Finding a Rental for a New Comer? (No Job or Rental History)

Lroxzilla on 20/10/2018 - 01:41
Last edited 20/10/2018 - 10:18 by 1 other user

Hello everyone, this is my first post so apologies for mistakes/rule violations.

I am moving to Australia in December, while doing research I came across some expat blogs, unfortunately most of them painted a very horrid picture of first time rentals. In summary you are not able to get rentals if you don't have a job or a rental history. As this is my first visit to Australia, I won't be having both, are there any ways around that requirement?

Any tips or suggestions will be much appreciated.

Thanks
Sheheryar

Home & Garden

Comments

  • mysterytal on 20/10/2018 - 01:48

    "are there any ways around that requirement?"

    Yes. Get a job first then sort out a rental property or get some rental history before getting a rental. You can use rental history from anywhere in the world it doesn't have to be local rental history. Maybe you have something from where you are living now. Even if you live with your parents paying board on a regular basis to them is good too.

    • roxzilla on 20/10/2018 - 01:53

      Thanks for the reply, Yes i will definitely look for a job but securing a job might take a while (hopefully not). If my rental history from outside of Australia can work than that will be great.
      I assume that they have the job requirement to make sure i can pay my bills. If i offer them a couple of months rent in advance will they grant me an exception from the job rule?

      • mysterytal on 20/10/2018 - 02:10

        It's not a requirement to have a job. If you can prove you have enough income from savings/investments then it's more likely they'll let the property to you without needing a job.

        • ssquid on 20/10/2018 - 06:10
          +4

          No competent real estate agent would rent a property to someone without a source of income.

          • smuggler on 20/10/2018 - 11:08

            @ssquid: Unless they had a lot of money in the bank

            • ssquid on 20/10/2018 - 13:06

              @smuggler: Agents don't care that you have money - they legally can't accept more than a certain amount in advance, so they must ensure you can produce the required money during the length of the tenancy.

              Showing you've got megabucks in your bank account means nothing to them because 1) it's trivial to fake a statement and 2) it could be gone tomorrow.

              If anything it's more of a red flag, because there's normally something fishy about someone with no job having a fat wallet.

              • mysterytal on 20/10/2018 - 13:16

                @ssquid: Well I don't work a traditional 9-5 job. I have investment/savings income and a small amount of non-provable self employment income (which isn't enough by itself to cover the rent) and can rent a property just fine. I've moved a few times over the years.

                Some landlords don't like that I work from home and therefore they think I will cause more wear and tear on the property. I don't get considered by those landlords.

                My income is far more secure than employment income will ever be which could be gone tomorrow. My investment income is secure and will always be there no matter what even in the event of bank failure.

                • ssquid on 20/10/2018 - 13:55
                  +1

                  @mysterytal: Non-provable? So you don't pay tax?
                  The first thing an agent would ask a self-employed person for is their last tax return.

                  • mysterytal on 20/10/2018 - 14:02

                    @ssquid: No I don't pay tax. I don't earn enough to pay tax.

                    Anyway, about $2,500 per year self employed income isn't going to make much difference.

                    • ssquid on 20/10/2018 - 14:08
                      +2

                      @mysterytal:

                      I don't earn enough to pay tax.

                      You're meant to pay tax on investment income too y'know.

              • Tasmaniac on 20/10/2018 - 14:53

                @ssquid:

                Showing you've got megabucks in your bank account means nothing to them

                Gotta disagree with that one.

              • Mrbean007 on 30/10/2018 - 11:17

                @ssquid: Don't no about now but around 15 years ago was in the same position couldn't find one as i where starting a new job forked out the money paid 6 months in advance.

                Didn't have to see agent till lease was over by then purchased a property.

        • Flanders on 20/10/2018 - 14:06

          It's not a requirement to have a job. If you can prove you have enough income.

          Yes, they need to see that you will have income to pay rent ongoing basis (not just first 2 months etc) and need to see history that you have paid rent on time in past.

          I was told that in my town, "nobody would rent to anyone under 25" as they had issues before with young local people trashing the place, not paying rent etc. Apparently the only young people with a rental had it under their parents name.
          Anyway, I just went into real estate 1 day and asked, they were happy with the 8 months of receipts I had from paying rent on time at boarding house, and income statement from centrelink to show I would have the income to pay rent. Got a place almost straight away. I think alot of it is just how you present yourself and how you come accross, so to speak, to the real estate person in charge there.
          ie. If you go in and be very polite and well presented, you're much more likely to get a place than if you went in there say drunk or on drugs, ripped clothes, demanding a place, kind of thing.
          The real estates won't tell you this, but of course, if they like you, you seem sincere and honest, and a good rental prospect, and can show that you have sufficient income to pay the rent (even centrelink is enough to pay rent on a small unit etc) then there are no 'hard and fast' rules as such, and if they want to give you a place, they are going to put in a good word with the owner also, whom in most cases would ultimately decide, based on real estates info and recommendations.

