When most people see a rental advertisement, they mistakenly presume that getting the property will be as straightforward as calling the phone number on the ad, and availing the rent and security deposit. In reality, however, it is a little more complicated than that.
For starters, there is a high demand for rental properties, which means you will not be the only one interested in moving into the property. Secondly, although the landlord desires to fill the vacant unit as quickly as possible, he or she wants nothing short of high-quality residents. Therefore, the owner will rigorously screen all applicants and scrutinize their rental application documents to identify qualified tenants.
In fact, many landlords determine their tenants, depending solely on the rental application. For this reason, it is critical to know how to prepare and present a successful request when looking for a house to rent.
Steps for submitting a successful Rental Application
1. Make a lasting first impression
Bearing in mind that you are most probably not the only interested applicant, leave nothing to chance. Do all you can to strike a good rapport as soon as possible with the property owner or agent. For instance, dress presentably and arrive early for the showing. Moreover, be polite, friendly, charming and enthusiastic during the showing. It is always best to start off on a positive!
2. Read and Understand the Landlord’s Screening Criteria
Once you decide that you want the property, the next step is to fill out the rental application. Although the application documents serve one primary purpose; to help landlords and/or the screening companydetermine if the applicant will likely have the means to pay rent, take care of the property, and be a responsible tenant, they might differ in content, structure, and requirements. It is, therefore, prudent to take the time to understand the owner’s screening criteria and application guidelines to ensure that you satisfy the requirements. Doing so will help boost your chances of sailing past all the vetting stages.
3. Fill out the application form as honestly and completely as possible
The Rental Application can be a downloadable copy or an online form. Whichever the case might be, take your time and fill it out accurately, completely, and truthfully.. Naturally, you might want to sound persuasive. However, when it comes to rental property, honesty facts remains the best policy. Remember, the screening company is going to do a comprehensive background check on you. If they discovers any contradiction or discrepancy during the screening, your application may be disqualified.
4. Attach all the necessary documents
Use the landlord’s screening criteria as a guide to assemble all the required documentation. Many tenants, probably motivated by the urge to impress, often provide additional documents which the landlord or agent did not demand. Refrain from doing that and only provide the requested documents. If you feel the landlord did not ask for documents which you believe can help boost your chances, it is prudent to mention those documents in your discussions with the landlord. But generally speaking, stick to the guide.
Some of the relevant documents include
i. Reference Letters
You may need to provide good references from real estate agents, property managers, employers, colleagues, previous landlords and former neighbors. The references will demonstrate to the agent that you are a reliable and trustworthy resident that they can count on to pay their monthly rent and keep the property in good condition.
ii. Payslips or Proof of Income
You need to convince the screening company that you are financially stable and able to pay the rent. Effective ways of doing that include availing your past pay slips, bank statements, or even an employment letter from your employer.
iii. Proof of Identification
The screening company needs to confirm that you are indeed who you claim to be. Hence, they might request you attach a photo and copies of your identification documents such as the Governement Issued ID, drivers’ license, or passport.
iv. Pet references
In case you have a pet, you might have to provide a pet reference from your current or previous landlord, detailing the condition in which you left the property and the level of disturbance if any, your pet caused. Some landlords might also require a pet deposit or purchase pet liability renter’s insurance.
v. Deposit or Rental Ledger
In addition to the references from your previous landlord or property agents, you may need to provide a summary of your rent payment history. In most cases, how far the payment history should go will depend on the agent and the length of duration that you have been a tenant. If this is required, the details of what is required will be included in the rental application, so make sure to read the application in its entirety.
vi. Credit Rating
When it comes to credit score, various property managers might approach it differently. Some would ask you to provide your current credit score rating, while others might run your credit check themselves. If the check reveals a poor score, some landlords might out rightly reject your application. Others, however, may ask you to provide a financial guarantor who has excellent credit. If you know that your credit score may be an issue, try to arrange for a financial guarantor before submitting your rental application in order to make the process as easy as possible.
5. Verify your application before submitting
Before you tender your application, it is prudent to review it and confirm that it is worth sending. Ask yourself whether it meets the landlord’s screening criteria, if you have included all the necessary documents, and whether the information is accurate and devoid of grammatical and spelling errors.
6. Follow-up
At least three days after submitting your tenant application documents, send a follow-up to the landlord or agent inquiring about the fate of your request. While at it, respectfully reiterate to them your desire to lease the property, and your willingness to produce any additional information they may require to guarantee a successful rental application.
If you follow these guidelines while preparing your rental application, it should give you an advantage over many other applicants. While a successful rental application alone may not lead to securing the property, it definitely helps the screening company’s decision in deciding whether you are qualified to rent the property.