Just an informative page to help with your application . Feel free to take a look at our standard application form with the apply online link provided. If you would like personal assistance - fill one in and send it to me so I can review it and give you some pointers on how to improve it for future applications.

Im going to try and assist you would be applicants - not only on what a landlord is looking for but how to better fine tune your search. Hope you find something of use!

The Auckland rental market has gone crazy lately. It may seem like your never going to get a place, especially when you have a limited time frame. I meet people who have been applying consistently for 6 months and still had no luck - needless to say they have been making do with family and friends. 

How to search for rentals on Trade Me

99% of Rental Homes are advertised on Trade Me only and you need to have access to this daily. If you have to upgrade your phone or go to a free Wifi place every day to make it happen- make sure you do so to be in with the best chance. On Trade Me, go to the Property tab/residential for rent, enter in your unique location search criteria - save multiple suburbs. Refine the search by allowing search nearby suburbs limiting the rent per week/ bedrooms/bathrooms/property type/pets and availability - click on refine and then up the top save it to your favourites with the heart shaped icon with a + sign. You will now get the newly advertised properties that suit you - emailed to you every day.  For advanced users - refine your search further by going to your saved favourites every day  click on the saved search and then search through that list with criteria essential to you i.e garage. Go from the last of the searched pages forward and send a request to those of interest, you will have a better chance with the houses that have been advertised the longest (but don't take anything that is well overpriced or a health hazard). Email should include your name, your phone number and a request to view please. Do not send a novel about your story thus far.

Follow up all open homes with a thank you, Ill see you there . Make an effort to attend the first open home time if its been preset as most homes will go in the first instance. You should increase your Trade Me search criteria (i.e. location/price etc) until you are viewing 3-4 homes a week, more if possible. Do not use ANYTHING other than reasonable English to text or email. All the property managers I know hate street talk abbreviated texts the most! 

Making an Enquiry and Open Homes

Open Homes or Viewings are your chance to impress. Present yourself well - do not take anyone with you who may not represent you well i.e loudmouth friends or out of control children. Don't come with friends who are going to wait outside smoking on the deck or sit in their cars with the music blaring etc etc. Treat it like a work interview. Don't be late!!Text early if you have to change the time. Go and introduce yourself to the agent, look them in the eye and tell them who you are. Do not talk about your life's misfortune or anything negative about the house - it only reflects badly on your application. If you are happy to apply find out how you can do that and if its a paper application make sure you have all the relevant references with you and apply whilst you are there.  If you have bad credit and its a property manager - your landlord reference is that much more important- especially if its recent and states you left not owing any rent. If you don't have an official landlord i.e. your living with family or flatting etc you could ask a parent to guarantee the rent or get a reference from the person paying the rent. Its better than nothing at all and we all have to start somewhere.

References

Optimum Candidates - the landlord is looking for tenants who can provide good references stating they will look after the house and can pay their rent. They are also looking for people who they can communicate well with and have a good landlord - tenant relationship.

How many boxes can you tick

Have a recent good landlord reference stating the house was well looked after.

Have a recent good landlord reference stating you paid your rent on time with no arrears.

Have a working reference were someone will confirm you are working full time and are consistent.

Have no pets or a reference for good behaivour with the pets you do have.

Have the right amount of people to fit the house as per the Trade Me ad

Have at least 1 working income in the house

Securing a House

The fewer boxes you can tick the harder it will be to find a house. Then it becomes very important to view more than average and to provide every assurance you can think of that you will be a good tenant.

Some extra assurances you could offer:

A 3month trial period (fixed term)

1 monthly inspections for the first 3 months for which you will pay the inspection fee (approx $50 per time)

Repair of damages at your cost and immediately - not at the end of the tenancy. (To be added into agreement)

You will only get a house if you are the best applicant. When you do get a house - LOOK AFTER IT!! That is your chance to build and get something better as you create good references for the future. Communicate up front with your landlord about rent and damages before they become an issue for the future.