You’ve found it!
The property you’ve been refreshing Rightmove approximately 47 times a day hoping would appear. 😂
You’ve viewed it. You love it. You can already picture where the Christmas tree is going.
There’s just one problem…
Other people love it too.
When demand for rental properties is high, we can sometimes have several people interested in the same home. So, is there anything you can do to give yourself the best possible chance?
Actually, yes.
And before anybody panics, we’re not looking for perfect people with perfect credit scores and perfectly organised filing cabinets!
Here are a few things that really do help.
Be honest with us from the beginning
This is probably the biggest one.
If there’s something about your circumstances that you think may affect your application, please talk to us.
Perhaps you’ve had credit problems in the past. Maybe you’ve recently changed jobs, you’re self-employed, your income comes from several different sources or there’s something else you think might crop up during referencing.
Don’t automatically assume it means you can’t rent the property.
We’d much rather understand your circumstances from the outset than discover something halfway through referencing that we weren’t expecting.
Sometimes there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation.
Talk to us.
We’re human. Promise. 😂
Have your information ready
Once you’ve decided you’d like to apply, being organised really helps keep things moving.
Referencing may require information about your identity, income, employment and previous tenancy history, depending on your circumstances.
Providing accurate information promptly means fewer delays and fewer emails backwards and forwards trying to fill in missing pieces.
You don’t need to arrive at the viewing carrying a filing cabinet.
Just be prepared to provide what’s needed if your application progresses.
Make sure the property is affordable for you
We know. Boring grown-up bit. 😂
But it’s an important one.
It’s very easy to fall in love with a property and convince yourself you’ll somehow make the numbers work.
Referencing includes affordability checks for a reason.
We don’t want to put somebody into a home where paying the rent every month is going to leave them struggling financially.
A successful tenancy needs to work for you just as much as it needs to work for the landlord.
Turn up for your viewing
This sounds incredibly obvious…
But you’d be surprised. 😂
If you can’t make an appointment, that’s absolutely fine. Life happens.
Please just let us know.
Communication makes a big difference, particularly when there are several people waiting to view the same property.
And while you’re there, ask questions!
A viewing isn’t an audition. It’s your opportunity to decide whether this really could be your next home.
Tell us why the property works for you
We don’t mean writing us a three-page essay entitled Why I Deserve This House. 😂
But we genuinely like getting to know prospective tenants.
How long are you hoping to stay? Why does the location work for you? Who will be living there? What attracted you to this particular property?
Remember, we’re trying to find the right match.
Understanding what you’re looking for helps us do that.
Don’t assume a less-than-perfect past means an automatic “no”
This is an important one, particularly after some of the conversations we’ve had recently.
Referencing is an essential part of the application process, but people aren’t simply a credit score on a screen.
Circumstances change.
Something that happened financially several years ago doesn’t necessarily tell us what sort of tenant somebody is today.
A history of paying rent reliably, previous landlord references, current affordability and your circumstances now can all help build a much fuller picture.
That doesn’t mean every application can be accepted, and ultimately the landlord will make the final decision.
But please don’t write yourself off before you’ve even spoken to us.
And please… don’t tell us what you think we want to hear
This one comes from experience. 😂
If you have a pet, tell us.
If somebody else will be living with you, tell us.
If there’s something relevant to your application, tell us.
Finding out later rarely makes anything easier.
An honest conversation at the beginning gives us a much better opportunity to help.
We’re not looking for “perfect”. We’re looking for the right fit.
This is probably the most important thing we’d like tenants to take away from this blog.
When several people apply for the same property, unfortunately not everybody can have it.
That doesn’t mean the unsuccessful applicants are “bad tenants”.
It may simply mean another applicant was a better fit for that particular property or the landlord’s requirements.
Our job is to get to know you, complete the necessary checks and present the relevant information to the landlord so an informed decision can be made.
And if that particular property isn’t the one?
Please don’t lose heart.
The next one might be.
After all, we’re not just trying to find landlords good tenants.
We’re trying to help good tenants find somewhere they’re happy to call home.
And when those two things come together?
That’s when we’ve done our job properly. ❤️
If you’re looking for your next home in Blackpool or across the Fylde Coast, keep an eye on our latest properties and don’t be frightened to have a chat with the Letting Solutions team about what you’re looking for.
We’re an independent, ARLA Propertymark registered agent with nearly 25 years’ experience helping people find homes across the Fylde Coast.
Letting Solutions. Your Property. Our Priority.
