cjgoodall

hi,

we are looking to emigrate in august now having got our visa, we are wondering how long it would take us to get a rental property or is it possible to get one before we arrive?

Also if people could give us an idea how long it took them to get one.
Where did you stay before you got one?

MissyB

Hi - I'm not sure if you can secure a rental property before you arrive but it's probably wise not to sign up to anything until you know what area you want to live in. Also, it's hard to really know just what you're getting with a property without prior inspection as pictures alone can be very deceptive.

How long it takes depends on where you are moving to?

We we were fortunate to be able to stay with friends when we arrived but getting a rental only took about 1-2 weeks (desireable area of Melbourne). We have also used serviced apartments so this might be an option for you initially...

I'd recommend registering with rental agents when you arrive and having the necessary paperwork ready so that you're application for a place can go through more smoothly.

Good luck!

freebo

We stayed in a serviced apartment on Darling Harbor when we first arrived. It took about 5 weeks to find a rental but many do it in a couple of weeks or so.

Steve2009

Don't rent a place site unseen, it will end in tears and regardless, it is illegal. You don't mention where you are heading which will be a huge factor in how long it takes. I think you need to conservatively allow four weeks to secure a quality rental. Some will be quicker to find one, some will be slower and some couldn't find one in a bag of them.

cjgoodall

hi,

thanks for the responses, we will most probably head for the gold coast but may end up in the sunshine coast. What paperwork will we need to secure the property?

Also what is a serviced appartment, and where would we look for one, do they come furnished, are they cheaper than holiday lets?

Steve2009

A serviced apartment is basically a holiday or corporate let of an apartment.

There are good threads on here with checklists.