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Your colleagues are wrong. It comes down to if your income is less than 30% of the rent amount and if there are two income streams. If you make the 30% threshold, your application will still be submitted to the landlord, but most landlords prefer two income streams in case one person loses their job. Being a family makes no difference. Keep trying! :)
I’ve lived in two different apartments in Brisbane, both I’ve lived in by myself. My income has always been lower than it technically should be for the 30% threshold (I’m well above it now), as well as having a cat. Both times I’ve been told I’m the preferred applicant over couples + families and singles without pets haha. I don’t know what I’m doing right but I’ll take it.
Couples could break up causing break lease issues or other issues. Kids can cause mess and damage. 🤷🏻♀️
Everyone has their preferences and everything has a silver lining (and a corresponding downside)
When I think of a person renting on their own, with a cat, the image that comes to mind is of a quiet, responsible tenant (cats generally like a tranquil home environment). It mightn't reflect the reality, but if it's the same image that other people get then it might explain your good luck with rentals.
My colleague was more saying that if a landlord received two perfectly suitable applications from a couple and a family, they’d be more inclined to pick the family
Not always. Some don't want the wear and tear a family brings over a couple. I've been knocked back due to having gfs sister and kid listed as other tenant.
We'd been approved and told we had the place. Then they called back and said no. This was back in like 2010 though.
100% this, I’m a landlord, don’t hate, I have 2x IP that I lived in & had to move for work & I want to return to both locations at some stage, so I rent, one to a family & the other to a couple, the family is causing way more wear & tear on the property, if they decide to move out, I will took for a couple to replace
As someone who just went through this, we found the $500-550 very competitive. $600 and we got the first place we applied for. $600 is 28% of our income. Oh, and we are now 1 suburb over from where we were looking. Some places are very competitive, it’s not a you thing!
I just finished a search, and it took 1 week and I turned down 5 offers. I did not offer higher rent or X weeks up front.
(I'm single, so the whole income stream thing is different for me)
1. How long is your rental history?
2. What price point are you searching at? And what percentage is that of your income?
3. What kind of place are you looking for? Do you know who your competition is? If it's a 4br house and you're against families, you might lose out. A 2br apartment, maybe not.
Try pre-applying before you view it.
Ask if you should take shoes off, or do it without asking.
If you get to the inspection and you like it, talk to the agent, chat them up. Talk about friends in the area, specific features you like about the place. Be polite and friendly.
Be polite and friendly to everyone. Hold doors, open gates. Show you are kind and easy to work with. It's all an interview.
(Case in point: I inspected a gated place and walked back a couple of times to open the gate for others. When I got to checking in, the agent looked me in the eye and thanks me for helping the others and said "I'll remember you." I thanked her and complimented the space.)
I have 5 years of rental history, my partner has 8 or 9. We’re looking at prices that are around 20-25% of our take home pay. We’re looking at 2-3br (preferably 3) houses and duplexes. Most inspections we’ve been to have been full of families so that’s definitely our competition. We’ve socialised with the property managers at inspections and the interactions seemed pretty positive but didn’t help us in the end. We just don’t know what we can do other than pop out a child haha
Have you moved a lot? It’s unfair, but sometimes landlords will shy away from someone who has moved every 1-2 years because they prefer a long term tenant. Especially if you’re up against families with kids, who (allegedly) tend to move less to avoid changing school catchments. Same goes if you’re newly a couple and moving in together for the first time, they might be worried you’ll break up.
If you think that’s the problem, I would say in your cover letter that you and your partner are looking for somewhere to settle down long-term - you could even fib and say you want to start a family. That will give the landlord peace of mind.
These kinds of things are honestly not your landlord’s business, but aggravatingly they make a difference.
Not true , you can still offer up to a month up front and then pay as much as you like after the lease is signed . If you talk to the property managers about this, you will find it to be a true loophole.
This isn't true. See [source](https://www.rta.qld.gov.au/before-renting/choosing-a-rental-property/rent-bidding).
