Applying For a Rental Property - Our Top Tips

Saturday 09 Sep 2023

Securing a rental property in the Pilbara region can be quite challenging these days. Over the past few years, we've offered numerous tips to assist prospective tenants in distinguishing themselves in this competitive market. These strategies include submitting a well-crafted cover letter, preparing a pet resume, or arranging a meeting with the property manager.

While these techniques are helpful, according to our Pilbara-based property managers, the most crucial step is accurately completing your rental application form. This may seem like a given, but you'd be surprised at how many individuals fail to do so. In an environment where property managers, and occasionally artificial intelligence, must sift through hundreds of applications, incomplete forms often find their way to the bottom of the pile, causing some exceptional tenants to miss out on housing opportunities.

Here are the common omissions or errors that Pilbara property managers often encounter in rental applications:

  1. Photo ID: If the application requests photo identification, be sure to include it. Surprisingly, out of seven applications received for one property, six were missing proper photo ID. Note that the Department of Transport now allows individuals to block their driver's license for identity protection. If you're using your driver's license for identification during the rental application process, remember to unblock it; otherwise, an error message may be generated when your ID is verified.

  2. Employment Details: Ensure you provide accurate contact information for your employers. Employment details are crucial to demonstrate your ability to pay rent. For instance, a property manager once received an application from a 34-year-old tenant who appeared to be retired, but there was no indication of how they intended to cover their rent.

  3. Current Landlord/Property Manager Contact Details: If you are currently renting, including your current landlord or property manager's contact information is essential. They can provide confirmation of your rental history and serve as a reference.

  4. Personal References: Avoid using the same person multiple times in the references section. Duplicating recommendations from a single individual doesn't count as multiple references, though it may sound unusual, this has occurred.

  5. Emergency Contact Information: Don't forget to provide emergency contact details.

  6. Include Your Partner's Application: If you have a partner who will be sharing the rental property with you, be sure to include their application from the start. It's not advisable to initially state that only one person will be residing in the home and later attempt to add your partner after your application is accepted.

  7. Timely Submission: As rental vacancies fill up swiftly, aim to submit your application promptly. If a property manager mentions they'll wait for 24 hours to review applications and consult with the property owner, make sure to meet that deadline. Many applications can be submitted digitally, and once you've filled out one, you can often reuse it for other properties, reducing the time required.

  8. Prompt Response to Requests for More Information: If a property manager contacts you requesting additional information, it's crucial to respond promptly. For example, one of our property managers had a family apply for two properties but needed more details. They reached out to both the husband and wife via email but received no response. Unfortunately, the properties were subsequently leased to other tenants. Later, the family posted on a community Facebook page about their seven-month-long search for a rental property. They might have succeeded if they had responded to the property manager's inquiries. Remember to regularly check your email for such communications.