Sydney Rents have Come Down

Sydney rents have come down over the COVID-19 period. For many renters, this is excellent news as it offers opportunities to negotiate a rent reduction, or else to move to a more affordable home or a home that offers better value for working from home conditions.

However, moving can be costly, and so before planning a move, it’s wise to be sure that the rents have actually come down in the area you’re planning to move to.

The Sydney areas where rents have fallen the most are:

• Eastern Suburbs

• Sydney CBD

• Canterbury / Bankstown

• Inner West

• Lower North Shore

• North West

• Upper North Shore

However, the rents have possibly not fallen by the levels that some renters think they have fallen. In some areas, rents have only come down by 2% or 3%. In other areas, they have fallen by as much as 10%. Putting numbers to this, it means that if a home previously rented for $800 per week, depending on the area, it may now be listed for $720 - $785. That is still a great opportunity, however if the reduction is closer to 2% or 3%, the cost of packing and moving needs to be weighed against the low saving in rent. It might be better to negotiate a rent reduction with your landlord than to move.

Melissa Maimann  is a Licensed Real Estate Agent, Buyer's Agent and Rental Search / Relocation Agent in Sydney. Melissa saves tenants time and frustration by finding and securing the best properties quickly, easily and efficiently.  If you’re aghast at the thought of finding a rental home and need a skilled agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.

Sydney Rents are Coming Down ... or are they?

Opportunities to find cheaper homes to rent in Sydney

We’re hearing a lot of talk about rents coming down in Sydney, and this is prompting people to either seek rent reductions from their landlords, or else move:

• To a more expensive area that may now be affordable

• To a larger home for the same rent

• Out of home for the first time

• In with friends for the first time

• To live alone for the first time

and so on.

But is it true?

Yes, rents are coming down in some parts of Sydney

Sydney is really made up of many different markets. It is not one market. So we can’t really generalise and say that rents are coming down in all of Sydney - because they aren’t. Some areas have fallen a lot, whereas other areas have only fallen a little.

Vacancy rates have increased in areas that used to have:

• Backpackers

• AirBNB / short-term let homes

• University students (particularly overseas students)

• People from industries that have been most impacted by COVID: hospitality, arts etc

• High-end properties that are no longer affordable

• CBD locations where people may fly in and fly out for work

In areas that are least affected by the above factors, rental vacancy rates are actually fairly stable - they have risen slightly, but not by the 15%+ that we are seeing in other parts of Sydney

In many parts of Sydney, rents have come down by measures of between 5% and 15%. Other areas have not seen a change at all.

Is it a good time to move and take advantage of lower rents?

Possibly, yes.

Things to factor in:

• The cost of moving

• The cost of breaking your lease, if applicable

For many people, it’s a great time to move to a completely different area, perhaps:

• Closer to the city / beaches

• Further out in a larger home

• Closer to work

• Further from work (if you’re WFM) where you can enjoy a better standard / quality of housing

I have noticed a dramatic increase in enquiries from people who would like to move, but are unsure where in Sydney to move to that will give a better quality of life for the same or cheaper rent. If you’re thinking through options, get in touch and I’d love to help you.

The COVID Sydney Rental Market - What's Really Happening

Renting in Sydney during COVID-19

It’s been almost three months since the start of our COVID-19 restrictions. What’s been happening within the Sydney rental market? It’s been a busy time for some, a quiet time for others, a confusing time for most, a tenant’s market (yay! Finally), a landlord’s nightmare, a trying time for property managers and all-in-all, a very different and changed landscape within which to rent and be a tenant, and to own and be a landlord.

Sydney Rental vacancy rates

In many areas of Sydney, rental vacancy rates are at an all-time high. Areas such as Sydney City (postcode 2000), parts of the Eastern Suburbs, Northern Beaches, Lower North Shore and Inner West. But, not all areas are seeing high vacancy rates. So what is accounting for the differences?

A major factor is that COVID-19 restrictions have meant that AirBNB cannot continue at the moment. While for years, we have seen a removal of long-term rentals from the market in favour of short-term AirBNB, we’re now seeing a sudden influx of AirBNB properties back in the long-term rental market. It’s easier than ever to get a furnished home and a short-lease of 3-6 months, whereas previously it was difficult to get furnished homes and a 12-month lease was standard. The withdrawal of AirBNB properties has had a significant impact on the number of homes on the long-term rental property market. But only in areas that had a lot of AirBNB properties.

Tenants are Moving - But Where To?

There is a considerable amount of movement with tenants. Lots of things are going on in this space:

1. Younger people, perhaps casually employed for < 1 year may have lost their jobs. They’re moving back in with parents.

2. Families are learning that they can rent a bigger or better home for the rent that they’re currently paying - so they’re upgrading for the same rent.

