How to Rent a House in the Northern Rivers
If you’re looking to move to (or within) Lismore, Kyogle, or anywhere in the Northern RIvers, and you need to rent a property, here’s a handy guide that will answer some common questions we receive.
How do I see what properties you have?
All of our rental properties are advertised online – either through our PRD Northern Rivers website or your favourite real estate portal such as Realestate.com.au or Domain.com.au
We also have rental property lists available from our offices in 72 Molesworth Street, Lismore, or 81 Summerland Way, Kyogle.
We advertise our properties as soon as we know they will become available. However, if you’re looking for something special, you can always let us know your details and we can advise you of any new properties that suit your requirements as soon as they become available.
How do I get to have a look at a place?
To view any of our rental properties, please click the link to ‘Inspect this property’ or ‘Book an inspection time’. If no inspection times are available, that is because we may have to arrange a time with the vacating tenant.
If you aren’t online, you can call us up or visit our office and we can also book an inspection for you.
You must view the property prior to completing your application, or if you are unable to do so due to distance, you can get someone to look at the property on your behalf. This is to ensure that you are happy with the property, as a ‘sight unseen’ rental can be a nightmare for all parties involved!
Will I be looking at the house at the same time as other people?
Often, yes, as often have many tenants who are interested in the property as soon as it is advertised, and it is least disruptive to the tenant who is moving out of the property if we can show as many people at once.
Note that most properties get taken from the first inspection, so please don’t be put off by the fact that there may be other people looking and applying at the same time!
How do I apply for the property?
All of our applications are done online, so it’s a very easy process! When looking at the property’s listing online, click the link to ‘Apply for this property’. It will take you through to a service called 1form, which securely stores your information so that you can apply for multiple properties without having to fill out all your information each time. Too easy!
For the application process, you’ll need all your contact information, previous rental information, identification (100 points), income information, and references. If you are unable to upload your ID, you can provide this to us in person at the office.
What do I do if I don’t have any references?
Some prospective tenants may not have a rental history, either because they’re young and just moving out on their own for the first time, or because they’ve always lived in a home they’ve owned. Some people also have only shared housing or rented privately.
If you don’t have a rental history with a real estate, you can also use employers, co-workers, family friends, sales agents (if you previously owned), or private landlords – basically we just need people who are willing to vouch for your character, how you live, and your ability to pay rent.
How do I know if my application is accepted?
Our online system will keep applicants up to date with the selection process. You may get a text message to say your application hasn’t been successful, or a call to say that you have been approved for the house.
Why wasn’t my application accepted?
Our job as property managers is to find the right match for each property. Some owners specify no pets or smokers, or some owners are very strict about only wanting working tenants with solid rental history. Some properties we feel are not appropriate for families with young children (due to potential safety issues).
As part of anti-discrimination laws, we would never discriminate based on gender, race, disability, age, etc., though we do make our decisions in the best interests of both the owner and the tenants.
Each application is evaluated on its own merits and suitability for the property. The most common reason applications aren’t accepted is simply because another applicant was deemed more suitable for the property; however, a bad rental history (such as poor references or a history of non-payment) can make it much harder to secure a new rental property, and some owners may prefer to leave the house vacant while waiting for more applications.
But if your application isn’t accepted for one property, it may be perfect fine for another, so don’t lose heart!
I’ve been accepted – what next?
First thing you’ll need to do to lock in the rental property is pay a (non-refundable) holding deposit of one weeks’ rent. This means we will stop advertising the property immediately. We will need to receive 4 weeks’ bond and 2 weeks’ rent in advance prior to you collecting the keys; make an appointment with us to set a time and date to sign your lease. We do not accept bond transfers, and we cannot make an exception to the amount of money required prior to collecting the keys, so you will need to ensure your finances are all in line.
When you come to our office for your lease signing, we’ll talk you through all of the paperwork and answer any questions you may have. But once that’s all done, you can move in and enjoy your new home!
