We are a family of 3 – 2 adults and 1 child – plus an elderly cat.
Over the past 3 and a bit weeks, we have applied for 8 rental properties with no success. In one case, the Agent failed to do due diligence in checking with the owner as to whether they would accept pets. Turns out not, so a couple (yep, 2 adults) were placed in a brand new 4×2 house, across the road from a park and open play fields, whilst this family got passed over.
On at least 5 other occasions, we have been told by Agents that we did not get the property as we do not work for Defence or the APS. Just remember folks – we work in the support of these businesses and without us (and others in less glamorous positions) their cleaning and retail services won’t happen.
We came here with high hopes after I was accepted into University but it looks like we will have to move yet again as we are unable to remain in our current rental and obviously cannot secure other rental accommodation. Our daughter has already been to 5 different schools in 4 years (yep go ahead and put us down, that’s fine). I will have to give up my dream of finally getting an education and my husband will have to give up his employment as very soon we will be homeless.
Oh and thanks to the property managers who didn’t even have the courtesy to advise us that we had missed out on our latest application – rather just re-advertising it is obviously good enough for you.
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breda said :
Totally agree
Cant believe some of the comments , bit sad
This not helpful to original post, so no need to bite my head off etc I can agree the market is much tougher in Canberra this year Prospective tenants are even negotiating lower rents (I’ve never in the last 15 years experienced this )
But to share another perspective we lost a perfectly good tenant for our town house because the Body corporate Strata manager would not give us an answer to a Pet Approval application and once the lady had been honest and told us about her pet we had no option but to let her go We were happy to accept her with her little dog as the carpet was a little old any way I am furious with Ray White because we lost a good tenant and three weeks rent over the lack of response both the tenant and the landlord trying to do the “right thing “
scorpio63 said :
Nothing that arescarti42 said was in any way shape or form looking down on anyone. His advice was 100% spot on that if the OP has been turned down so much that they, repeat THEY “need to figure out why that is”. He then gave a list of very valid reasons.
As for the other comments on this board I don’t think that anyone is looking down on on the OP. Some including mine are rather direct and may well hurt, but as they say the TRUTH does hurt. That is far from looking down on someone. Only the OP can help themselves but coming on here blaming agents and blaming the people who are getting houses over them is not going help.
Arescarti, one day in your Life it would be a great idea if you walked in the shoes of another family (just as worthy of a roof over their heads as you) and it makes me extremely sad to read comments of people looking down upon any other person whether they are renting or buying a home. For the record, I own a home and lease it out (my choice) to a beautiful couple, their baby and dog. I have never had a problem with their Family and I attend to the maintenance issues straight away. I do choose to look after the home (ie look after them) and treat them as I would wish to be treated and their rent is low by today’s standards.
There are fantastic Tenants and there are fantastic Home Owners; sometimes it pays to go out on a limb too and not go through Real Estates.
No you wont need to move!
Go and join TrustedHousesitters.com, Housesitters.com, Houseminders.com or Housecarers.com for the amount of $70 (annual) and register to do housesitting for 12 months, 6 months, in fact any period you choose (provided you do not have furniture) although I am sure Homeowners going away for 6 or 12 months could come to some type of agreement if they have storage in a shed or garage.
Once you have joined it is my opinion that you will secure a place quickly despite having a Child and a mature cat!
Best wishes
nyssa1976 said :
I imagine the reason that they don’t tell you is that most instances of discrimination mentioned in this thread are actually offenses under the Discrimination Act. It is illegal to discriminate based on “status as a parent or carer” [you’ve got kids] or “profession, trade, occupation or calling;” [you’re not a public servant]. Accommodation is specifically mentioned in the Act — unlawful to discriminate refusing the other person’s application for accommodation etc.
Firstly, agents don’t always make the decision – some owners ask for a short list and decide themselves.
Secondly, giving reasons would be foolish without a lawyer vetting every response. What with defamation laws, anti-discrimination laws and just plain cussedness by some rejected applicants, they would be crazy to go there.
Dilandach said :
2007 was actually the time when rental availability was at its lowest so of course it would have been hard to get a place. Logically each rental has a different owner who makes their choice, so its not like there is a list.
FioBla said :
Exactly my point. So one will NEVER know why and after all the effort we put in for applications and viewings, one should be entitled to a quick email stating “sorry your references weren’t that good” or “sorry you have too many children” or “sorry we want 2 adults in a 4br house”.