3. Kids who currently live at home are taking advantage of lower rents and are moving out of home for the first time, perhaps renting a home with friends

4. People who lived further out of the city are seeing rents come down closer to the city (remember, these used to be AirBNB areas and are now flooded with ex-AirBNB properties; vacancies are high; rents have come down) - so those people are seeing an opportunity to finally live closer to the city in an affordable home

5. Tenants are seeing rents come down, approaching their agents / landlords for a rent reduction to bring the rent back in line with the market - and if their requests are declined, they’re voting with their feet, sometimes moving very close by, and saving lots of rent

6. People who chose to live closer to the city to minimise their commute time are now working from home for the foreseeable future - those people are moving further out where they can get better value for their money, or even save money

7. Tenants who lived in share housing are now able to afford to live alone as rents have come down

How is all of this Impacting Sydney Rental Stock Levels?

I have seen a tremendous increase in Sydney rental stock. In other words, there is so much more on the market now, than what was previously on the market. It makes sense as the rental vacancy rate is high, but it is also a factor of the significant movement of tenants that has been brought on by COVID-19: each time a tenant moves, a vacancy is created and / or a home is leased.

Getting a Great Rental Home in COVID

It’s still the case that the great homes are leasing quickly - often within 1-3 days of coming on the market. Not-so-great homes are still lingering, and homes that are priced too high are also lingering. In general, I am finding that the advertised rents have come down enormously. What was previously $750 per week is now advertised at $650 per week; what was previously $950 per week is now advertised at $800 per week. The reduction has often already been factored into the asking rent, so there may not be the opportunity to negotiate rent quite so much on those sorts of homes. However, it’s always worth asking the question for the home that you love.

Melissa Maimann is a licensed real estate agent, buyer's agent and rental search / relocation agent in Sydney. She saves tenants time and frustration offering an affordable service that finds and secures the best rental properties quickly, easily and efficiently. If you need a Licenced Real Estate Agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.

Renting during separation and divorce

Simon found himself in a most difficult stage of his life, going through a separation. He had lived with his wife in their owner-occupied home for 10 years. This would be his first time renting in a very long time. Simon had two pre-school aged children and an eight-year-old daughter. He had a demanding full-time job which often required him to work over-time and on-call. Finding the time to make it to inspections and be aware of what was on the market was proving difficult for him, and he found that homes often leased at the first open home. He engaged Find My Rental Property to find his home.

Here is what Simon needed in his home:

• Home to be located within the school catchment for his children

• Modern / renovated home

• Built-ins to all bedrooms

• Home to have a bath - preferable separate from the shower

• Off-street parking for one car, preferably with internal access and storage in the garage

• A garden at least 30sqm in size

• An open-plan living area

• A dishwasher

• Walking distance to shops

• Not on a main road

• With air conditioning

• Preferable a North aspect

• Pet-friendly for the cat

Following a week of intense property research, I was able to locate three homes that met Simon’s requirements.

Super happy and excited, the lease start date was negotiated to work in with when Simon needed to be out of his current home, and his children were delighted to find that they had school friends in the same street. The current owners had a pet cat and had already installed a cat door, as if this home was made for Simon and his children.

Melissa Maimann  is a Licensed Real Estate Agent, Buyer's Agent and Rental Search / Relocation Agent in Sydney. Melissa saves tenants time and frustration through an affordable service that finds and secures the best properties quickly, easily and efficiently.  If you’re aghast at the thought of finding a rental home and need a skilled agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.

Believing what you see

Online rental property ads. We all think (hope??) the home will be as it appears online. But all is usually not what it seems. Take this home below. The images look quite nice:

However, my research was able to reveal that these images were actually taken in 2008. Yes, 2008. They are 12 years old. What you are seeing is actually how the property looked 12 years ago. In that time, there have been no renovations, it has had 9 lots of tenants and has even sold! The rent has not increased since 2012, indicating a home that has not been improved or perhaps even maintained in that time.

Another example: this home looks nice, or so we think:

What’s missing? There is no image of the bathroom. Oh, and you might also like to know that those images from the online ad are from 2009 … meaning that is what it looked like … back then, before it had 3 lots of tenants in and out. What is the bathroom like? Unlike the kitchen and living room that look lovely, the bathroom looks mouldy, is dark and doesn’t present quite as well:

Given that my clients were seeking a new, clean and bright bathroom, I was able to safely rule this home out - a home that otherwise would have been inspected. My clients were saved an unnecessary trip out to see a property only to be disappointed, and we were able to focus our time on finding the right home.

If you’d like to “cut to the chase” and inspect qualified homes - ones that actually meet your needs, Find My Rental Property is here to help. Melissa Maimann  is a Licensed Real Estate Agent, Buyer's Agent and Rental Search / Relocation Agent in Sydney. Melissa saves tenants time and frustration through an affordable service that finds and secures the best properties quickly, easily and efficiently.  If you’re aghast at the thought of finding a rental home and need a skilled agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.

