never tells us why.
We’ve put in four applications over six weeks and have been denied every one. Is this normal?
ANSWER: It’s hugely competitive and you have to treat efforts to rent a home as if they were job applications.
Put together a portfolio with short biographies of who you are (with pictures) and what you do, attach references from employers, colleagues and previous landlords and attach it to the next applications.
Also turn up for the inspections looking like you mean business. Think job interview – not like you’ve just rolled out of bed on your way to brunch.
Other tactics are to offer a bit more on top of the asking price or several months rent in advance. Be careful with the latter, though, as there are no clear-cut mechanisms for getting it back if it all goes pear-shaped. Read the full correspondence on this HERE.
Jimmy will be on the James Valentine Afternoon show on ABC 702 on Tuesday, August 23, at 2pm, when they’ll be doing a rentals special with a representative of Tenants NSW.