My tenant CV stood outWhen I applied for an apartment, I included a link to my HomeHak tenant CV. The landlord loved it and I got an invite to a viewing invite that day. It was easy.
Your connections vouch for you.Living at home, I didn’t have landlord references. With HomeHak I could show references from my Coach, my Lecturer and Friends who were happy to vouch for me. Thanks to their help, I have my own place.
My personal data is safeI used to be nervous about sharing ID and other personal information. Now I just share a link to my HomeHak CV. The landlord or agent can check what they need, and I can see on my dashboard when they reviewed my info. It just feels safer.
A readymade householdMy two friends and I linked our HomeHak CV’s and applied jointly for the house. The landlord loved that they could see everything up front about the three of us. It was easier for her and much better for us than moving in separately with strangers.
Ready anytime I want to moveMy renting details and references were all over the place. Now I store everything safely on HomeHak and I can use them whenever I like in the future. Handy if I move to a new country.
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This section of HomeHak provides blog posts and information for tenants, landlords and letting agents about how to rent a home that is topical.
Here at HomeHak, we focus on helping people solve their accommodation and rental problems, and find the perfect fit. Tenants outline what they want in a home so it can be matched and provided by landlords and letting agents.
Landlords can make an informed selection of trustworthy applicants to invite to their property for viewings. No more time is wasted for all parties by inviting mismatched applicants.
Letting agents can identify and select the best applicants to invite to home viewings and recommend to their landlord clients. The process is streamlined and applicants can be shortlisted in minutes, saving the letting agent time, and hassle. In addition, the letting agent can let property managers filter and select the best potential tenants and free up their agents to engage with landlords and grow the business.
Our goal is to make tenants, landlords and agents all have a better experience renting properties. The goal is for tenants to find an ideal home that suits their needs and where they can be happy. This means they are likely to report fewer issues to the landlord or agent. They will want to stay longer so they will pay their rent reliably. Consequently, less time will be spent on evictions and vacancy costs will be reduced.
Take a look at some of our articles below, and let’s see how we can help.
If you have any questions or queries, or you would like us to provide other helpful information for tenants and landlords don’t hesitate to contact us.
If you are a landlord or letting agent who has rented out properties to tenants in the past, you know that providing references is a crucial part of the process. Thus, we have constructed some useful guidance on how to provide references to tenants effectively.
In this article, you will also learn the benefits of using HomeHak.com to secure and streamline the referral process. Whether you are a seasoned landlord or agency or just starting in the rental industry, this post will provide you with valuable insights.
Keep reading to learn how to provide references to tenants with confidence and ease.
Include details such as the tenant’s move-in and out date and whether or not that was in line with the initial agreement.
Also, state if agreements regarding rental payments were honoured. Inform them as to whether or not the tenant gave sufficient notice before leaving your property.
2. Be honest and accurate
Don’t sugarcoat or exaggerate the tenant’s strengths or downplay your tenant’s weaknesses. Provide an unbiased, truthful and balanced assessment of the tenant’s suitability for another rental property.
This will help the tenant find a property that’s a good fit for them and protect your reputation as a referee. In some cases, rather than providing a negative reference for a candidate, a landlord or agent may opt not to provide a reference at all.
3. Provide relevant information
Include information that’s helpful to the tenant and their future landlord or agency. For example: the tenant’s rental history, reliability, consistency and any other relevant information that could impact their ability to rent a property.
Providing too much irrelevant information can be overwhelming and unhelpful. Remember to stick to the facts! Only provide information that is relevant to the tenant’s rental application. Avoid including any personal opinions or assumptions.
4. Get permission from the tenant
If a third party (such as another landlord or agency) approaches you for a reference, remember to contact your tenant before providing it. This will help protect the tenant’s privacy and ensure that their information is only shared with parties that they have authorised.
Explain to the tenant what information you will include in the reference. In addition, your tenants should be informed of who you will share the reference with. Never disclose any unnecessary confidential information in any form about the tenant or their family.
You will be helping the tenant’s future landlord or agent to verify the information provided. They should be able to contact you if they have a question about the reference or the tenant.
6. Do not discriminate
This means that you should not base your reference on factors such as:
Gender
Marital status
Family status
Age
Disability
Sexual orientation
Race
Religion
Membership of the Traveller community.
Instead, focus on the tenant’s relevant qualifications, attributes and suitability as a tenant.
7. Don’t retaliate against a tenant for exercising legal rights
This behaviour will likely reflect badly on you as the referee. Besides, it may perpetuate a culture of illicit activity in the rental property market.
8. Keep records of the references you provide
Make sure to keep copies of the reference form and any other relevant documents. For example: emails or phone call notes. This is crucial as they may be requested from you at a later date.