Renting ... when all is not what it seems

We’ve all done it. Turned up to an inspection that looked “ok” or even “great”, only to find it it had major issues.

Here is one such rental home in Sydney. This is the living room per the online image:

This is what my inspection revealed in the corner near the curtains:

Here is the kitchen:

But a closer look at the walls reveals lots of water stains:

The main bedroom:

Let’s take a look inside those built-ins …

We’re probably reluctant to place our clothes in there!

A few other pics ….

All is really not what is seems in online images that would-be renters rely on. Through my service, my clients save valuable time. My clients did not need to travel 30 mins each way to inspect this home, only to find that it was in this state. Instead, they could review my report from the comfort of their home and conclude that it is not for them.

Melissa Maimann  is a Licensed Real Estate Agent, Buyer's Agent and Rental Search / Relocation Agent in Sydney. Melissa saves tenants time and frustration through an affordable service that finds and secures the best properties quickly, easily and efficiently.  If you’re aghast at the thought of finding a rental home and need a skilled agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.

Suburbs we Love: Crows Nest

there’s lots to love about crows nest!

Nestled in the Lower North Shore is a fantastic suburb called Crows Nest. Its residents are mainly single, professionally-employed and families. It has a great selection of restaurants and cafes, nice tree-lined streets to walk through and is close to the City.

The homes in Crows Nest are predominantly apartment blocks with some older houses. Housing styles range from Art Deco to 1960s and through to new developments. You’re sure to find what you’re after!

Less than 10km from the city, it offers good public transport options, is close to schools, parks and hospitals. It’s not too far from the Northern Beaches and Eastern Suburbs where we have some great beaches and walks, universities and the airport. A very central location, affordable and all up, a great place to live!

Melissa Maimann  is a Licensed Real Estate Agent, Buyer's Agent and Rental Search / Relocation Agent in Sydney. Melissa saves tenants time and frustration through an affordable service that finds and secures the best properties quickly, easily and efficiently.  If you’re aghast at the thought of finding a rental home and need a skilled agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.

The Bad Rental History Check

What makes a Strong Rental Application?

Here are some of the things that will help to move your application to the top of a property manager’s list:

All required documents are provided - they are legible, current and consistent

Referees are available to be contacted for references - and they’re located in Australia

You have provided at least two forms of proof of income

You have provided at least 100 points of identification

You can demonstrate some stability - in work or in your living situation

You can demonstrate an ability to pay the rent - now and in the future - and look after the home

Conversely, there’s a few “red flags” that may cause concern for a property manager:

Less than a year in your current job, or being on probation

New business

Pets without a reference

A poor rental reference for the renter

Income / bank statements that do not support the rent sought to be paid

Previous damage to a property

Amounts deducted from a previous bond, say to cover unpaid rent or damage to the property

Being black-listed in the past

We can help you rent a home

At Find My Rental property, w understand that nobody is perfect and we help all renters, whatever their circumstances. We ask that you be honest and up-front with us, and we’ll do our very best to present your application in the most favourable light. There is no situation we have not encountered, and we’ll always know the best possible way forward in whatever situation you face.

Melissa Maimann  is a Licensed Real Estate Agent, Buyer's Agent and Rental Search / Relocation Agent in Sydney. Melissa saves tenants time and frustration through an affordable service that finds and secures the best properties quickly, easily and efficiently.  If you’re aghast at the thought of finding a rental home and need a skilled agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.

Gems of Information my Clients can Discover about their Next Rental Home

If you’re wondering what sort of valuable information my clients access through my service that really help make great rental decisions, here’s some of the things I can let them know:

• Is it currently for sale? Nobody wants to rent a place only to have to move again at the end of their lease.

• How does the rent compare with the value of the property (rental yield) and with the median rental yield for the suburb? How does it compare with previous rents charged? In other words, might they be over-paying?

• Rental history: what did it previously rent for, how long do the tenants tend to stay? Is it vacant for long periods of time between tenants? Does the rent always need to be discounted so that they can get a tenant? Is the rent able to be increased over time, suggesting that this is a home that the landlords continue to invest in and improve on?

• How often do tenants turnover? Do they tend to only stay for short periods of time suggesting something might be very wrong with the home?

• History of renovations

• How old those online photos really are … you’ll be surprised to learn that some online ads depict images that are 12+ years old. Yes, really.

• The floor plan

• Size and aspect

• Nearby developments / DAs

How is this helpful?

• If you've ever signed your lease only to find out shortly after that the landlord is going to sell;

• If you've ever moved into this freshly-painted unit only to find after a couple of weeks your belongings are covered in mould;

• If you've ever moved in, chatted with your fellow resident tenants and found that you're paying way more rent than them;

• If you've ever moved in and shortly after, returned home one night to see that the house next door has been bulldozed and a new apartment block is to go up in its place;

• If you’ve ever arrived with your removalist and part-way moving in, discover that your fridge, washing machine or furniture won’t fit

Then this information matters to you!

