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There are many factors that come into play when it comes to successfully securing a rental property. However, here are 8 things you can do to increase your chances (straight from the brains of experienced New Zealand property managers):

1. Complete the application in full & follow the process

To improve your chances of moving through the application process for a rental property, you want to make things as easy as possible for the property manager assessing your application. Follow the process and complete all application forms in full. If you’re invited to apply via a specific platform, do. It’s also important to avoid leaving gaps, doing so will slow (or halt) the processing of your application. Be prepared with any supporting documentation you may need for each stage of the application process such as proof of ID, reference letters, or cover letters for yourself and your pets. Property managers are incredibly busy, and they may struggle to find time to chase you up for any missing information (especially in a competitive rental market where there are plenty of other completed applications).

2. Be upfront & don’t attempt to hide any information

A conversation goes a long way. Be upfront about the nitty-gritty things like bad credit and provide an explanation for any issues that may be potential red flags. If you attempt to hide this information, a simple credit check will reveal any issues and you’ll have very little chance of securing the rental property once we find out. However, if you’re upfront with us from the start, we take the time to assess the risk, proceed with caution, and work with you to ensure it doesn’t impact your ability to pay rent or care for the property.

3. All adults that will be residing at the property need to apply

If there will be multiple adults residing at the property, they will all need to apply. If applying online, once the first applicant has applied, automated emails may be sent to the other adults in the group inviting them to apply. The government’s standard pre-tenancy form will give you an idea of the details you’ll likely need to provide.

4. Include a pet CV if you have a pet

If you have a pet and the property is advertised as “pets allowed” or “pets negotiable”, include a CV for your pet. Even if the property says pets are allowed, the property manager and landlord will want to know as much detail about your pet(s) as possible so they can work out if they are the right fit for the property.

Some basic details to include in your pet’s CV include:

• Name, age, and breed
• Activity level and temperament overview
• Photos of your pet(s) - one photo per pet (we know they’re cute, but we don’t need all 1000+ snaps from your gallery)
• Evidence of registration with the local council & microchip status
• Vaccinations
• What obedience training have they done? Are they house-trained?
• What they do while you’re at work (do they go to doggy daycare or diggy daycare?)

Learn more about how to increase your chances of being selected for a pet friendly rental property.

5. Make a good first impression!

First impressions count! When you attend a property viewing, the property manager will be assessing your suitability as a tenant. Be on time, dress tidily, be respectful of the property, and acknowledge the property manager at the very first viewing (shake hands, make eye contact, be polite and friendly). For a bonus point, throw in an educated question about the property to show your interest.

As mentioned earlier, property managers are incredibly busy people and likely have back-to-back appointments. If you’re late to their carefully scheduled viewing, it will throw off their schedule and give the impression that you’re unreliable and uninterested - not a great look when you’re trying to convince someone you will pay rent on time!

Top tip: Don’t be “that” person who parks in the driveway!

6. Check in with your references!

Good references are essential to a successful rental application and one of the biggest hurdles to progressing an application is the inability to get in touch with an applicant's referees. Not to mention, there’s nothing more awkward than being put on the spot. We highly recommend letting your references know that you’ve put them down and that someone may try to contact them. They will be more likely to answer the phone, and more likely to speak positively about you - if they’re put on the spot, they might feel a bit put out and send out an unintentionally negative vibe.

7. Consider adding attachments to support your application

Again, you want to make life easy for the property manager processing your application. If you wish, you can add relevant attachments to support your application (e.g., income verification, or a rental summary showing your consistent and on-time rental payments). By providing as much info as possible in the early stages, you make things just that little bit easier for the property manager. It also shows that you’re organised and can think ahead!

8. Stand out with a great cover letter (increase your chances by up to 50%!)

A great cover letter can help you stand out amongst the masses - particularly in a competitive rental market. If you’re applying for several properties, it’s a good idea to tailor each cover letter to mention features of the property that appeal to you.

Here are some things you can include in your cover letter:

• Images
• Narratives about yourself, your reason for moving, or your rental history at a glance
• Why you like the property, what features appeal
• If applying as a group: briefly introduce your flatmates (or family members if applying as a family)
• Make sure to mention any special circumstances such as pets
• Let your personality shine through but keep it relatively professional

Here is a FREE downloadable rental property cover letter template.

At Propertyscouts we don't just look out for our landlords, we take care of our tenants too. We understand the current rental market is incredibly competitive and you may not hear back from some of the properties you apply for. However, believe it or not, we WANT tenants to be successful and we hope that by giving you insight into the above tips, you will be able to secure a rental property in the near future!

 

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DISCLAIMER: The above advice is written by Propertyscouts New Zealand (2020) Limited and is intended as a broad guide for educational purposes only. The advice should not be regarded as legal, financial or real estate advice. In all instances, you should make your own inquiries and seek independent professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making any legal, financial or real estate decisions.

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