Renting in Melbourne
#16
Victorian Evangelist
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
Posts: 7,704
Re: Renting in Melbourne
Molly, I'm a landlord, at the moment with my Melbourne properties I'm getting no gaps between tenants, but only one application per property, with about 7 viewers. So that would indicate to me that the applicant/vacancy ratio is about equal right now and you should have no trouble getting a house, depending of course on the area you choose.
BB
BB
#17
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: Renting in Melbourne
Hey, don't worry too much about that, Molly. Check with your shipping agents but some of them include free/cheap storage for a few weeks on arrival (though, really, you'll be unlikely to need it). Plus if you create a rapport with the letting agents when you view and write up good covering letters together with proof of a good financial position, etc to accompany your application, you'll be snapped up pronto. It's been like that for each of the three houses we've rented this side. Just don't be too desperate by applying for a house that's not right for you. And make sure it has heating.
Last edited by paulry; May 22nd 2014 at 10:05 pm.
#18
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: Renting in Melbourne
Lots of agents don't hand out application forms until you've viewed the property, however they usually give it a day or two after the viewing before they submit the to the landlord. And you can usually send your scanned applications by email. Which reminds me, our first purchase in Australia (on day two, I think) was a cheap printer/scanner/photocopier.
#19
Re: Renting in Melbourne
Happy days- not!
Last edited by old.sparkles; May 22nd 2014 at 11:58 pm. Reason: fix quote
#20
Re: Renting in Melbourne
Molly, I'm a landlord, at the moment with my Melbourne properties I'm getting no gaps between tenants, but only one application per property, with about 7 viewers. So that would indicate to me that the applicant/vacancy ratio is about equal right now and you should have no trouble getting a house, depending of course on the area you choose.
BB
BB
Hey, don't worry too much about that, Molly. Check with your shipping agents but some of them include free/cheap storage for a few weeks on arrival (though, really, you'll be unlikely to need it). Plus if you create a rapport with the letting agents when you view and write up good covering letters together with proof of a good financial position, etc to accompany your application, you'll be snapped up pronto. It's been like that for each of the three houses we've rented this side. Just don't be too desperate by applying for a house that's not right for you. And make sure it has heating.
Lots of agents don't hand out application forms until you've viewed the property, however they usually give it a day or two after the viewing before they submit the to the landlord. And you can usually send your scanned applications by email. Which reminds me, our first purchase in Australia (on day two, I think) was a cheap printer/scanner/photocopier.
We tried to do that, but because of striking French dockers our furniture didn't arrive for six weeks after we moved in, so we were camping. I say "we" but my OH had to go to Japan for 2 of those weeks, staying in a posh hotel, whilst DD and I were left alone in a freezing cold house with nothing but what we had in our cases. Luckily the school that DD had just started had a boarding house and they lent us bedding, chairs, a table and plates etc. The parent's association scrambled round and lent us a double bed, TV and some oil heaters, and we went to K-mart and bought a very cheap microwave, blow up mattress for DD, toaster and kettle. (The oven in the rental was so disgusting that I had to get them back to clean it and make sure the rings worked, and that took weeks.)
Happy days- not!
Happy days- not!
Well Caroline stories like yours are what I don't want to happen to us.
#21
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 280
Re: Renting in Melbourne
I managed to find a rental and move in within one week of landing in Melbourne.
#23
Re: Renting in Melbourne
We sent our container over a month before we flew. This meant that any stuff we needed, we could borrow off friends, family and neighbours and then hand it back at the end. This also meant (we were seriously bloody lucky) that our container was delivered to our new house on the day we took ownership of it so no putting up with blow up mattresses etc.
#24
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2011
Location: Back in Melbourne
Posts: 312
Re: Renting in Melbourne
When we moved back to Melbourne two years ago I started work a day after arriving, bought a car that night and managed to find a rental property a week later, so it's definitely do-able. A lot will depend on where you're looking, what you need/want and your budget. Do you have areas in mind Molly?
#25
Re: Renting in Melbourne
If we can move over, land on the 24th November, view stacks and actually buy a house and move in on the 21st December, I'm fairly sure you can find and move into a rental in the same period.
We sent our container over a month before we flew. This meant that any stuff we needed, we could borrow off friends, family and neighbours and then hand it back at the end. This also meant (we were seriously bloody lucky) that our container was delivered to our new house on the day we took ownership of it so no putting up with blow up mattresses etc.
We sent our container over a month before we flew. This meant that any stuff we needed, we could borrow off friends, family and neighbours and then hand it back at the end. This also meant (we were seriously bloody lucky) that our container was delivered to our new house on the day we took ownership of it so no putting up with blow up mattresses etc.
I can't believe you managed to find, buy and move into a house under a month, that's incredible!
You were seriously lucky there!
When we moved back to Melbourne two years ago I started work a day after arriving, bought a car that night and managed to find a rental property a week later, so it's definitely do-able. A lot will depend on where you're looking, what you need/want and your budget. Do you have areas in mind Molly?