Melissa Maimann is a licensed real estate agent, buyer's agent and rental search / relocation agent in Sydney. She saves tenants time and frustration by offering an affordable service that finds and secures the best rental properties quickly, easily and efficiently. If you need a Licenced Real Estate Agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.

How We Help Renters

Challenge

A busy professional, juggling the demands of parenting and full-time work, Jennifer did not have time to trawl through online listings, liaise with agents and inspect properties in a rental market where properties are leased so quickly. She sought my help to find a rental home so that she could focus on work and family. The brief was to find:

• Inner West location, somewhere quiet, close to restaurants, shops and a local pub

• 2 bedrooms + study or 3 bedrooms with 2 bathrooms

• Open plan

• Pet-friendly

• With parking, air conditioning, floorboards, built-ins, storage space and a garden or courtyard

• With good separation of living and sleeping spaces

Solution

Within two weeks, I located a stunning home for Jennifer and her family that ticked all the boxes.  Pet-friendly, warm and welcoming, the home has 3 bedrooms and a study, 2 1/2 bathrooms and a lovely outdoor courtyard.  It is a newly renovated townhouse with a secure lock-up garage + additional parking with internal access and and storage.  The location is perfect for Jennifer's needs.  It has lots of clever storage space within the property, an open plan kitchen, lounge and dining room and a floor plan that allows space and privacy.  All rooms have air conditioning.

Feedback

I highly recommend this service.  We were so time-poor and just couldn't fathom how to fit in all the running around associated with finding a new home.  Melissa kept things really simple.  She asked for a very detailed brief and then ran with it.  I really appreciated how she checked back in with me and I could tell we were on the same page very early in the process.  We were just stoked with the property.  There is no way we could have done the detailed walk through of the property that Melissa did in the 15 min window the agent gave us. Thank you so much!!

Melissa Maimann is a licensed real estate agent working exclusively for tenants and property buyers. She saves tenants time and frustration offering an affordable service that finds and secures the best rental properties quickly, easily and efficiently.  If you need a skilled and confident agent to find your next rental home for you, make contact today - we’re on your team.

Moving from Sydney to Sydney? Wondering how a Renter's Agent can help?

Here’s what our clients have to say:

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I was disheartened after spending a day looking at properties that did not match their realestate.com.au listings and many of my coworkers were saying how hard it was to find rental properties in Sydney, so I jumped at the idea of using a specialist agent to save a lot of angst, time and money in the long run. I loved your prompt replies to my questions, no matter how small and mundane they may have been. Your professionalism was an asset I found so helpful. Your insights and understanding of my requirements meant I inspected very few properties. I’m over the moon! It has not been nearly as painful as I expected. Thank you so much. I very much trust and appreciate your guidance.

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Melissa was amazing! She took all of the stress and worry out of finding an apartment. I have rented a few times in Sydney and each time I swore I would never move again, it is such a painful process and is set up for landlords, not tenants. This time, I was recommended to Melissa by my friend who used her service last year. I felt immediate relief that I didn't need to go through the heartache, frustration and challenge of finding my own home. I simply told Melissa what I wanted and didn't want and within a week, she had found me the most perfect home through her contacts. This was a home that wasn't advertised, so I know I couldn't have found this home on my own. Melissa was spot on in her assessment of the homes she sent through to me and I felt like I was in safe and competent hands. Melissa came highly recommended and now I also highly recommend her! Thank you, Melissa!

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The service that Melissa offers was exactly what I needed and then … she delivered! I needed a place quickly and my brief wasn’t easy. Among other things, I needed approval for a dog, without having a dog yet. It was also a stressful time and I had little to no time to look for places. The serviced lived up to everything it claimed. The hassle, headache, and emotion was taken away. Melissa was professional but relaxed, efficient but accurate (to my brief). Every home she pitched I loved and they always hit the brief. And when it came time to apply, it was done quickly - in the end I had a choice to make, which was a position I never thought I’d be in. It’s a great service delivered well, and most importantly, it made a stressful situation easy and, dare I say, enjoyable! I trusted her judgement and I wasn’t let down. I would recommend Melissa to anyone in the same situation. Thank you Melissa!

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I was time poor, uncertain about how the online application process worked as it had been a long time since I last needed to apply for an apartment and I needed an expert to help. I found Melissa’s site online and read the testimonials, and after a short phone call with Melisa, I was convinced that she would be able to find me a great apartment. I would use Melissa’s service again in the future and would recommend her service to other people who are looking to find a home. What I liked the most about Melissa’s service was her positivity, the depth of the reports, Melissa's responsiveness and her unflappable demeanour. The property reports and background checks Melissa undertook were invaluable to me, I was incredibly impressed.

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I was tremendously grateful for Melissa's attention to detail and the exhaustive effort which she put into the search; working until midnight some nights and backing up early the next day - she went above and beyond to supply a first rate service. You’re amazing Melissa, thank you so much! I appreciate your input more than you could know.

