The Boards.ie Quick and Dirty Renting Guide

athtrasna wrote: »

One of my big things was working hours. If someone works opposite hours to you or shifts, it was an impact on bills as the house is occupied more. Also if they're in a relationship, or if there's a chance they'll be in one, establish ground rules on overnights from the start.

Does saying 2 overnight stays from partners per week (one weeknight & one weekend) seem reasonable? Good to get these things settle first off, you are right!

A while ago I posted about a "renters cv" and have been asked many times about what it should contain, so its probably easier to start a thread on it.

I am not a landlord anymore in the RTB sense of the word, so maybe those who are actually following that side of it more closely can add better content than I can, but i'll give it a whirl to start the ball rolling.


When you contact a landlord by email you should attach a "Renters CV" to it, so that he can include you in his shortlist for viewing.
If email isnt the first contact then tell him you have one and whats in it on the phone and bring it to viewing and hand him a copy to take home and shortlist you.

Here is what I would be looking for.
State who youll be living with and for all parties provide the following details.

Usual details like.
Name
Phone number
Where you live / are from

Then add in the detail that will separate you from the crowd like.
Last 3 landlords refs (minimum) and their numbers.
How long you were living at each property and reason for leaving.
Work refs.
Bank statements.
If you require HAP.

Mod edit: always be careful when sending private data. It is usually preferable to give this in person so you know it isn't a scam.

Then stick in a cover letter about yourself. Where you are from, where you work, how long youve worked there, why you are moving, how great you are and how you would look after the place, like you have never had to call your previous landlords about anything minor etc. Basically tell them all the good things about yourself.

The landlord will ask your referees about the following so if you fell out with any of them of did any of the following, now is the chance to provide a reason. If you dont, the landlord will just throw your application in the bin when he talks to the refs and asks them the question.

So a bit stating if you always paid rent on time, if you missed it, why you missed it. If you used or tried to use the last months rent as deposit, why did you do this. If you withheld rent, why?


Wrap it all up into a nice PDF or word doc and attach it to your email contacting the landlord. Have copies to hand landlords at viewings or to hand agents.

---

So now hopefully you are in a position that your landlord will keep you in the shortlist and then call your refs. When you pass that you will be invited to the viewing. Or some people might want more at a viewing and only ring refs afterwards. Just depends what way they like to do it. But your CV has covered most of the questions they will be asking and make you look good, and make them remember you, so you make the shortlist. Then if they do decide to meet you, it means that they are cool with letting to you and you just have to turn up and not turn out to be a dick.

After that theyll call in order of preference to offer the property.

Its all about making yourself the preferred tenant. Im sure there is much more, but having all that info at hand when whittling down the sheer amount of contacts is very helpful to a landlord and they will appreciate you doing it far more than having to put effort into finding out all this info.

Others, who are more current, can add to this list, or perhaps suggest better ways of singling out your application than I have.

If its a renters market you wouldnt have to do all this, but the sheer numbers at viewings now or making first contact will be exhausting.

Dirty toilet just walk out, one mistake I made was thinking the smell of fresh gloss was a good sign in our case it was anything but good. It was masking the smell of damp, no sooner moved in we'd a slug infestation coming from behind the skirting once the heating was turned on. First weekend I killed 26 slugs in the living room.