Until people are told what is wrong, they will continue to submit applications and be none the wiser.
It’s called being respectful enough to answer an email or a phone call. It takes 1-2 mins and in this day and age it isn’t that hard to do.
nyssa1976 said :
Because talking to you is not worth their expense of time and money? You mean you don’t employ or pay them? Oh, I guess talking to you is just a waste of time then.
FioBla said :
Yes because glowing references from everywhere else = nothing when Real Estate are being dicks for being called on their bad behaviour e.g. heating, trespass.
Landlords look for stability and the ability to pay the rent. One would think 11 years in the same job would equate to that but alas no.
When I’ve asked for feedback from applications…….well I’m still waiting on a response. So please tell me, if it is me, then why aren’t I being answered? Hrmm…
FioBla said :
Not everyone is a feral that features on ACA after trashing houses.
I moved to Canberra in 2007, September. I had an excellent rental record, no credit issues, good references, no pets, a rental resume and a high income job. It took me from September until April 2008 of going out nearly every weekend applying for at least 3 – 4 properties at a time.
It isn’t until you start getting into rental auctions that you get agents responding and putting yours at the top of the pile.
nyssa1976 said :
LOL at “recourse”. Anonymous person rants about unnamed estate agents = recourse.
Way I look at it: suppose a person says “I went to 7 car rental agencies, who had a look at my application/driving history/references and none would rent to me. Even though I offered to pay $500 above usual price. And they won’t tell me why…”.
OK. Might be the car rental agencies fault [rant]. Or might be you. But of course it’s not you. So it’s must be the agency. It must be some discrimination. They hate kids. Or cats. Or must be the whole damn city not cutting you a break. #lifeisunfair #skywhale.
Yes, moving totally sucks.
nyssa1976 said :
I had the almost the same issue, except I put up with it until I moved house. The landlord (polish I’m assuming and his mute grinning son) would just turn up with no notice. We’d only know he was turning up if we looked out the window and saw his car in the driveway.
It happened many many times, we complained to the real estate and only got a apathetic reply. The last straw was on my birthday this year, I had been studying at the library and had my phone on silent. I had been getting a few calls that day because well, it was my birthday. They were mostly from private numbers. When I did answer one call it ended up being my parents. So I figured if it was anyone else then they would have left a message if it was important.
Roll up later in the afternoon, hanging out in the Dil cave and we look out the window, the landlord walking up the driveway, He ended up going off his nut inside because he had called a couple of times and I hadn’t answered. Trying to explain that 1. He had been calling from a private number, 2. he never left any messages at all. 3. I was in a library and couldn’t pick up a call straight away, just all fell on deaf ears and further encouraged his rage. He then started going on about ‘this house was perfect until you people came here! I want you out! I want you all out!’ This was in front of the wife and two small kids. Holding back my rage I focused on calming him down. I was livid, i’m not paid to be oncall for a landlord.
Afterwards we organised to gtfo and move somewhere else. Landland was a ****** asshole.
Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :
Surprise surprise CGN generalises again.
MissChief said :
Actually, yes, OP, no reason to even mention your cat.
Mentioning pets will limit your options. Our neighbours used to park their car in our drive with their pets in it when they had an inspection. They kept a dog, cat and parrot.
The problem isn’t the pets as much as what they might do to the house. If a person is fastidious about the house they rent and responsible about their pets, they can normally get away with keeping them on the side.
nyssa1976 said :
Real Estate Agents DON’T tell you why. They aren’t required to even if you do ask. So the OP has no other recourse but to come on here.
And in my case we offered to match our current rent for a place (they were $50 less per week) and still got told “no”. If you have a bad agent you will get screwed over.
They may not have to tell you why, but in my experience ask them and they will. I mean to say agents and owners need (good) tenants as much as tenants need owners.
Surprise surprise, real estate agents and land lords acting like dirtbags.
JC said :
I often disagree with arescarti on property matters, but not this time. He is spot on.
JC said :
Real Estate Agents DON’T tell you why. They aren’t required to even if you do ask. So the OP has no other recourse but to come on here.
And in my case we offered to match our current rent for a place (they were $50 less per week) and still got told “no”. If you have a bad agent you will get screwed over.