The areas we are looking at are Williamstown and the surrounding areas and also McKinnon.
However we have never been to any of these places so this could all change once we have had a look around.
#26
Re: Renting in Melbourne
Don't offer to pay rent up front unless you find you have to. I read a story the other day of someone who paid up front and then the house got repossessed and they were in all kinds of strife!
Most people do indoor camping for the first few weeks. You mention 14 weeks as an estimate you have received, obviously there is a range but that seems like one of the more conservative estimates to me. I would have thought 10 -11 weeks was more average. We were pretty quick, 9 weeks door to door.
#27
Re: Renting in Melbourne
Four weeks will be no problem getting a rental, I think 3-4 weeks is average and a lot of people are saying that the market is not as competitive as it was. It was pretty competitive when we arrived nearly four years ago, we haven't moved since.
Don't offer to pay rent up front unless you find you have to. I read a story the other day of someone who paid up front and then the house got repossessed and they were in all kinds of strife!
Most people do indoor camping for the first few weeks. You mention 14 weeks as an estimate you have received, obviously there is a range but that seems like one of the more conservative estimates to me. I would have thought 10 -11 weeks was more average. We were pretty quick, 9 weeks door to door.
Don't offer to pay rent up front unless you find you have to. I read a story the other day of someone who paid up front and then the house got repossessed and they were in all kinds of strife!
Most people do indoor camping for the first few weeks. You mention 14 weeks as an estimate you have received, obviously there is a range but that seems like one of the more conservative estimates to me. I would have thought 10 -11 weeks was more average. We were pretty quick, 9 weeks door to door.
Oh dear. Not a good story about the house getting repossessed, that never even entered my head. Thanks!
Regarding the shipping times, I think they are just trying to cover their backs there aren't they? This is for half a container, they said a full container is a lot quicker.
I'll know more when the bloke from the company comes and discusses all the ins and outs with us properly.
#28
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: Renting in Melbourne
Regarding shipping, your timelines look a bit tight. The removal companies usually need a lead time to secure shipping space. I'm sure they'll be able to send in the packers and collect your stuff fairly quickly but I'd be surprised if you're able to get your stuff onto a ship to Aus before you leave. Anything's possible I guess if you pay enough but I'd plan for a few weeks of "camping" in a rental, you'd be surprised how liberating it feels. Lead times are definitely a question I'd add to the list to ask each of the removals companies when they visit you for quotes. And expect the quotes to vary wildly, so I recommend getting at least 3 or 4.
It's a pity the search capability on this site isn't up to much these days because if you could dig deep into the data you find tons of info.
It's a pity the search capability on this site isn't up to much these days because if you could dig deep into the data you find tons of info.
#29
Re: Renting in Melbourne
Oh dear. Not a good story about the house getting repossessed, that never even entered my head. Thanks!
Regarding the shipping times, I think they are just trying to cover their backs there aren't they? This is for half a container, they said a full container is a lot quicker.
I'll know more when the bloke from the company comes and discusses all the ins and outs with us properly.
Regarding the shipping times, I think they are just trying to cover their backs there aren't they? This is for half a container, they said a full container is a lot quicker.
I'll know more when the bloke from the company comes and discusses all the ins and outs with us properly.
We indoor camped for about 4 weeks, I think it is a right of passage for the new migrant but boy, by then you are really grateful to see the container!
#30
Re: Renting in Melbourne
Regarding shipping, your timelines look a bit tight. The removal companies usually need a lead time to secure shipping space. I'm sure they'll be able to send in the packers and collect your stuff fairly quickly but I'd be surprised if you're able to get your stuff onto a ship to Aus before you leave. Anything's possible I guess if you pay enough but I'd plan for a few weeks of "camping" in a rental, you'd be surprised how liberating it feels. Lead times are definitely a question I'd add to the list to ask each of the removals companies when they visit you for quotes. And expect the quotes to vary wildly, so I recommend getting at least 3 or 4.
It's a pity the search capability on this site isn't up to much these days because if you could dig deep into the data you find tons of info.
It's a pity the search capability on this site isn't up to much these days because if you could dig deep into the data you find tons of info.
By the way, can you remember a few months ago when I was just taking a Move Cube with my paintings and bikes in?
It's a good job I'm not moving near you, I'd have you all round helping me unpack!
Yes I think they are building in some slack to the timeline. I didn't realise it was half container though, then they will have to match it up with another half, whereas with the full container, it can be packed and on its way.
We indoor camped for about 4 weeks, I think it is a right of passage for the new migrant but boy, by then you are really grateful to see the container!
We indoor camped for about 4 weeks, I think it is a right of passage for the new migrant but boy, by then you are really grateful to see the container!
Well B, I'm hoping to do my indoor camping at this side of the journey. At least that way, if I need anything I can just nip to my mums, because they certainly won't be any nipping to my mothers in Melbourne.