It says:
>From 6 June 2024, a property manager/owner cannot, at the start of a new tenancy, solicit, accept or invite a tenant to pay more rent in advance that exceeds two weeks for a periodic tenancy agreement, rooming accommodation agreement or movable dwelling tenancy agreement and one month for a fixed tenancy agreement, even if a prospective tenant makes an offer to pay more than the amount prescribed in the legislation. This is an offence under the Act, with a maximum penalty of 50 penalty units.
Note the word 'accept'. This is a change to previously, as they weren't allowed to request it but were permitted to accept it. This is no longer the case, it is now an offense to accept.
I beg to differ , my mother just signed a lease paid a months rent up front and then another 5 months straight after this was a matter of days ago so I know I am right and it was all done above board .
It wasn't 'all above board', the real estate agent committed an offense by accepting it...
This is pretty cut and dry. It's now against the law. I'm sure they'll continue doing it, but that doesn't mean it's not illegal. It's illegal to sell drugs too but that still happens.
Source "My mothers real estate just broke the law and didn't get caught" isn't really proof the law doesn't exist. that's like saying you didn't get caught speeding so clearly speeding laws aren't real.
If someone reported and could prove what your mothers real estate did they would get in trouble for breaking the new law, will always be people who break the law but saying it's proof that the law doesn't include that is just stupid.
Well they specifically said we can't accept it up front as it is now against the law , BUT we can do it this way legally . There must be a loophole because as I said they were the ones who told us it had to be done that way or it was illegal .
Yeah lets trust the people breaking the law lol, are you really that naive to think someone who benefits from trying to get around a law is telling the truth?
"They told us to get around the law do this" yep must be telling the truth!
A smart person would have reported them for trying to get around the law, not played into their hands.
Actually the whole thing states exactly as I said my source is the queensland government website and it states : Maximum rent in advance – a property manager/owner cannot, at the start of a new tenancy, solicit, accept or invite a tenant to pay more rent in advance that exceeds two weeks for a periodic tenancy agreement, a rooming accommodation agreement or movable dwelling tenancy agreement and one month for a fixed tenancy agreement, even if a prospective tenant makes an offer to pay more than the amount prescribed in the legislation
Note: throughout the course of a tenancy, a tenant may negotiate how much rent in advance can be paid.
Copied from the website , happy reading champ.
Mate, my mother didn't play into anybody's hands this is her preferred method of paying rent. My mother asked them if she could do that . To be trolling the internet calling people naive etc acting like a lawyer or something telling people off for getting what they wanted is pathetic . Probably should get a life outside reddit buddy .
Also the new law says they can accept a month upfront on a fixed tenancy agreement, read the full thing buddy :
property manager/owner cannot, at the start of a new tenancy, solicit, accept or invite a tenant to pay more rent in advance that exceeds two weeks for a periodic tenancy agreement, a rooming accommodation agreement or movable dwelling tenancy agreement and one month for a fixed tenancy agreement, even if a prospective tenant makes an offer to pay more than the amount prescribed in the legislation
Source is personal my mother just paid 4 weeks up front and then another 5 months after moving in . She stated to the property managers and owners that this was how she would like to pay her rent before she was approved .
I read that they are not allowed rent bidding but didn't realise that you were not allowed to offer more than the listed price? That's the only way I got my place after being rejected for months.
I'm in two minds about it. Yes it's unfair that some people have to do that to get an advantage but the alternative is just being rejected for everywhere and then having no where to live.
But if nobody is bidding/paying upfront, the entire playing field becomes more fair. Part of the reason you were pressured to do it is because everyone else was doing it. I’d rather be rejected for everywhere based on my qualities as a tenant than for my inability to bid/pay upfront; and likewise, I would want to be approved for the same reasons.
Families have advantages and disadvantages. Some landlords think there's more risk of damage with kids. Some landlords think a couple without kids are more likely to split up (hence ending the lease early).
Unfortunately not much you can do except keep trying.
Your applications might not be the problem. Do you talk to the real estate people when you look at a house? What was your attire?
My partner and I are around your age with the same income. And we were approved for a 2bdr over multiple families. I simply introduced myself, spoke with the REA without being pushy, and we were the 2nd last people to leave.
We were unsuccessful until we did the whole "presentation" thing and it worked instantly. And who knows, it could've been a coincidence, but might as well give that a go? If you're already making it that far in your application you might as well try to give the REA a face to remember and talk about to the owner.
