Stuart Zullo Trying to find a rental for the first time can be tough.
First-time renters can find it hard trying to prove that they’re reliable and trustworthy without having a rental history to their name, and it’s especially hard when they’re competing for a property that many others are too. But how are you supposed to get a rental history if nobody will rent to you in the first place?
It seems like a catch-22, but every tenant has been a first-time renter before and there are things you can do to help strengthen your application – after all it’s your ability to pay your rent on time that’s important and not whether or not you’ve rented previously.
Here are some tips that might help:
- Find good references – If you have a good relationship with an employer or teacher then let them vouch for you. If you have owned a home and not rented before, you might like to ask the agent you dealt with if they could write a reference for you. Remember that a reference should be from someone you’ve had a professional relationship with and not a family member.
- Provide proof of financial security – It’s important that you can prove that you have the ability to pay your rent regularly. Verification of employment, income and a history of making previous payments (i.e. electricity, phone bills) can all work in your favour.
- Team up with a friend – If you haven’t rented before then it might help to rent with someone who has. Make sure that you get your name on the lease though, so that you can start to build your own rental history.
- Reach out to your friends and family – Let people know of your intentions to rent (Facebook is a good place to start). You might be lucky enough to be able to take over the lease of one of your friends before the property goes on the rental market.
What was your first rental experience like? Do you have any more tips that could help first-time renters?