By Ros Burton (Principal – The Real Estate People)
I love a good redemption story.
You know, where someone is down on their luck but works hard to turn their life around and get back on their feet.
It’s heartwarming and inspirational – and something I get to see more often than you think in my job.
One of the major pillars of restoring self esteem and confidence is knowing you have a roof over your head.
Not everyone has that luxury though – especially blacklisted renters.
Sadly, sometimes it’s their own fault (through repeated bad behaviour), but sometimes outside factors have weighed against them or they wear the blame of a questionable flatmate who has tarnished their shared rental history.
I’m a big believer in offering a second chance – we all make mistakes, but we also have the ability to shine, given the right support.
One of the great joys my team and I get from working at The Real Estate People is assisting individuals and families find accommodation.
As you’re no doubt aware, the current rental market is extremely tight – with very limited opportunity to secure a property, so you have to put yourself in the very best light when applying.
If your rental history isn’t the greatest, here’s what you should do:
- Be honest about your past – you will be surprised what agencies uncover. It never bodes well if you try to hide things.
- Ask family or a friend to go guarantor to ensure the rent is covered without fail (this buys you time to prove you can handle the ongoing commitment).
- Make amends with your previous landlord or agency (repay debts, even go on a payment plan to repay the arrears or damages) and see if your references can be adjusted to reflect your new approach.
- Find a ‘good’ roommate and share the strength of their application – but please don’t let them down.
A bad rental history won’t just go away, it will follow you, so you need to be proactive in correcting the ‘sins of the past’.
Despite what you might think, there are a number of landlords out there willing to give errant renters a second chance.
But if you betray the trust that second chance brings, you probably won’t be getting a third.
Remember, if you’re willing to help yourself, you’re already on the path to writing your own redemption story.