The Steps to Renting a Property
Budget
Suburb
Search for a Rental Property
Property Inspection
Question & Answers
Lodge a Rental Application
Application Accepted & Lease Signed
Rental Bond Deposit
Condition Report Signed
Celebrate a great result
Searching & Applying for a Rental Property
Inspecting and applying for a rental property is similar whether you are renting an apartment or a house
The easiest way to find a rental property is to search online by your preferred suburb, budget and lifestyle requirements
Real estate portals are a convenient way to search the wider market and to understand rental prices across different suburbs. Popular websites are realestate.com.au & domain.com.au
Viewing a property in person is advised.
How to Apply for a Rental Property
If you have found and decided on a rental property, you will be required to submit a rental application.
Keep in mind the property may be in high demand and getting accepted can be extremely competitive.
Key here is ensuring you have included all the necessary information with your application:
- Proof of identity – this is critical. A passport or a copy of your driver’s licence is ideal here
- Rental history – if you have rented in the past, provide your rental ledger
- If you haven’t rented before – personal references from employers, head of student accommodation or other reliable sources will be suitable
- Financial status – determining whether you will be able to pay the rent is key to having your application accepted. Consider adding payslips and bank statements to show your ability to pay rent and strengthen your application
- References from past landlords, property managers and employers are ideal
- Rental resume – consider creating a rental resume you can share each time
- Include a cover letter – this helps your application stand out by showing why you believe you are the best candidate
- Talking to the property manager is always good
What Is a Residential Tenancy Agreement?
A Residential Tenancy Agreement, or lease as it is called, is a legally binding agreement between a tenant and a landlord that sets out the terms and conditions for the arrangement.
Do not sign the lease until you have read and understood the terms and what is expected of you as a tenant.
What should be included in a lease agreement?
- The name and address of the tenant
- The name of the property manager / landlord
- The start and end date of the lease
- The rent and when and how it should be paid
- The amount of bond required
- The length of the tenancy
- Standard terms – what the tenant and the property manager / owner can and cannot do
- Special terms – these must be agreed in advance and may include: dog must be kept outside, no smoking, garden will be maintained once a month by the landlord
- A condition report is an official record of the general condition of a rental property. Before a tenant moves in, a Property Manager will inspect each room of the property and document its overall condition. They will record any damage, no matter how minor and describe it on the report. In many cases, they will also photograph or video the property to back up the written report.
Once the report is completed, two copies will be given to the tenant to review, action and sign. It is important that you, as the tenant, review the report carefully and, if you do not agree with sections of the report, note any amendments. One signed copy then must then be returned to the landlord or Property Manager within the time frame they have requested.
Make sure you keep a copy of the report for the duration of the tenancy, as it will be used to assess the condition of the property before the tenant moves out and, importantly, before the Property Manager approves the refund of the bond.
The Team at D'Ettorre Real Estate