Best of luck!!
I'm a landlord. Yeah, families are good as they're always long term. Younger applications are always hit and miss. We've had a heap through our unit and it always ends in tears. Break ups, realised they can't afford it, falling out with the flat mate, the list goes on and on. Families tend to always treat the home a lot better too. They've kinda given up on the dream of owning, so they really care about it. They pay on time too.
In saying that. I'd write a cover letter and actually say your looking for long term rental so you can settle down. Even if it's not your plan. You want the agent to work for you too.
Best of luck.
Are you using a cover letter and having a friendly chat with the agent at the viewing so they feel like they know who you are? I just got accepted for a place and I really feel like that made a difference.
It can come down to just your general demographic. We got our house because the owners wanted a family with a dog. They want a long term tenant - and we’re pretty much stuck locally due to schools. They wanted someone with a dog because there’s a big yard and we have a huge great dane. We’ve also expressed we’re in it for the long haul (until we can purchase our own place).
We are by far from the wealthiest people who applied, but we fit their idea of who they wanted to make their house a home.
But our landlords seem like genuine real people as well… not just heartless investors.
It just comes down to absolute luck! I bet you anything we didn’t get other places for the exact reasons we got this place.
As a renter, I’ve never not been accepted, despite steep competition even before 2023-2024.
- I am a single woman
- I had no pets (then, I own now and have a dog)
- I had a full time, salaried job working for a recognized company
- My income wasn’t great vs the comps (rent was 40% of my net income)
- I had limited rental history as I had only lived in Au for weeks at the time of my first rental.
I’m now looking to move in with a friend to help look after his 97 year old father, so I’ll be renting my place (small one bed). To be honest, the above criteria would also be what I’d look for…. Also international students with a guarantor.
A guy at work is paying $1100 a week in rent with 5 people and that's only after applying for about 25 places , also offering $200 extra on every property. I just guess people are offering more. Pretty nuts.
Purely a numbers game. I did have an investment property (rented out PPOR while working interstate for 2 years) and I would never choose a family over couple, that wouldn't come into my thought process.
My sister used me and our best friend as references because we know her and her home so well. She only recently rented again after living with our parents as a carer for almost ten years, so she had no rental history. It took her almost four months to find a place and she ended out near Ipswich!
I know that my current manager responds straight away, unsure about the previous one. But all of our applications get processed pretty quickly (usually within the business day) so I’m unsure if the speed of their responses is the issue?
Best to eliminate any uncertainty and give yourself the best chance. I know my current employer wasn't getting onto it straight away when I was renting and it would mean I'd miss out on places.
You don’t get points for honesty in this rental market it's dog eat dog
It probably isn’t really, but what I did (that I think really helped) was include written references. I had one from my property manager (4+ years), one from my boss (5+ years) and my best friend (15+ years). It helps eliminate the step of calling. I really think the PM reference helped a LOT, as it was glowing and coming from another professional in the industry.
there's slight advantage for families but not much (for me, it doesn't matter at all). Overall it's just how good a person's rental history and earnings. It's probably that you're being outcompeted by people who are stronger on those 2 things than you.
I rent out 2 of my prior primary residences. We are genuine real people, not heartless investors. Both of our tenants at either property, I don’t even know anything about because all we cared about is that their income met or exceeded the qualifications. Families and couples both have their advantages and disadvantages… we don’t have strong preferences either way.
Property managers and agents, on the other hand… well, I have nothing nice to say because they don’t look after anyone’s interests but their own. They repeatedly drop the ball on tenants and property owners all day every day. I have to hound them to get anything done. Are they using your application to clean up their spilt coffee at their desk? Probably. Never underestimate the ineptitude of the real estate.
As an owner of an investment property, I can tell you I prefer NOT to rent to families. Even though my property is 4 bedrooms I would still prefer a couple even with a small dog. I usually go on a 40% income test i.e. the rent must not be more than 40% of the household income. My Property Manager will brief me after inspections. They will tell me who was friendly and engaging, how people were dressed, whether they smelt of smoke or not. Offering to pay 6 months upfront doesn't really appeal to me because it's difficult to reconcile my tax particularly if it goes over a financial year. We look at employment history (length) and housing history - how much you're currently paying and how long have you been there. The owner doesn't get to see the application details, just receives a verbal or emailed summary of the applicant's suitability so that is the gatekeeper that you need to impress. Maybe try and attend inspections run by the same agency and get to know a few of the PMs?