      • chichi on 20/10/2018 - 10:41
        +2

        If you feel you have enough money to pay the rent for quite a few months then definitely offer a few months and perhaps provide a copy of a recent bank statement (proving you have the money).

        • Flanders on 20/10/2018 - 14:07
          +1

          If it's a 12 month lease, offer to pay 12 months in advance up front, plus the bond. Then no income, no job, shouldn't be an issue really.

  • trustnoone on 20/10/2018 - 03:23

    A job helps or at least some means to prove you will have income. It also depends on where you stay, a lot of times rental agencies are super hard to deal with if you don't have referees/job etc, I end up having to go with Gumtree and local rental places. Only issue is a large portion of them are cheap and dodgy for a reason. It helps if you're a student a bit, you can find places that are more student friendly. I assume you're talking about moving to a major city though? Important to note that many housing issues and high rent is based in the major city, a lot of country towns don't have the same issue.

    I will also say, be careful about being suckered into something, I feel a lot of the reason expats have issues is I see a lot of them (esp when I was at uni) applying for very cheap places trying to score a good deal by sharing with many people, ends up being a place thats just filling beds to make bank (typically illegally), sometimes its just not worth it.

    • roxzilla on 26/10/2018 - 00:46

      Thanks for your reply, indeed it helps to get a Job, but unfortunately I don’t have any right now and will look for one after landing, I am going to land in Melbourne.
      I am not looking for something very cheap I can pay up to 500 a week, but there is a catch22, more expensive the place the more security of income an agent/landlord would want, and would most likely want someone with a job to rent it.

      • ssquid on 26/10/2018 - 01:22

        $500/wk in Melbourne is pretty average, you're going to have a lot of competition and will be at a major disadvantage without a job.

      • trustnoone on 26/10/2018 - 01:24
        +1

        haha definitely true with the catch 22, in my opinion though I think housing prices kind of fall as follows:

        <$150 a week - This is where some expats go wrong, they find a place thats super cheap and ends up being a horrible experience, these are the ones that are cheap for a reason.

        <$250 a week - This is usually welfare level (if you don't have a job you can get welfare on the government), if you see a place around this much it usually has a fair few people on welfare, as someone who used to be on welfare it can be very here and there in terms of being good or not. Sometimes you get great people, but I've seen a lot of people just out of prison or are in a bad place socially. Its good if you can find a place near unis as then you can live with students.

        $300 to $450 a week - Usually can get a good studio price, some places have pretty hardcore agents, but others are less bad, I think its a good area if you're looking for a studio.

        $500 a week and more - As you say usually has more security by an agent or landlord, might be a bit difficult.

        Anyways mate, no idea if the above is accurate or not, but either way good luck! Hope you find a good place.

        • roxzilla on 26/10/2018 - 03:26

          Thanks :)

  • Davo1111 on 20/10/2018 - 03:35

    without an income, you're a high risk to agent/rentals.

    • roxzilla on 26/10/2018 - 00:51

      True, but how can I prove I am not? As Australia is a land of immigrants I thought the rental market will be a little more accommodating :(.

      • ssquid on 26/10/2018 - 01:24

        I think most of the voluntary immigrants buy rather than rent.

  • ssquid on 20/10/2018 - 06:15
    +5

    Instead of renting on your own/through an agent, look for people looking for housemates.

    • roxzilla on 26/10/2018 - 00:52

      I am landing with my wife and 2 kids :).

      • HighAndDry on 30/10/2018 - 11:10
        +1

        Without a job lined up?! I sure as hell hope you have some savings at least. Find a informal landlord who'll take a bigger chunk of rent upfront.

        • roxzilla on 30/10/2018 - 14:08

          Yes I do having savings from my previous job.

          • HighAndDry on 30/10/2018 - 14:09

            @roxzilla: Ah. In that case, you can often find landlords who're a little more informal, but who'll accept something like 3-6 months of rent upfront and not need references/income history/etc.

  • onevstheworld on 20/10/2018 - 07:43
    +2

    There's actually no hard and fast rule that you must have rental history and income… it's at the discretion of your landlord. However like others have pointed out, you are a much less desirable renter without those.