For accuracy and security, add your signature and the date to your written references. Send the document in a scanned .pdf format to avoid the document being formatted or changed without your knowledge.
9. Provide timely references
Respond promptly to reference requests and provide the reference within a reasonable time frame. This can help the tenant secure a property quickly.
10. Avoid using colloquial language
Remember that tenants who request a reference may not need it for the same city or country where they have rented a home or room from you. Therefore, you should avoid a casual communication style so the document travels well across different regions and cultures.
Keep the language straightforward. Otherwise, if a non-English speaker feeds your text into a translator, they could struggle to understand the context and your sentiment.
Considering everything, the process of providing references can be time-consuming and challenging. This is especially important when dealing with a large number of tenants.
HomeHak.com has made it easier for landlords and agencies to provide reliable references to past tenants seeking new homes. Tenants can simply fill in this form to request a reference from their previous landlord or letting agent.
This is a request for a reference from a Tenant on HomeHak.com
The landlord or letting agent will receive a request by email. As you can see in the below image, the request comes with a template you can edit and use:
This is a request for a reference in your role as Landlord on HomeHak.com
HomeHak allows landlords and letting agents to:
Provide ID-verified references to tenants with ease
Quickly and accurately provide trustworthy and credible references
Edit or withdraw your reference from your HomeHak account in case you change your mind
Delete your contact details (from that date, your reference will be attributed to “unregistered member”)
In addition, you can use the HomeHak Tenant Selector to filter and communicate with potential tenants. This will allow you to find new tenants for any properties or rooms that have become available since your tenant recently moved out.
HomeHak is a people platform that substantially cuts the time and cost of sourcing organised, trustworthy tenants for letting agents and some DIY landlords.
2. What does HomeHak do for Letting Agents?
HomeHak facilitates a database of organised home seekers in the market. We work with home seekers to prepare them before applying to you for homes.
When you want organised tenants, go to HomeHak Tenant Selector. Filter, sort, and select from the latest home seekers in the market and deal properly with a targeted number of applicants suited to your property.
There is no need to advertise and invite hundreds of applications for every property. Why antagonise thousands of desperate home seekers with property ads when each property only has a few beds? Focus on better-organised people with good-quality applications.
Cut productivity and financial costs of needlessly administering hundreds of emails and phone calls. Better concentrate your resources on servicing existing landlord clients well and winning new business.
Why incur the burden and risk of protecting data for hundreds of applicants instead of dealing properly with the home seekers who ideally suit your property?
3. How does HomeHak help home seekers and tenants?
HomeHak helps home seekers to organise, store and promote their home-related information so they can present their case for a home professionally.
Home seekers can apply for a home with one great HomeHak Tenant CV instead of repeatedly sharing sensitive information over insecure emails in formats that do not help their profile look good. Importantly, they have greater control over their information. We also help home seekers to demonstrate their trustworthiness with tools to verify their identity and collect character references.
4. How much does HomeHak cost for letting agents and DIY landlords?
Join and use HomeHak for FREE (without having to include your credit card details) as a letting agent for six months and a DIY landlord for one month. After this free trial period, there is a fee of €25 per agent/member – for the year. It is FREE to advertise a property for rent on HomeHak.
5. How does HomeHak earn income?
HomeHak is a people platform focused on providing value to home seekers, as well as letting agents, DIY landlords and homeowners who want to let a room.
Home seekers benefit from many features for free during the free trial period. Afterwards, home seekers get some features for free and can pay for additional features they find valuable. Membership is currently €25 per annum for someone employed. Students pay nothing for their first year and get discounted membership afterwards (currently €10/60% off). Anyone “retired” or “between jobs” pays nothing.
6. What are differences between HomeHak and property websites?
Price
Property websites make income from letting agents and DIY landlords advertising properties for a fee. In addition, they use properties as click bait and earn income from advertisers featured on the property pages. After a free trial, HomeHak earns a subscription from some home seekers, letting agents, DIY landlords and homeowners who rent a spare room. Advertising a property is FREE.
Focus
Property websites focus on advertising and property. However, HomeHak focuses on meeting the needs of people who:
Need to get selected to rent a home that meets their needs and want to protect their personal and home-related data.
Want to provide top quality professional letting agency services.
Are DIY landlords and homeowners who want to carefully select the most trustworthy ideal tenant/housemate/lodger and avoid overwhelming administration and GDPR risk.
Quality over quantity
Property websites, as advertising websites, strain to reach a high quantity of views of property advertisements and generate a high amount of enquiries for advertisers. HomeHak focuses on quality. We help letting agents and DIY landlords determine which home seekers’ needs are best met by their property and who would make the best tenant. They can then do a good professional job with a smaller number of the more organised applicants and save the cost of needless admin involving hundreds of unsuccessful applicants.