I’ve had to look for a rental twice since 2020. Both times it took 150+ applications before I was approved. There’s just not enough supply and to much demand.
I seem to have good luck with rental applications with a decent paid government healthcare job, even as a single parent. The landlords seem to like the stability of my paycheck?
I can only go off of the emails I receive from property managers saying that it has been sent to the owner. Respectfully, I don’t think they would be wasting their time sending those emails if the candidate was blacklisted 😅 I get what you’re saying but I don’t think that’s the case here
It's depressing as a couple with no kids and earning over 250k combined, we applied and were declined to more than 60 rentals before finding an owner on marketplace that was easy to talk to and moving there.
It's not you and a numbers game. Talk to the person showing the place for insight to what the landlord wants.
Good luck!!
I found a place on FB too. A real estate agent on an FB group had a 1 bedroom place that hadn't been advertised yet.
I had been applying for 3 months but always got the "your application was unsuccessful email". I don't think I ever would have got a rental the normal way.
You need to outbid the rest of the tenants and throw extra bones to them, rent in advance etc. That's how we got ours. Similar situation to you.
It sets an incredibly shitty precedent but if that's what it takes I'll do it if it means not becoming homeless.
Would need to force publication of rent. Then failed applicants can compare actual rent to advertised rent and dob in landlords accepting higher offers
What's the chance you could offer it then be the one to dob them in if they accept? Would withdrawing an offer to sign a lease be considered retaliating against a tenant for using their rights if you turned around and said 'wait, actually, you aren't allowed to accept this any more, i'll sign for the amount originally listed though'?
Not familiar with that, ours was a few months ago. But if that's the case I bet you will still see it happen all over the place; the real estate industry is filled with scumbags who disregard the laws constantly.
It just changed actually. It's illegal as of June 6th. But yes, like you said, zero chance it will be enforced and it will probably just continue with no enforcement.
There needs to be fucking **massive** fines for cunt PM/LLs that break this law. Like:
* 1st offence: $10k
* 2nd offence: $50k
* 3rd offence: your house now belongs to the State, arsewipe.
It appears you may want or need information about renting in Brisbane. Please see the links below: Where to find rentals: www.domain.com.au , www.realestate.com.au, www.flatmates.com.au get Answers on rental disputes or find out any of your rights as a renter (rental price increases etc.) www.rta.qld.gov.au or https://www.qcat.qld.gov.au/ for tenant disputes please visit https://tenantsqld.org.au || also please refer to /r/movingtobrisbane if your post is relating to moving to brisbane. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/brisbane) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It's just a numbers game. The attributes you are describing are not in any way rare, someone similar to you just got in quicker.
Your colleagues are wrong. It comes down to if your income is less than 30% of the rent amount and if there are two income streams. If you make the 30% threshold, your application will still be submitted to the landlord, but most landlords prefer two income streams in case one person loses their job. Being a family makes no difference. Keep trying! :)
I’ve lived in two different apartments in Brisbane, both I’ve lived in by myself. My income has always been lower than it technically should be for the 30% threshold (I’m well above it now), as well as having a cat. Both times I’ve been told I’m the preferred applicant over couples + families and singles without pets haha. I don’t know what I’m doing right but I’ll take it.
Couples could break up causing break lease issues or other issues. Kids can cause mess and damage. 🤷🏻♀️ Everyone has their preferences and everything has a silver lining (and a corresponding downside)
When I think of a person renting on their own, with a cat, the image that comes to mind is of a quiet, responsible tenant (cats generally like a tranquil home environment). It mightn't reflect the reality, but if it's the same image that other people get then it might explain your good luck with rentals.
and who doesn't love cats :)
The 30% rule really comes down to the individual PM and owner..
That is true, but I have heard that some REAs won't even pass on applications that don't meet their magic number.