    • roxzilla on 26/10/2018 - 00:53

      Makes sense :).

  • bazingaa on 20/10/2018 - 08:35
    +3

    You can stay in a proper shared house first, then show that rental history when renting a house by yourself

    • Flanders on 20/10/2018 - 14:12

      Yes, if OP is staying for a few years, stay in share house for 6 months, pay rent on time every time and have proper receipts to prove it, and by that time OP might also have a job.. then take the 6 months of rental receipts to real estate, and this should help towards securing own rental house.
      I just used 8 months of boarding house rental receipts to get my first place.

    • airzone on 21/10/2018 - 11:18

      My first rental was as a flatmate to a random stranger. Worked out OK when I went to lease my own place.

  • Quantumcat on 20/10/2018 - 08:57

    As others have said stay in a sharehouse because then it is up to the house mates if they let you move in. Then you can use that as rental history and by then you'll have a job, so you won't have such trouble later.

    The only way I can see a landlord renting you a house with no income is if you pay the whole lease term up front and the lease agreement says you can't get a refund if you move out early.

    • ssquid on 20/10/2018 - 10:01
      +1

      The only way I can see a landlord renting you a house with no income is if you pay the whole lease term up front and the lease agreement says you can't get a refund if you move out early.

      Unfortunately that's exactly what people who set up grow houses/meth labs do, so you can't just wave money at a landlord and expect them to let you move in.

  • twinbag on 20/10/2018 - 09:49
    +2

    I paid 3 months up front to secure my first rental in Oz.

    • roxzilla on 26/10/2018 - 00:54

      That would be a perfect scenario to me.

  • TheBilly on 20/10/2018 - 09:51
    +3
    • Try and get a room in a share house. Will be easier.

    -Try and get a rental in a low socio economic area by showing savings in a bank account.

  • smuggler on 20/10/2018 - 11:09
    +3

    Why are you coming to Australia without a job ready? How on earth did you manage to get past immigration?

    I'll be calling my local MP about this.

    • TheBilly on 20/10/2018 - 11:17

      Smuggled across the border

      • smuggler on 20/10/2018 - 11:19
        +1

        HEY MR PRIME MINISTA!

        ANDY!!!

        • ssquid on 20/10/2018 - 13:08

          Scotty doesn't know

      • roxzilla on 26/10/2018 - 00:57

        Lol you guys don’t have a border with any country 🙈.

    • roxzilla on 26/10/2018 - 00:55

      May be I like kangarooos that’s why :)

  • myusername on 20/10/2018 - 11:13
    +2

    get a combi van and camp at bondi beach

    • Flanders on 20/10/2018 - 14:20
      +3

      Park combi van outside uni, save fuel costs to travel to and from studies.. Most uni have a bar, mine even has IGA grocery store. Sleep in the library on colder nights (see this too often, foreign students asleep in library, I'm guessing cos they don't have transport to go home in between their next class a few hours later, but perhaps they're homeless)
      If you park close enough, might be able to mooch off uni' free wifi network also :) . Shower at the uni fitness centre or swimming pool shower area.

      • roxzilla on 26/10/2018 - 00:59

        That was quite comprehensive 😳.

    • roxzilla on 26/10/2018 - 00:58

      Lol

  • [Deactivated] on 20/10/2018 - 11:23
    +3

    As a landlord I hate renting to people who have just moved here, they are a pain in the ass as they don't understand the way things work here and you have to explain everything to them and they treat you like you are trying to rip them off…eg 4 weeks bond, what do you mean this is my responisbilty to fix.

    • TheBilly on 20/10/2018 - 13:50

      +1

      Had a guy that thought he was in a hotel because he was paying rent. Wouldn't rent out again.

      • roxzilla on 26/10/2018 - 01:15
        +1

        That’s is unfortunate, I have rented in Turkey, Egypt and S.Sudan. And every time I have treated the place as my own. All three times the accommodation was fully furnished and I did not even break a glass. As a matter of fact I left the crockery and other stuff I bought for myself as a token of appreciation to the landlord. The landlord in Egypt still sends me greetings on holidays. Long story short I am a reasonable person and have been brought up to respect people’ and government’s property, it’s too bad that people like that guy who rented your house make things difficult for normal people like me.
        One more thing to add, I never had to go out look for an apartment on my own, as I was employed with Ericsson as a Service Delivery Manager and my employer secured all those rentals for me.

    • roxzilla on 26/10/2018 - 01:02

      I understand. But somebody has to tell them right?

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