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I needed someone who could attend inspections on my behalf as I have a chronic medical condition which means I often have difficulty traveling distances at short notice. I had originally thought I would prefer a more flexible package that just covered the property inspections, but the level of professionalism and thorough attention to detail, along with the sense that Melissa was always there to reassure and offer advice, quickly changed my mind on that. The service offered as a complete package was really excellent. It was everything that was advertised and more. I think what I liked most was Melissa's clear passion for what she does, and her ability to provide a calming, friendly presence both online and over the phone. She was always prepared with advice and help just when it was needed. Finding a new home can be a stressful, time consuming, and difficult process. Melissa's professional, caring approach and her attention to detail, along with her patience and willingness to help out when I needed advice or encouragement were excellent. I really don't think I could have managed this process without her. Thank you so much for everything Melissa!

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Melissa’s offering was clear and priced reasonably. I loved Melissa’s in-depth work completed up front: it allowed for a very productive relationship. Everything that was promised was delivered. I was very very happy with the service. The process is thorough & it allows you to check out multiple properties without leaving the office. More importantly, my need was for a dog friendly property and that was delivered upon. I'm already time-negative so this service was made for someone like me. Now I'm moving into a great place & couldn't be happier!

Melissa Maimann is a licensed real estate agent working exclusively for tenants and property buyers. She saves tenants time and frustration offering an affordable service that finds and secures the best rental properties quickly, easily and efficiently.  If you need a skilled and confident agent to find your next rental home for you, make contact today - we’re on your team.

Renting with a Poor Rental History?

It happens sometimes.

You might need to break a lease - perhaps for a relationship breakup, you lost your job or you’ve decided on a change of scenery.

Or, your lease might have been terminated .. perhaps your property manager discovered your unapproved furred friend, you have received a notice of breach for damage to the property, or there have been complaints from neighbours.

You are not alone.

There are many laws and regulations that tenants must adhere to, they are ever-changing and sometimes seem unfair, impractical or unreasonable. Or sometimes, life happens and you just need to move.

The question is - how do you move - actually lease somewhere else - when you may be unable to obtain a good rental reference from your current property manager? It would be like trying to get a job when your current boss cannot give you a positive reference.

At Find My Rental Property, I assist clients every day with their rental needs. I have particular expertise in helping my clients look good to their prospective property managers. I help clients navigate and succeed in a rental market that favours landlords over a tenant’s need for a home. Where there is difficulty in obtaining the right documents, I am here to suggest other approaches or to assist with gathering what is needed. Property managers frequently prioritise would-be tenants who are represented by a licensed real estate agent such as Find My Rental Property - because they know that they have a qualified and well-prepared tenant in front of them. Our success rate has been 100% to date.

If you are struggling to secure a rental home, we are here to help.

Melissa Maimann is a licensed real estate agent working exclusively for tenants and property buyers. She saves tenants time and frustration offering an affordable service that finds and secures the best rental properties quickly, easily and efficiently.  If you need a skilled and confident agent to find your next rental home for you, make contact today - we’re on your team.

Using a Renter's Agent during COVID-19

Many people use a renter’s / relocation agent to relocate from interstate and overseas, but it’s a little-known fact that local people also use a renter’s / relocation agent to move …. locally. Why would you do it, and what are the benefits?

When you use a renter’s agent who is also a licensed real estate agent, you tap into their local knowledge which includes access to professional, subscription-only property databases … the type that are available to sales agents and buyer’s agents, used extensively to guide appraisals of a property’s value and also to uncover details about the property that would otherwise be unknown to a would-be renter. All of this information benefits renters in many ways.

The other benefit in using a renter’s agent who is also a buyer’s agent is that you have a skilled and confident negotiator on your side. As a licensed real estate agent, I have the same knowledge that a property manager has, but unlike a property manager, I use that knowledge to your - the renter’s - advantage.

The outcome? Renters in these “COVID times” benefit from a) renting the right place (not a dud); and b) renting it for the right rent and with the best possible terms and conditions.

COVID-19 has created a genuine renter’s market and there are many potential negotiation avenues to explore, ensuring that your new home is one that is as affordable and comfortable as it can possibly be for you.

Melissa Maimann is a licensed real estate agent. She saves tenants time and frustration through an affordable service that finds and secures the best rental properties quickly, easily and efficiently.  If you need a skilled agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.

Executive Rental Search for Sydney-Siders

Gavin lives in Sydney and has a demanding job. He had not rented for a while and needed assistance to locate a new home, fast. He was not available to inspect homes due to work commitments, and needed assistance to ensure his home was suitable for his needs, while being in his area of preference. His area of preference evolved somewhat as we worked together, and one area in particular became very appealing. So we waited for the perfect home to come up in his ideal area, and it did. Actually, several homes came up, including off-market homes via my contacts with property managers, but one in particular was very special. Gavin now lives there.