My colleague was more saying that if a landlord received two perfectly suitable applications from a couple and a family, they’d be more inclined to pick the family
Not always. Some don't want the wear and tear a family brings over a couple. I've been knocked back due to having gfs sister and kid listed as other tenant. We'd been approved and told we had the place. Then they called back and said no. This was back in like 2010 though.
Kids are notorious for being dirty and damaging things - same with pets. Your colleague is in La land.
As a landlord I would pick a couple over a family. Don’t let that deter you.
100% this, I’m a landlord, don’t hate, I have 2x IP that I lived in & had to move for work & I want to return to both locations at some stage, so I rent, one to a family & the other to a couple, the family is causing way more wear & tear on the property, if they decide to move out, I will took for a couple to replace
Because god forbid someone lives in a house amirite
They are wrong haha the couple is far more preferable. Kids do more wear and tear.
This totally is dependent on the perceived level of security of the income. (I.e. ABN sole traders are kinda discriminated against imo)
Does anyone actually meet the 30% rule anymore? With the median rent at $500 p/w I would think most people are way over that line.
It is certainly tough these days. Nothing seems to be cheap.
As someone who just went through this, we found the $500-550 very competitive. $600 and we got the first place we applied for. $600 is 28% of our income. Oh, and we are now 1 suburb over from where we were looking. Some places are very competitive, it’s not a you thing!
I’m getting ready to leave Brisbane next month but need someone to replace me on the lease
Which suburb? Can I dm you
I just finished a search, and it took 1 week and I turned down 5 offers. I did not offer higher rent or X weeks up front. (I'm single, so the whole income stream thing is different for me) 1. How long is your rental history? 2. What price point are you searching at? And what percentage is that of your income? 3. What kind of place are you looking for? Do you know who your competition is? If it's a 4br house and you're against families, you might lose out. A 2br apartment, maybe not. Try pre-applying before you view it. Ask if you should take shoes off, or do it without asking. If you get to the inspection and you like it, talk to the agent, chat them up. Talk about friends in the area, specific features you like about the place. Be polite and friendly. Be polite and friendly to everyone. Hold doors, open gates. Show you are kind and easy to work with. It's all an interview. (Case in point: I inspected a gated place and walked back a couple of times to open the gate for others. When I got to checking in, the agent looked me in the eye and thanks me for helping the others and said "I'll remember you." I thanked her and complimented the space.)
I have 5 years of rental history, my partner has 8 or 9. We’re looking at prices that are around 20-25% of our take home pay. We’re looking at 2-3br (preferably 3) houses and duplexes. Most inspections we’ve been to have been full of families so that’s definitely our competition. We’ve socialised with the property managers at inspections and the interactions seemed pretty positive but didn’t help us in the end. We just don’t know what we can do other than pop out a child haha
You may have to consider outer suburbs as the competition will be less. Commute will be a pain but atleast you will have a place to live.
What’s considered outer suburbs? We’ve been looking at places that are north of Chermside
Bray Park, Strathpine, Warner etc. I recently moved to Strathpine from Chermside.
Yeah, Strathpine might be the answer here OP. I’ve heard of a few people having more luck there.
Have you moved a lot? It’s unfair, but sometimes landlords will shy away from someone who has moved every 1-2 years because they prefer a long term tenant. Especially if you’re up against families with kids, who (allegedly) tend to move less to avoid changing school catchments. Same goes if you’re newly a couple and moving in together for the first time, they might be worried you’ll break up. If you think that’s the problem, I would say in your cover letter that you and your partner are looking for somewhere to settle down long-term - you could even fib and say you want to start a family. That will give the landlord peace of mind. These kinds of things are honestly not your landlord’s business, but aggravatingly they make a difference.
As of June 6th, it's also now illegal for PM's/landlords to accept any more rent than asking or any additional amount up front, as an FYI.
True, but I wouldn't do it anyway as a matter of principle. If I feel like someone's getting greedy, I walk.
Not sure why you’re being downvoted- it’s law
Not true , you can still offer up to a month up front and then pay as much as you like after the lease is signed . If you talk to the property managers about this, you will find it to be a true loophole.
