Rockingham Blog

 How to apply for a rental property if you have no rental history.

Having no rental history is something every prospective renter faces at one point their lifetime, so don’t feel deterred from entering the market.

For those in this position, it’s particularly important to provide as much financial information as possible along with references such as current or previous employers.

By providing adequate evidence to support your ability to pay rent, most landlords and tenants will have no issues renting to a tenant with no history.

In most states, renters can also appoint a “guarantor”, otherwise known as a rental guarantee. A guarantor is person or entity, such as a family member or employer, who agrees to be responsible for the renter’s debt should the tenant fail to pay. Starting off on a 6 month lease may also be an option.

How to apply for a rental property if you’re a low income earner

When applying for a rental property, real estate agents and landlords look for evidence to support a person’s capacity to pay rent regularly and on time. For low income earners this may include allowances from Centrelink that provide a regular income along with pay slips from recent jobs.

Applications are often rejected because property managers determine that the property is outside the applicant’s price range. If the rent comes to more than 30 per cent of your household income, consider searching for properties in a more affordable area, or alternative accommodation options such as share housing.

There are also affordable housing initiatives, such as the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) which provides people on low to moderate incomes with an opportunity to rent homes at a rate that is at least 20 per cent below market value rent.

Applying for social housing – short and long-term rental housing owned and run by the government or not-for-profit agencies – is an option for low income earners. Priority for housing is given to people who need help because of homelessness or other critical circumstances.