“How can I make my application stand out from the rest?”

Without a doubt, this must be the most common question we are asked as property managers at a rental home open so I thought it would be helpful to outline some key points of difference you can make to increase your chances of being the successful tenant.

Below are 5 tips to ensure you are putting forward the strongest tenancy application you can which has never been more important in the Perth rental market.

1. Add a cover letter:

A cover letter is a highly effective point of difference that you can do to help secure a rental property. The cover letter does not need to be too long, half a page or one full page would suffice, and it should give a summary of each applicant and provide the landlord with some background information to consider in addition to your application. The landlord does not get to meet the prospective tenants at the home open so giving them a bit more information than they would get from a standard application can be helpful when they are making their decision. Adding a nice photo of the applicants and any pets is also a good idea.

2. Ensure all the fields have been filled out correctly:

Double-check your application before hitting that submit button. This is a crucial step to ensure that the first morning after the home open the property manager has all the information they need to start processing your application without any delays.

3. Ensure you have attached all the supporting documents:

Again, double-check your application before hitting that submit button. You must include your last 3 payslips as a minimum to support your income and a bank statement or tax return summary if you are self-employed. Depending on where you are currently living it is a great idea to attach photos of your current home to show the owner how you would maintain their property. If you are renting through an agency, you can request a copy of your inspection report or for people who are not renting through an agency I encourage them to take (5-10) photos of their home and attach them as supporting documents.

4. Home open etiquette:

You should treat the home open like a job interview and want to make a good impression. First impressions do count when the property manager is providing feedback to the landlord and if it comes down to deciding between yourself and another applicant. Be sure to introduce yourself to the agent, present well, show up on time and engage with the agent if time permits.

5. Follow up:

A quick email or phone call the morning after a home open is a professional way to make sure the application has been submitted correctly. The property manager will likely be inundated with enquiries in this market so one follow-up is enough in the first 24 hours but it is a good idea to check that they have received your application. You would hate for something to have gone wrong with the application software and whilst you think they are reviewing your application; it was never received. Sometimes this can be checked by reception and may not need to go through to the property manager.

I hope the following tips have been helpful and that you secure a rental property soon!