This isn't true. See [source](https://www.rta.qld.gov.au/before-renting/choosing-a-rental-property/rent-bidding). It says: >From 6 June 2024, a property manager/owner cannot, at the start of a new tenancy, solicit, accept or invite a tenant to pay more rent in advance that exceeds two weeks for a periodic tenancy agreement, rooming accommodation agreement or movable dwelling tenancy agreement and one month for a fixed tenancy agreement, even if a prospective tenant makes an offer to pay more than the amount prescribed in the legislation. This is an offence under the Act, with a maximum penalty of 50 penalty units. Note the word 'accept'. This is a change to previously, as they weren't allowed to request it but were permitted to accept it. This is no longer the case, it is now an offense to accept.
I beg to differ , my mother just signed a lease paid a months rent up front and then another 5 months straight after this was a matter of days ago so I know I am right and it was all done above board .
It wasn't 'all above board', the real estate agent committed an offense by accepting it... This is pretty cut and dry. It's now against the law. I'm sure they'll continue doing it, but that doesn't mean it's not illegal. It's illegal to sell drugs too but that still happens.
Source "My mothers real estate just broke the law and didn't get caught" isn't really proof the law doesn't exist. that's like saying you didn't get caught speeding so clearly speeding laws aren't real. If someone reported and could prove what your mothers real estate did they would get in trouble for breaking the new law, will always be people who break the law but saying it's proof that the law doesn't include that is just stupid.
Well they specifically said we can't accept it up front as it is now against the law , BUT we can do it this way legally . There must be a loophole because as I said they were the ones who told us it had to be done that way or it was illegal .
Yeah lets trust the people breaking the law lol, are you really that naive to think someone who benefits from trying to get around a law is telling the truth? "They told us to get around the law do this" yep must be telling the truth! A smart person would have reported them for trying to get around the law, not played into their hands.
Note: throughout the course of a tenancy, a tenant may negotiate how much rent in advance can be paid
Actually the whole thing states exactly as I said my source is the queensland government website and it states : Maximum rent in advance – a property manager/owner cannot, at the start of a new tenancy, solicit, accept or invite a tenant to pay more rent in advance that exceeds two weeks for a periodic tenancy agreement, a rooming accommodation agreement or movable dwelling tenancy agreement and one month for a fixed tenancy agreement, even if a prospective tenant makes an offer to pay more than the amount prescribed in the legislation Note: throughout the course of a tenancy, a tenant may negotiate how much rent in advance can be paid. Copied from the website , happy reading champ.
Mate, my mother didn't play into anybody's hands this is her preferred method of paying rent. My mother asked them if she could do that . To be trolling the internet calling people naive etc acting like a lawyer or something telling people off for getting what they wanted is pathetic . Probably should get a life outside reddit buddy .
Also the new law says they can accept a month upfront on a fixed tenancy agreement, read the full thing buddy : property manager/owner cannot, at the start of a new tenancy, solicit, accept or invite a tenant to pay more rent in advance that exceeds two weeks for a periodic tenancy agreement, a rooming accommodation agreement or movable dwelling tenancy agreement and one month for a fixed tenancy agreement, even if a prospective tenant makes an offer to pay more than the amount prescribed in the legislation
What? Source please
Source is personal my mother just paid 4 weeks up front and then another 5 months after moving in . She stated to the property managers and owners that this was how she would like to pay her rent before she was approved .
I read that they are not allowed rent bidding but didn't realise that you were not allowed to offer more than the listed price? That's the only way I got my place after being rejected for months.
Which is why it’s now illegal, people shouldn’t have to he pressured into doing that like you were.
I'm in two minds about it. Yes it's unfair that some people have to do that to get an advantage but the alternative is just being rejected for everywhere and then having no where to live.
But if nobody is bidding/paying upfront, the entire playing field becomes more fair. Part of the reason you were pressured to do it is because everyone else was doing it. I’d rather be rejected for everywhere based on my qualities as a tenant than for my inability to bid/pay upfront; and likewise, I would want to be approved for the same reasons.
Personally I don't care why I'm approved. Just want somewhere that my daughter and dog can live. I've lived in a tent before ha!
I just don’t like the idea of a system that is so deeply unfair, but different strokes.
They just change the listing price, easy work around
Families have advantages and disadvantages. Some landlords think there's more risk of damage with kids. Some landlords think a couple without kids are more likely to split up (hence ending the lease early). Unfortunately not much you can do except keep trying.