7. How can you get started with HomeHak?
If you want to receive HomeHak Tenant CVs as applications, just include this phrase in your property ads: “We welcome Tenant CVs from HomeHak.com as applications for this property”
Contact us for a demo if you also want instant access to trustworthy tenants. Support an alternative to the dominant property websites and save time and money.
If you’re looking for a place to call home in Ireland, you might want to consider living in an owner-occupied home. These types of accommodations – also known as “digs” – are occupied by the homeowner, meaning that the landlord lives on the premises.
Living with a “landlord” in their home may not always sound like the most attractive option. However, the many advantages of this type of accommodation make it an alternative worth considering.
In fact, owner-occupied homes are becoming increasingly popular among national and international students, interns and professional workers. They tend to be more affordable than student accommodation and offer more freedom and flexibility than traditional living arrangements.
Take a look at the advantages of living in an owner-occupied home and discover how to connect with landlords who offer this alternative option on HomeHak.com.
The 6 Benefits of Living in an Owner-Occupied Home in Ireland
The current housing situation in Ireland is not ideal, to say the least. There is a shortage of places available for rent, and the prices have been on the rise. As a result, many people are considering owner-occupied homes as an alternative.
Owner-occupied homes are pretty common in Ireland, especially in places where there is a high demand for rental properties. While it is not without its own set of challenges, there are some definite benefits to this living arrangement:
On top of that, electricity and gas have increased up to 45.2% and 47.11%, respectively, so far this year. Depending on the agreement you reach out with the landlord, you may not even need to worry about utility bills, or can at least split them between the landlord and the other occupants.
Living with your “landlord” does have another benefit. Is something broken at home? You can simply notify the homeowner once you are both at home so they have a look at it. It is definitely quicker and simpler than having to wait for them to find the time to come over to the property.
Owner-occupied homes tend to be better maintained than rental properties, as the homeowner has a vested interest in keeping the property in good condition. Therefore, it could be expected that they are willing to make minor repairs or at least notice faster any issues that could require a professional to fix. However, this will really depend on the person and how careful they are with their own property.
Some international students or working professionals will be attracted to the idea of living with an Irish person or family. Not only because it could be an opportunity to practise their English skills, but because the homeowner may be able to recommend places to visit and local food. For those who would prefer to live in an Irish home instead of sharing a house with other expats, living in an owner-occupied house could be just what they were looking for.
4. Safety and location
First-year university students may use a bit of company and help when leaving their homes for the first time. For international students, the need for support and security when moving to an unknown and foreign country is probably even more important. Imagine that, for instance, you are sick. At least you will know someone in the house who can call you a doctor.
Living in an owner-occupied home in Ireland has its advantages, chief among them being comfort and cleanliness. Digs are typically better maintained, more comfortable and usually cleaner than rented houses, as the homeowner lives in the property.
It’s no secret that digs tend to have better furniture and amenities than rental properties. For example, owner-occupied homes are more likely to have helpful items such as an ironing board, gardening tools, or household electrical appliances like a dishwasher or a dryer, and more expensive and comfortable furniture and fittings. Of course, there are always exceptions to every rule. On the whole, it’s fair to say that owner-occupied homes tend to be better equipped than rentals.
7. Freedom and flexibility
Living in an owner-occupied house gives you more freedom and flexibility. For example, some homeowners won’t require you to commit to a certain length of stay. You won’t have to worry about breaking a lease nor sign up for the utility bills in your name either. This can be a huge relief if you’re not planning to stay in one place for a long time.
8. Company
Not only do you get the benefit of living in the company of the owner of the property, but in some cases, the remaining spare room/s may also be rented to other international or Irish students. This can be a great way to get to know some new people from all over the world!
Setting expectations when living in an owner-occupied home
Having a clear set of house rules is always encouraged when sharing accommodation with others, be it your housemates or the homeowner. Indeed, most homeowners may want you to sign an agreement where both parties commit to respecting specific rules. This is certainly a great tool to set clear expectations in advance and a way to ensure the stay will work for both parties.
These are some of the questions that we recommend you clarify with the homeowner to ensure both of you get on well and have similar expectations around cleanliness and other house rules:
Will you pay bills, or are these included in the price?
Are you allowed to invite people to stay over?
Will you rent the room only from Monday to Friday or will you also spend the weekends?
Can you bring guests to the house?
Will you share the living room and some amenities, like the TV?
How will you divide the household chores and the cleaning of the communal areas?
Of course, owner-occupied homes come with their own responsibilities, but for many people, the pros outweigh the cons. If you’re considering making the switch, be sure to do your research and weigh all of your options before making a decision. In addition, an honest conversation with the homeowner beforehand could prevent conflicts from happening in the long run.