I took a detailed brief and then located, researched, inspected and secured a great home for Gavin. He is happily living in a gorgeous complex close to his friends; a property that has a lift, pool, gardens and level access. Gavin needed a home that had:

• Ground floor or lift access without stairs

• Almost immediate availability as he needed to return his current home to its owner, who was moving back in

• Built ins in the bedrooms

• Air conditioning

• Parking

• A storage cage

• A dishwasher

• Balcony

• Not on a main road

• Internal laundry

• A quiet, safe, green area

• Close to work
  

Despite competing applications being placed on this property, his application was approved without fuss.

Here's what he has to say about Find My Rental Property:

I needed to find a rental place fairly fast and I had certain specific requirements such as lift access, a sensible price and in the Inner-West.

Melissa organised everything for me from uploading my various documentation, inspecting places for me, writing fabulous reports and sending great photographs.

She kept in touch every day and sometimes a few times a day.

She made excellent suggestions and got me thinking out of the box at times which was fantastic.

Her client service delivery and positive attitude was perfect.

I have secured a lovely apartment of the right size, price and location in record time.

I think that this might be the best customer service I have ever had and I am no Spring chicken!!!!

The reasonable fee was totally worth it.

I would unreservedly recommend Melissa and her amazing service.

Melissa Maimann is a licensed real estate agent (renter’s agent and buyer's agent) in Sydney. She saves renters valuable time and frustration offering an affordable service that finds and secures the best rental properties quickly, easily and effortlessly. If you need a Licensed Real Estate Agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.

Pet-friendly Rentals in Sydney

Victoria wanted to move out of her current home which she shared with friends. She desperately wanted to move so that she could have her dog stay with her, and so that she could move out of the “shoe box” bedroom that she currently occupied. She was concerned that she was over-paying for rent in the current market, and sought expert assistance to secure a new home to share with a friend, understanding that it can be challenging to find a pet-friendly rental when the pet is a dog, and the rental is a unit!

At Find My Rental Property, most of my clients have pets and pets are an important part of our lives. I have 100% success in finding pet-friendly rental homes for my clients.

Victoria and I worked together on a property brief. Here’s what she needed (must-haves):

• Built-ins in the main bedroom (preferably not mirrored, and preferably in both bedrooms)

• Similar-sized rooms

• A balcony / garden

• A dishwasher

• Bench space in the kitchen

• < 15 min drive to the beach

• < 10 min drive to the shops

• Not on a main road

• An internal laundry

• Not next to a bar

• Pet-friendly for the dog

Her preferences were:

• A bath

• < 10 min walk to the beach

• Windows and storage in the bathroom

• Parking

• Intercom

• Air conditioning

• Grassy, green, leafy, quiet

• Natural light in living area

• A kitchen with two sinks, a window, gas, and no fake wood cabinets

• Bedrooms that are not against the kitchen walls

• Close to transport

• North / South aspect

• No dark entry ways

• Storage

Following a week-long search online and off-market, several suitable homes were identified, of which four were inspected. It was a hard decision, and ultimately two applications were placed. Victoria was approved for her preferred property. here’s what she has to say:

Melissa, thank you so much for your assistance. It proved to be truly invaluable and I couldn't have asked for better support during what is typically a very stressful time; especially when you're trying to find pet-friendly housing with a pretty specific budget. I'll be shouting your praises all over Sydney for years to come. MANY MANY MANY THANKS MELISSA! I am thrilled. Just thrilled. Thank you so much for all your hard work. I am dying to show Percy his new little courtyard and I'll be sure to send you pics!

Melissa Maimann is a licensed real estate agent (renter’s agent and buyer's agent) in Sydney. She saves renters valuable time and frustration offering an affordable service that finds and secures the best rental properties quickly, easily and effortlessly. If you need a Licensed Real Estate Agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.

Case Study - International Relocation

Rose was relocating to Sydney from Italy for work. She needed a new one-bedroom unit with a study and parking. Her must-haves were a balcony, being <800m to the beach, a dishwasher, internal laundry and absolutely no carpet – anywhere! If the home came with air conditioning, that would have been ideal for her.

Once we had worked on a property brief, we set about creating a winning application. This proved challenging as some of the required documents were back home and others were not in English. Once we prepared the application, the search began. After only a few days of searching and inspections, the perfect home was found. I inspected the property on behalf of Rosa and the property manager was delighted to meet me and commented that she had already spoken to the landlord about my client, knowing the high calibre of clients that I represent and the almost certainly, my client would have an all-star application. This is a property manager I have worked with many times before. This property was a staggering 94% compliant with Rose’s property brief and she was delighted to be approved for the home. Here’s what she had to say about my service:

I found the service so valuable and efficient. Finding a home in a foreign country is not an easy exercise, everything is different in terms of quality and ways of searching. In addition, dealing with the administrative side of things can get complex if you don't know how it works. Melissa is very precise and professional, with useful practical tips on how to do everything. Interaction was always responding to my needs and details in the reports were complete and responding to my needs. Thanks again for you work, I was really hoping it would be a fast research and it actually was! Thanks for everything, I'm really excited to finally have a home! The house is exactly what I was looking for and I'm settling in with no issues!