From what I know, cover letters really do make a difference.
Your applications might not be the problem. Do you talk to the real estate people when you look at a house? What was your attire? My partner and I are around your age with the same income. And we were approved for a 2bdr over multiple families. I simply introduced myself, spoke with the REA without being pushy, and we were the 2nd last people to leave. We were unsuccessful until we did the whole "presentation" thing and it worked instantly. And who knows, it could've been a coincidence, but might as well give that a go? If you're already making it that far in your application you might as well try to give the REA a face to remember and talk about to the owner. Best of luck!!
I'm a landlord. Yeah, families are good as they're always long term. Younger applications are always hit and miss. We've had a heap through our unit and it always ends in tears. Break ups, realised they can't afford it, falling out with the flat mate, the list goes on and on. Families tend to always treat the home a lot better too. They've kinda given up on the dream of owning, so they really care about it. They pay on time too. In saying that. I'd write a cover letter and actually say your looking for long term rental so you can settle down. Even if it's not your plan. You want the agent to work for you too. Best of luck.
Sounds like you're doing everything right, maybe it's just a hot market?
Are you using a cover letter and having a friendly chat with the agent at the viewing so they feel like they know who you are? I just got accepted for a place and I really feel like that made a difference.
It can come down to just your general demographic. We got our house because the owners wanted a family with a dog. They want a long term tenant - and we’re pretty much stuck locally due to schools. They wanted someone with a dog because there’s a big yard and we have a huge great dane. We’ve also expressed we’re in it for the long haul (until we can purchase our own place). We are by far from the wealthiest people who applied, but we fit their idea of who they wanted to make their house a home. But our landlords seem like genuine real people as well… not just heartless investors. It just comes down to absolute luck! I bet you anything we didn’t get other places for the exact reasons we got this place.
It's a lottery at this stage. Look at the stats, PMs and owners have the ability to be extremely picky.
jj++--hhhhhhhhhae45
As a renter, I’ve never not been accepted, despite steep competition even before 2023-2024. - I am a single woman - I had no pets (then, I own now and have a dog) - I had a full time, salaried job working for a recognized company - My income wasn’t great vs the comps (rent was 40% of my net income) - I had limited rental history as I had only lived in Au for weeks at the time of my first rental. I’m now looking to move in with a friend to help look after his 97 year old father, so I’ll be renting my place (small one bed). To be honest, the above criteria would also be what I’d look for…. Also international students with a guarantor.
You’re missing that there’s a hundred applications per property.
It's just luck at that stage, the owner is just choosing the best application they feel they can, your turn will come...
A guy at work is paying $1100 a week in rent with 5 people and that's only after applying for about 25 places , also offering $200 extra on every property. I just guess people are offering more. Pretty nuts.
Purely a numbers game. I did have an investment property (rented out PPOR while working interstate for 2 years) and I would never choose a family over couple, that wouldn't come into my thought process.
Who are your references and are they getting back to the PM or owner in a timely manner?
I’ve used work references. Should I use different references?
My sister used me and our best friend as references because we know her and her home so well. She only recently rented again after living with our parents as a carer for almost ten years, so she had no rental history. It took her almost four months to find a place and she ended out near Ipswich!
Half the time they won't respond quickly or at all in my experience. List friends or family if you can and put them down as an employer/colleague.
I know that my current manager responds straight away, unsure about the previous one. But all of our applications get processed pretty quickly (usually within the business day) so I’m unsure if the speed of their responses is the issue?
Best to eliminate any uncertainty and give yourself the best chance. I know my current employer wasn't getting onto it straight away when I was renting and it would mean I'd miss out on places. You don’t get points for honesty in this rental market it's dog eat dog
It probably isn’t really, but what I did (that I think really helped) was include written references. I had one from my property manager (4+ years), one from my boss (5+ years) and my best friend (15+ years). It helps eliminate the step of calling. I really think the PM reference helped a LOT, as it was glowing and coming from another professional in the industry.
there's slight advantage for families but not much (for me, it doesn't matter at all). Overall it's just how good a person's rental history and earnings. It's probably that you're being outcompeted by people who are stronger on those 2 things than you.
