Be prepared if you want landlords to take you seriously

It's not that there is currently a dire shortage of homes to rent, but after the shocks of Covid-19 and dealing with many months of no payment from tenants who lost their jobs and businesses or faced severe reductions in their salaries and wages, many landlords are still extremely cautious when considering new tenants.

In fact, many have been selling off their rental units this year because they just don't want to have to go through the difficulties of 2020 and 2021 again. And the result is that prospective tenants now need to approach their home search much as they would the hunt for a new job - and do whatever they can to impress their potential landlords.

The benefits are that if the landlord does see them as people who will not only pay the rent on time, but also care for the property, they are much more likely to secure a long lease and favourable consideration when they request any repairs or improvements to the property.

And a landlord who really wants to attract or keep a quality tenant may even be prepared to lower the rent somewhat, or perhaps defer a rent increase when it is time to renew the lease.

So what should tenants do to stand out as the best choice for landlords? Firstly, they should take the time to ensure that their credit record is in really good shape, and will also stand up to scrutiny as far as their history of on-time payment is concerned. No landlord wants to have to repeatedly ask for payment or get it late every month.

Prospective tenants should also be able to provide good references from any previous landlords, and compile all the information and paperwork they may need to complete a rental application before they start house-hunting. This includes a list of previous addresses, their bank account details, ID document, employer information and recent payslips.

They should also have the funds immediately available to pay a deposit, usually equivalent to a full month's rent, and any water and electricity supply connection fees that are required. If they have to wait for a previous landlord to return a deposit, before they can afford to pay a new landlord, they may well lose out.

Indeed, while they should be very clear about their absolute "must haves" in a rental home - and what they really don't want - they will need to be flexible on the rest of their criteria, and should be prepared to make a quick decision when they find a property they like.

Chas Everitt offers professional rental leasing and management services to landlords across SA and has thousands of properties available to rent. For assistance, contact your nearest Chas Everitt office or visit www.chaseveritt.co.za