Melissa Maimann is a licensed real estate agent (renter’s agent and buyer's agent) in Sydney. She saves renters valuable time and frustration offering an affordable service that finds and secures the best rental properties quickly, easily and effortlessly. If you need a Licensed Real Estate Agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.

Relocations: Securing a Sydney Rental Property Stress-Free

When you are relocating to Sydney, there is a lot to consider, and the biggest problem facing people who are relocating is the issue of where to live.  It is incredibly difficult to get a sense of where to live without a concept of Sydney, budgets, suburbs, property styles and qualities, what you can afford at any particular price point in each area and so on.  That is before considering the availability of local schools, medical facilities, transport, pets and proximity to work.

One of the major problems that many international and interstate would-be tenants face is securing a rental property in the competitive Sydney market, without a rental history, and without being a current resident of Sydney.  Many property managers are reluctant to put forward overseas and inter-state tenants to their landlords as references can be difficult to verify, the person may have no Australian identification, perhaps have not secured work yet and may not have viewed the home.  These are all considered pre-requisites to an application being placed before a landlord for approval.

At Find My Rental Property, my many years of real estate experience and close connections with property managers ensure that I know what a property manager is looking for and what needs to be prepared in an application for it to be approved.  As well as this, I know Sydney extremely well and have got my briefing process down to a fine art, so I can easily use research and analytic skills to determine when the brief that is in front of me will be achievable.  Armed with an achievable brief and a top-quality application, I find rental homes for my clients confidently and with skill and accuracy.

My most recent client was relocating to Sydney from Queensland for work.  She had been looking for a rental home for 8 months.  She had been down to Sydney a few times to view properties, dismayed that they were nothing like the online images.  She had applied for four properties and been rejected for all of them.  Dismayed, stressed and worried as she was running out of time, she reached out to me.  I sought a detailed property brief and was able to advise several areas for her to review to allow a more achievable brief.  These were areas that she had not thought to consider and she was delighted to have more opportunities opened to her.  Then, we spend a lot of time working on her application.  She had been unsure just what was needed for a gold-star application and had only provided the bare basics: a driver’s license, a payslip and her Medicare card.  I know that so much more is needed, and was able to guide her with this. 

Finally, I set out on her search armed with a realistic property brief and a stand-out application.  The search commenced on Tuesday and during the week, I sent her several amazing properties to consider.  On Saturday, I set out to inspect three homes for her.  She loved all of them, I applied on her behalf for her favourite home and at 9.45am on Monday, I took a call from the property manager to let me know that the landlord had approved my client’s application.

At Find My Rental Property, I represent clients and have their best interests at heart, while at the same time making it easy for property managers to work with me to approve my clients for the homes that my clients love.  It is a win-win.  Property Managers have great respect for me and keep me informed of off-market rental properties so that my clients have priority by being aware of homes before they are presented to the general public.  I also maintain connections with private landlords to access off-market properties.

I do the hard yards, think outside the square and build a strong reputation with Property Managers and landlords who in turn prioritise my clients.  

 Melissa Maimann is a Licensed Real Estate Agent, Buyer's Agent and Rental Search / Relocation Agent in Sydney.  She saves tenants time and frustration by offering an affordable service that finds and secures the best rental properties quickly, easily and efficiently.  If you need a Licensed Real Estate Agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.

The Popularity of Renting

Renting seems to be associated with a fair bit of negativity.  There is an assumption perhaps that people rent because they cannot afford to buy, that tenants mistreat their rental homes, that tenants are careless in general and that they are unreliable with their rent payments.  In my experience, nothing can be further from the truth.  A great number of tenants are tenants by choice, and own their own investment properties which they in turn rent out to other tenants.  They rent where they want to rent and live the lifestyle they want to live, respectful of the home that they are renting, as their expect their own tenants to respect their homes.  These are tenants who are savvy, responsible and reliable.

Far from being negative, renting offers so many choices and opportunities with very little risk:

• The opportunity to live in a new area before deciding whether to buy in the area

• The opportunity to sell your home and take the time you need to find your dream home, rather than being rushed into another purchase that might not be right for you

• The opportunity to live closer to work / study / family

• The opportunity to live flexibly, adapting your home to suit your life stage

• The opportunity to move with work

Renting has low barriers to entry:

• You simply need four weeks of rent for the bond

• Rent each week / fortnight / month

• You can move at the end of your lease and just pay for removalist costs - oh, and you get your bond back, too

Purchasing, on the other hand, requires:

• 10% deposit

• Stamp duty

• Legal fees

• Mortgage repayments for the next 30 years: the rate can go up (or down) over that term without notice to you

• If you wish to sell, you generally incur legal fees, agent's fees, marketing costs and uncertainty about what price your home will sell for.

