My husband and i are 25 and looking at renting for the first time does anyone know how to make an application look good when applying for houses we also have very limited work refrences due to illness
My husband and i are 25 and looking at renting for the first time does anyone know how to make an application look good when applying for houses we also have very limited work refrences due to illness
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2 Replies
Apply for rentals well within your means. It's better to rent somewhere very cheap to start with and get some references that way. Also anyone you have lived with like parents etc can be referees.
There are other options than renting privately.
There are some not for profit organisations as well as a limited amount of real estate agents that provide 'Affordable Housing'. Affordable Housing is targeted for people who have difficulty accessing the private rental market, whether through having high and complex needs or financial barriers etc. it is worth a look at.
You could also look in to housing cooperatives or community housing.
As far as applying for houses go, I have the following tips-
When looking at a house ensure that you take care of your physical appearance. Speak politely. An agent will notice
Write a cover letter to go on your application for a house, Include who you are. Whether you are studying or have done work experience somewhere, what taking care of a house actually means to you (ie writing something like 'we understand that as the property owners you are looking for tenants who will treat the property with respect. We are very house proud and have a keen interest in gardening' etc it will give the owners a sense of who you are
You can get character references as well if you do not have private rental references. They are better than nothing and will lead to others having a better sense of trust for you.
Government housing authorities often have public seminars on applying for private rental and what you can do to increase your chances
You can contact homelessness organisations in your state - the workers there can actually assist you to search for private rental and help you overcome barriers to getting it
Make sure you apply for properties within your budget
If you find you aren't getting anywhere through agents look in your local classifieds is gumtree for private rental properties direct from the landlord as you may have more luck there
Are you applying with pets? A lot of agents don't want to risk pets causing damage to the property
Have you ever paid anything before? For example have you made car payments on time? You could acknowledge in your cover letter that you are a responsible young couple first starting out and whilst you don't have any rental references you are able to demonstrate that you are financially responsible and able to meet all payments on time etc