MartUK

Hi, we’re arriving in Brisbane on 31 May and have got a short-let for 3 weeks, so need to find somewhere more permanent to rent a bit snappy. Does anyone have any idea approx how long it takes to rent a place from viewing to moving in? Are we looking at days/weeks/months? Not keen to do a 6 mth let over the net before we arrive in case it’s not all it seems and staying in another short-let or hotel/motel is really only an emergency option.

Is it a good idea to visit letting/estate agents with cash deposit in hand. Also what paperwork should we take along – UK bank ref, UK mortgage ref, Australian bank details, passports – anything else?

Thanks in anticipation!

Mart & Lane

jad n rich

Take as many refs as you can and bank statements, rental agents here have a database where they check tenants previous rental history, credit etc, so if your off the boat you wont have a history so refs etc become vital. Once a house is viewed you fill in an application approval takes about 48 hours, it depends on the area/house tho, how many applications the agent will get, often the landlord will wait a few days to pick out the type of tenant they really want.

mand8002

That is what we did. We viewed a rental on a Thursday but couldn't move in till 9 days later due to there being existing tenants there.

Sue from Manchester

I found that popular places rented before I could fill in the forms. So look on the internet and find likely ones, arrange a viewing and then go to the agent's website. A lot of them have application forms you can download so you can go to the viewing ready to hand in your form if you want it. Obviously you need access to a computer, printer and photocopier. You need to attach copies of passports and other ID such as pay slips and references. There were 3 people after my current place on the first viewing. I went armed with a completed form so I was lucky. Some places you view on the net are available immediately, some are available a few weeks to a month in advance depending on when the current tenant's lease ends.

Good luck

Dreamaway 10

Sounds like a lot of hassle to me.
Not looking forward to that one especially if you really like it and have fierce competition from everyone else.When you say refs and bank statements do you mean your previous ones when in the uk as we only will have a few Ozzie ones.?

Nige37

Hi, we also had a 3 week short term when we arrived and had no problems getting the 6 month rental we wanted, we went to each rental office each morning to pick up the new listings and waited for the right house, to secure it quickly we paid the 6 months upfront.

vb2

hiya we stayed with family for two weeks which was way out west!!, then went to brisbane for a week and stayed with a friend, during that week, we viewed numerous houses, numerous suburbs and eventually found the one we wanted, by the Friday (five days later we arrived the sunday prior) - we put in an application and was accepted on the monday - we moved in on the thursday of the same week as we needed to get furniture first!!
providing the house is empty and you can get in straight away to view and apply, then it is literally 24-48 hours from acceptance of application, paying bond etc. and moving in!!

good luck
vb2

MartUK

Thanks all, as usual great advice. Will make sure we go armed with every ref we can think of. Really need to get a place asap as we've got a 2.5 yr old and a baby who'll be 4 mths by then so need somewhere we can rustle up a hearty meal of fishfingers or baby rice and to do the washing that comes with the territory.

Cheers, feeling much better about it now and will let you know how we get on when the time comes.

Mart & Lane