All in all, renting offers people a flexible and affordable way to live.

Melissa Maimann is a Licensed Real Estate Agent, Buyer's Agent and Rental Search / Relocation Agent in Sydney. She saves tenants time and frustration by offering an affordable service that finds and secures the best rental properties quickly, easily and efficiently. If you need a Licensed Real Estate Agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.

Moving to Sydney?

Many of the people who use my service don't currently live in Sydney, and are moving to Sydney for a whole host of reasons: to be closer to family, for work or for a change.  For most people, their move would be much easier if only they had a home to come to ... right from the moment they step off the airplane.  Find My Rental Property has happily and easily assisted many overseas and interstate clients with their moves to Sydney by securing rental homes for their arrival.  The service can be provided 100% via email adding a level of flexibility and accessibility that gives confidence to clients.  Yolande used Find My Rental Property for her move from the Middle East.  Read what she has to say:

"You have taken so much stress away and been incredibly helpful!  I valued: excellent communication, honesty and trustworthiness, dedication, comprehensive information, very knowledgeable.  I was 100% satisfied.  You were sensational, made searching for a home completely stress-free and were a pleasure to deal with.  I would recommend you to anyone! You have been really amazing and I'm so grateful for your assistance!"

Melissa Maimann is a Licensed Real Estate Agent, Buyer's Agent and Rental Search / Relocation Agent in Sydney. She saves tenants time and frustration by offering an affordable service that finds and secures the best rental properties quickly, easily and efficiently. If you need a Licensed Real Estate Agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.

Pet-friendly Rental Homes in Sydney

Many people contact me for help when they are struggling to find a new rental home that they can share with their pets.  It's fair to say that renting with a pet can be a real challenge! 

The majority of my clients have pets and I have successfully placed all of my clients into pet-friendly homes that they love.  Dogs, cats, birds - all have been approved.

As an animal lover, I believe renters should be able to rent with their pets, and I go above and beyond to help my clients shine in their applications so that they are approved for their preferred home.

Why is it so difficult to find a pet-friendly rental home in Sydney?

There are many reasons:

1. Sydney is one of the most competitive cities in which to rent. Almost always, if a pet-owner and non-pet-owner are competing for the property, the landlord will approve the non-pet-owner.

2. In unit blocks, the body corporate needs to approve pets in their by-laws. Times are slowly changing and more and more unit blocks are allowing pets on the approval of the strata committee and the owner of the unit.

3. In unit blocks, not only does the body corporate need to allow pets, the landlord also needs to allow pets. Again, some landlords will be ok with say a cat, but perhaps not a dog.

4. The appropriateness of the property for the pet is also considered, eg it might be fine to have a small dog in a unit, but not a big one; it might be fine to have a dog in a garden unit / unit with a balcony / courtyard, but not a unit with no balcony or other outside space.

5. Sometimes, property managers are so very busy - and rental demand is so high - that it is easier to say no to a pet, than to approach the landlord and ask permission.

6. Some owners have experienced damage from pets in the past and no longer allow pets in their properties.

Why is this?

The vast majority of pets are well-behaved, much-loved, carefully looked-after, and cause no problems whatsoever.  But a small minority can cause huge (expensive) problems.  Cats weeing on wooden floorboards or carpets (can almost never get the smell out).  Dogs clawing or scratching wooden floorboards and doors.  Pets using curtains and carpets for scratching posts.  Animals not being toilet-trained.  Lingering smells of pets or animal fur long after the tenant has vacated, when the next tenant may be allergic to animal fur.  The list can go on. 

The landlord's ability to claim the cost of repairs for damage caused by pets is limited.  Damage to a rental property caused by a pet is not always covered under landlord insurance policies.  For some landlords, the only recourse is to claim against the 4 weeks' bond that has been paid, but on say a $600 pw property, this is only $2,400 which does not go very far to repair the cost of the damage.

Combine this with high rental demand for rental homes in Sydney, and you can understand why a landlord may be reluctant to rent a property to someone with a pet, when someone else has applied and they do not have a pet.

Many tenants engage Find My Rental Property when they are about to embark on their search for a pet-friendly rental home in Sydney.  We can do all of the searches and inspections for you, saving you oodles of time, because finding a home to rent with a pet is a time-consuming and frustrating process for most renters.  We do all of the leg work for you and making renting with a pet a breeze!

Melissa Maimann is a Licensed Real Estate Agent, Buyer's Agent and Rental Search / Relocation Agent in Sydney. She saves tenants time and frustration by offering an affordable service that finds and secures the best rental properties quickly, easily and efficiently. If you need a Licensed Real Estate Agent to find your next rental home for you, don't hesitate to make contact.