Renting a house.

[Kayangel]

Hi Single mummies,

Im after some help, im currently looking at rental properties but right now it seems like a never ending task to get one, there are so many people all going for the same house like im talking 15 plus people.

Is it hard to get a place to rent as a single mum?

Im thinking about writing a letter to the landlord to better my chances, do u think it will work?

If you wrote a letter, do u mind sharing wat u wrote?

Can anyone give me ideas, suggestions, tips on wat to right?

[crazymuma]

It can be very hard for single mums in some areas.

How much rent are you looking at because if its over a certain % of your income they won't even look at your application. Simple fact is if between you and a working couple with $$ you will lose.

Make sure you have heaps of great references from previous rentals and good personal references.

Have you got any family that could possibly go on the lease with you??

Definelty add a cover letter - I guess some people are wary of single mums so adding that might ease any fears they have.

Not 100% sure what you can write but someone else may be able to help.

[singlemumma82]

Sorry to tell you but in my experience yes it is very hard finding a rental property as a single mum, I work 3 days a week and was unable to find some where in time and as a result have had to move back home with my parents.

Its my understanding that real estate agents are not meant to rent you a property if the rent is more than 1/3 of your weekly income, on SSP alone and with the current prices of rentals this is basically impossible. I make $750 per week with all my incomes and minimum rentals in my area are around the $250 mark, and that is for total bottom of the line, falling apart houses. Its a sad situation.

I know your area is much cheaper than mine (friends live over there and I looked at moving that way) but living alone on the SSP is very tight these days.

I plan to save some more money to offer extra in advance as I have been told this may help my chances.

I also attach a cover letter stating how I am looking for some where to make a home for my DD and I, would be willing to sign a longer lease, a little about myself and my DD and also why we want the house, I always alter the letter a little specific to the house. It can also help to attach photos etc of any pets you may have, I have also heard of people attaching photos of themselves, this can make it a little more personal.

Biggest tip, make your application stand out from the rest and write the suckiest letter :laughing:

[MummaBear03]

I wrote on the letter that I'm willing to use either Centrepay or Direct Debit on the day of the Centrelink payment to give more assurance that the rent is paid before all else.

I also wrote on there that I am a neat and tidy person who takes great pride in the appearance of the house, and who has always paid bills on time without delay. I gave references as well. In the end I had to rent with another person (and was burnt doing so) before they'd look at an application.

At that point in time, Centrelink payments with PPS, FTB and RA came to just over $750 for the fortnight but even a 2 bedroom unit was at least $200/week or $400/fn and that was more than 50% of my income so they said no to it.

I rented a house for $210/week (basic house for that of course, nothing extra, run down, had asbestos in it too) and that was the only place I could get and only because I went in with someone else who I thought I knew quite well as we went to boarding school together years earlier and stayed in touch thereafter.

Maybe look at a place like that which is within your price range and put someone else on the application then afterwards tell the real estate that the other person is moving out and that you'll be staying in the house. I don't know how that would go, if you're allowed to do it that way.

I do know that if it's any more than 30% of your overall income they don't like to give you a place. Makes it hard because for a single parent with one child, FTB and PPS comes to $812/fn plus whatever the rent assistance is, 30% is not much and there are certainly no properties for that amount. What's rent assistance worth at the full rate? I think it used to be $110/fn when I was renting. So going by that, the amount a single parent gets would be $922/fn in total so you'd be looking for a place that's around $300/fn at the most, $150/week. Good luck.

[Kayangel]

Im looking at renting a 4bedroom so between $300 to $340 a week, ill be moving in with a worker gets about 600 a week works part time plus more dollors if he gets called more and also another penisor so all our income togerther would be $1225 a week.

[~BEXTER~]

Yes it is hard!

I was homeless for 6 months last month and every place I went to had about 10 or more other people there. I was looking at about 15 properties a week for 6 months.

I tried having someone come on the lease and that still didn't work.

I ended up moving to Bathurst 3 hours away from where I wanted to live:no:

It was all I could do and all I could get, so I took it.

I would suggest going for units, paying no more then 40% of your pay and having great references, letters from previous landlords or people you have borded with.

It is hard for single parents but it all comes down to the real estate then the owner.

i know someone who owns a house and rents it up the coast and the real estate call her to tell her that she showed the person around, and my friend was happy with them and her reference so she told the real estate to give it to them, The real estate tried to talk my friend out of it because this was a single mum with 3 kids.

Mind you this lady worked but the real estate still tried telling my friend to wait.
My friend went with this lady as long as she would do centerpay and this lady agreed so maybe offer that too.

Good luck!

[bubbleandme]

i think i was lucky, i got the first house i applied for!

if you want.. pm me, and i'll send you the letter and other things i put in with my application, it's those sort of things which make you stand out from the crowd of others applying.

good luck :D

ETA: my rent is 40% of my income.. yet i still got the place? idk, maybe it was the letter?

[crazymuma]

While they shouldn't do it I know the real estate back home wouldn't rent to a group of people - even if they had $$$ as they had so much trouble in the past with houses being trashed with partying.

How many kids does the other pensioner have as alot of landlords don't like lots of kids in their houses either.

Must admit I lucked out though - I got the second place I applied for (first the owners knocked me back as they didn't want kids in the house) and my rent is closer to 50 % of my income - I just had lots of great references.

[Mum2Mimi]

kayla could you possibley give your bond plus 3months in advance? Its alot,but you could save it whilst at home stil and if ur going 3ways with other people then its only 4weeks rent each you will need to come up with,my gf works in realestate and reckons theese days that is the best method of securing a property and its always good to have as a backup so that if somebody looses a job or ur car breaks dwn u can miss a week or two rent and use that money else where as u are already way ahead on the rent :)
no offense but maybe you should try and find something a lil less pricey for like 280-310wk and you may have more of a chance

[Mum2Mimi]

also if ur using a housing bond that may go against u,its not ment to but a landlord is still going to choose somebody who is not using it and is couppled then somebody who is

[Miss_N]

IMO they don't need to know your a single Mum. If your moving in with an employed individual and someone else on govt payments then maybe still right a cover letter.

They say that your rent should be no more than 1/3 of your income so based on your combined income I would say you can afford the price range you are looking at! :D

Sorry for crashing the single mumma section too! Just couldnt help but give you my advice hun! :hugs:

Jess - I think your generalising a little bit...perhaps thats the way it is in WA but in QLD the real estate does not give two hoots about where your bond comes from and neither does the agent. Its not the agents money or the owners...it is held by a 3rd party...the RTA.

[FertileMertile]

Not sure if it will work for you but when i was looking for a rental (pre babies) i just made buddies with the property manager and bribed her with a bottle of scotch! I think its bull**** the things u have to do just to get a rental. Ppl with kids should get priority imo

[sandy cheeks]

It's hard but if you have others on the lease it could make things better (as long as there not black listed) I found a new place, I was very lucky and got it straight away even though there were 20 others viewing the place but I have a good rental history with the real estate (same one for 5years) and my landlord was selling and didn't tell RE (I did lol)

I pay half my income on rent but prices in my area are getting $$ and I have little choice as cr@p old places and units are only $15 cheaper a week. Paying half of my income on rent is do-able I just make sure I put money on everything weekly rather than getting big bills and eat at home.

I would attach a resume of sorts rather than a letter a social worker I spoke to (about how to get a rental) said he heard of a fair few people getting a place this way, just writting up a resume of why you would be the best person for the house rather than someone else.
Good luck hope you get a place soon just go for as many as you can and get to know the real estate girls as well. If you know any friends in real estate or people who own rentals you might find something this way, thats how I got into my first place.