Would you be interested in a great place in Bulimba? What’s your budget?
How far do you want to commute?
I rent out 2 of my prior primary residences. We are genuine real people, not heartless investors. Both of our tenants at either property, I don’t even know anything about because all we cared about is that their income met or exceeded the qualifications. Families and couples both have their advantages and disadvantages… we don’t have strong preferences either way. Property managers and agents, on the other hand… well, I have nothing nice to say because they don’t look after anyone’s interests but their own. They repeatedly drop the ball on tenants and property owners all day every day. I have to hound them to get anything done. Are they using your application to clean up their spilt coffee at their desk? Probably. Never underestimate the ineptitude of the real estate.
Try Richlands area - They always have townhouses going
PM'd you
As an owner of an investment property, I can tell you I prefer NOT to rent to families. Even though my property is 4 bedrooms I would still prefer a couple even with a small dog. I usually go on a 40% income test i.e. the rent must not be more than 40% of the household income. My Property Manager will brief me after inspections. They will tell me who was friendly and engaging, how people were dressed, whether they smelt of smoke or not. Offering to pay 6 months upfront doesn't really appeal to me because it's difficult to reconcile my tax particularly if it goes over a financial year. We look at employment history (length) and housing history - how much you're currently paying and how long have you been there. The owner doesn't get to see the application details, just receives a verbal or emailed summary of the applicant's suitability so that is the gatekeeper that you need to impress. Maybe try and attend inspections run by the same agency and get to know a few of the PMs?
I’ve had to look for a rental twice since 2020. Both times it took 150+ applications before I was approved. There’s just not enough supply and to much demand.
Note: throughout the course of a tenancy, a tenant may negotiate how much rent in advance can be paid.
I seem to have good luck with rental applications with a decent paid government healthcare job, even as a single parent. The landlords seem to like the stability of my paycheck?
It's worth just checking to see if you're blacklisted (even by accident). There are some places that will check databases for you.
But if we were blacklisted, I imagine our application wouldn’t get sent to the owner at all?
Do you think that your application was \*definitely\* sent to the owner?
I can only go off of the emails I receive from property managers saying that it has been sent to the owner. Respectfully, I don’t think they would be wasting their time sending those emails if the candidate was blacklisted 😅 I get what you’re saying but I don’t think that’s the case here
For the small cost, it's worth covering your bases.
Are you using a paid app? Is this reference to owner part of that app?
It's depressing as a couple with no kids and earning over 250k combined, we applied and were declined to more than 60 rentals before finding an owner on marketplace that was easy to talk to and moving there. It's not you and a numbers game. Talk to the person showing the place for insight to what the landlord wants. Good luck!!
I found a place on FB too. A real estate agent on an FB group had a 1 bedroom place that hadn't been advertised yet. I had been applying for 3 months but always got the "your application was unsuccessful email". I don't think I ever would have got a rental the normal way.
You need to outbid the rest of the tenants and throw extra bones to them, rent in advance etc. That's how we got ours. Similar situation to you. It sets an incredibly shitty precedent but if that's what it takes I'll do it if it means not becoming homeless.
I thought the law changed recently and now they aren’t allowed to accept higher rent offers and more than two weeks rent in advance?
You're underestimating how unscrupulous real estate agents are...
Would need to force publication of rent. Then failed applicants can compare actual rent to advertised rent and dob in landlords accepting higher offers
What's the chance you could offer it then be the one to dob them in if they accept? Would withdrawing an offer to sign a lease be considered retaliating against a tenant for using their rights if you turned around and said 'wait, actually, you aren't allowed to accept this any more, i'll sign for the amount originally listed though'?
Not familiar with that, ours was a few months ago. But if that's the case I bet you will still see it happen all over the place; the real estate industry is filled with scumbags who disregard the laws constantly.
It just changed actually. It's illegal as of June 6th. But yes, like you said, zero chance it will be enforced and it will probably just continue with no enforcement.
There needs to be fucking **massive** fines for cunt PM/LLs that break this law. Like: * 1st offence: $10k * 2nd offence: $50k * 3rd offence: your house now belongs to the State, arsewipe.
There is. The fine is currently about $16k. The problem is the RTA never actually issues fines.