From searching for suitable properties, to signing a rental agreement, the application process for private rental properties can be time-consuming and competitive.
Here you will find useful information and tips to help you savvy in your search for a new place to live.
Inspections
Once you have a chosen a property you’d like to rent, it is a good idea to inspect it to make sure it meets your expectations and suits your needs. Rental providers/agents will usually arrange a time for their property to be inspected. This is called an open inspection.
Inspect the property thoroughly. An inspection can help you decide whether you can see yourself living comfortably in your new home.
Make sure you check the following at the inspection:
Does the property look as advertised in the photos?
Is there enough space to store everything you need?
Is there public transport nearby?
Do the amenities (heating, stove, dishwasher, etc.) work as they should? (Ask the rental provider/Agent to make sure)
Are there structural issues (large cracks in the walls/ceilings) or signs of mould (this could include condensation, musty smells, water stains on the carpet/walls/ceilings, etc.)?
If you are inspecting an apartment: is it safe and secure? Are there security gates and cameras?
Applying for rental properties can be competitive and you may see a crowd of people on the day of the inspection. Arrive at the inspection on time, be polite and professional and bring copies of your documents (driver’s license/passport, payslips, bank statements, rental references, etc.) so you can apply on the spot if you decide the property is right for you.
It can be helpful to meet the rental provider/agent at the inspection and discuss what you like about the property. This can help you make a good impression. Try to also keep records of your correspondence with the rental provider/agent in writing.
Some rental providers/agents will let you inspect the property virtually. This can be helpful if you are not able to make it to an inspection in person. You can also ask a friend to inspect the property on your behalf. However, these options are not the same as physically inspecting the property yourself. You should ask the rental provider/agent additional questions to make sure that the property is suitable for you before applying.
Applying for your chosen rental property
Once you’ve determined a rental property is suitable for you, you will need to complete an application form. Rental providers/agents will also ask you to provide key documents as part of your application. This can include photo identification (driver’s license, passport, etc.), rental payment receipts, bank statements, personal/employment references, and details about your previous rental history. Different providers may ask for different documentation.
Click here to see what information you can, and cannot, be asked to provide in a rental application.
Your rental application will be compared to others. If you’re a first-time renter, you may need to provide some additional information to stand out and show that you can reliably pay the rent.
Consider providing a cover letter along with your application. Make sure the cover letter is tailored to the property you are applying for. It is a good idea to highlight what made you want to live there.
To see a sample rental application cover letter, visit realestate.com
You could ask a colleague or someone who knows you at the University to provide a reference. You may also be asked to nominate a guarantor (for example, a parent) who can pay your rent if you are unable to.
If you’re applying in a group, make sure all lease holders have submitted the application. Once you’ve applied, contact the rental provider/agent to follow up on your application.
Signing the rental agreement (lease)
If your application is successful, the rental provider will invite you to sign a rental agreement (also known as a ‘lease’). The rental agreement is a legal contract between you and the rental provider. It includes important information like the length of the agreement and the amount of rent to be paid. Make sure you read the rental agreement carefully before signing it.
A written rental agreement is called a ‘residential rental agreement’, and it must be on the form provided by Consumer Affairs Victoria. Because there are laws specifying what a written rental agreement can and can’t include, you can better protect your legal rights if your agreement is in writing.
Before you move in, you will also usually be asked to pay a Bond and a proportion of your rent in advance. Like a deposit, a bond is a refundable payment that may be available to cover some costs if your rental provider can show you caused some sort of damage or loss (such as not leaving the house clean the way it was provided to you).
Your rental provider does not keep the bond. They must complete a bond lodgment form and lodge your bond with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RBTA) who hold your bond. In most cases, your bond must not be more than one month’s rent.
For more information about bonds and advance payments, visit Youth Central
Consider your financial situation before signing a fixed-term lease. It can be expensive if you want to move out early. Click here for free financial counselling services.
A written rental agreement must include:
The date of the agreement
The address of the rental property
The length of the agreement, and whether it is fixed term or periodic
The amount of rent and how it is to be paid
How rent increases will be calculated
The amount of bond
Other conditions and rules
Any special terms
Make sure you carefully read and understand the rental agreement before signing it. Click here for free legal services you can consult for advice.
There is some essential information a rental provider must tell you before you enter into a rental agreement with them. This includes whether they have the right to rent out the property, whether they plan to sell the property and whether the property is heritage listed. If your rental provider does not provide this information before you sign the rental agreement, you can report this to Consumer Affairs Victoria.
There are also some conditions that legally cannot be included in a rental agreement. If your rental provider includes any of these prohibited conditions in your rental agreement, it is not valid. You can report offences to Consumer Affairs Victoria and your rental provider may have to pay penalties. To learn more about what can’t be included in a rental agreement, visit Tenants Victoria
Before you move in, your rental provider must also provide:
Their (or the agent’s) full name, postal address and email address (if they agreed to receive notices and documents electronically)
A copy of the rental agreement (if it is in writing)
A copy of the Consumer Affair’s Renter’s Guide
A condition report
A phone number for any urgent repairs needed out of business hours
A set of keys for each renter who has signed the rental agreement
Before entering into a rental agreement, check the Consumer Affairs rental non-compliance register to see if your potential rental provider has been given an order by VCAT for breaching their duties, or has been convicted of an offence under Victorian rental laws
For more information about what your rental provider must tell you before you sign a rental agreement, visit Tenants Victoria