Get selected to live in an owner-occupied home on HomeHak
Have you decided to look for an owner-occupied property in Ireland? HomeHak can help you with your search!
1. State this preference on your Tenant CV
If you want to be found by homeowners looking for home seekers to share accommodation with, you can include this option option on your HomeHak Tenant CV:
First, click on your profile picture at the top right corner and then on “Settings, Create Profile, Menu.”
Under “Create my Tenant CV”, go to the “My Desired Home” section, and click on “Edit.”
Choose the option “Property and household type” on the left side of the screen.
Lastly, in the question “I/We would like to rent”, choose “Room in a home shared with owner (DIGS).”
Select the option: “Room in a home shared with owner (DIGS)”
2. Look for digs on HomeHak:
Homeowners can also list their spare rooms for rent on HomeHak.
The shortage of housing is also noticeable. On the 29th of November 2022, there were only 83 properties available in Daft.ie to lease across the whole county. On that same day, there were only 40 in the city.
This situation is hurting the overall prosperity of Cork and having a negative impact on Cork’s economy. Many people are finding it difficult to live here even despite having a secure job.
For instance, healthcare professionals are struggling to find a home in Cork, many of whom having relocated from overseas. Lacking these essential frontline workers could potentially have tangible effects on the population of Cork. Indeed, according to a study from Cork University Hospital and Cork University Business School in November 2022, the country’s health services would “collapse” without overseas doctors so change is urgently needed.
The increase in accommodation prices, coupled with the cost of living crisis, will also have a knock-on effect on other businesses in Cork city. People have less money to spend on goods and services, such as local shops and restaurants. Furthermore, the lack of affordable and adequate housing may deflect some people away from the city. This could ultimate cause a decline in Cork’s overall economic activity.
While at the moment, Cork “contributes 19% of Ireland’s GDP and has the 4th highest disposable income per capita in Ireland”. This situation can also deter employers from setting up businesses in Cork. Companies might not always be able to afford to pay their employees enough to cover their costs. As a result, the city will suffer from a lack of jobs and investment in the long run if no measures are put in place.
The government has been called on to invest in public transport and infrastructure in Cork to make it easier for people to commute to work. Therefore, the 2040 plan also includes investments in public transport in the Cork area.
The BusConnects program is expected to deliver a number of sustainable transport projects to improve “traffic management, bus priority and other smarter travel projects along with new urban cycling and walking routes”. The project has an estimated cost of €200m and is foreseen to be completed by 2027.
These measures should help alleviate the accommodation crisis in the medium-term. However, something needs to be done in the short term to provide more affordable housing options for existing and prospective employees in Cork.
The rent-a-room relief
The rent-a-room relief, for instance, aims to generate more available rooms for rent by providing a tax break for those who rent out a spare bedroom in their home. This scheme allows homeowners to rent out one or several rooms in their home for up to €14,000 per year without having to pay any tax on the income.
This can also help offset the increasing cost of living by providing homeowners with an extra source of income. While this incentive may not solve the housing crisis overnight, it can help to provide some much-needed relief. Besides, it is an especially relevant solution for a city like Cork, where there are thousands of unoccupied bedrooms.
Employers can do something about the housing crisis
Employers can also get involved with supporting their workers who are struggling to find a home. Their involvement is especially crucial for employees that have relocated to Cork for business reasons. They risk losing skilled and talented workers, wasting time spent recruiting, training and onboarding staff not to mention the decrease in productivity and engagement rates.
According to a recent Accenture research, Cork is the top city outside of Dublin for tech talent, with over 10,000 employees that have the in-demand skills that technology companies in Ireland are looking for. This figure shows the need for employers to get involved with alleviating the housing crisis in Cork. However, most of the time, the only role of the employers is just subsidising the cost of temporary accommodation.
Uniquely, with HomeHak.com, employers can now take a more active role in supporting their staff to get selected for a home. Companies can start by ensuring their employees are prepared and well presented during the home search process in Ireland. Employers can sponsor their employees’ HomeHak membership. This will help them with the creation of their HomeHak Tenant CVs. They can include their renting and work history, references, desired home, location, and their needs as tenants.
In addition, employers can create a HomeHak Employer page on HomeHak to promote their employees’ Tenant CVs and help them stand out from the crowd. This will generate visibility for employees and networking opportunities. Staff members could share the Employers’ HomeHak page with their landlords when they give notice that they are moving away. The employer can include links to the page on their social media accounts to highlight their employees’ Tenant CVs.
Networking can help alleviate housing crisis in Cork
In reality, the key to success in finding affordable accommodation has always been word of mouth. The more people one knows in a new city; the more likely one is to find a place to live. HomeHak’s strengthens home seekers networking power. Anybody can now help home seekers find a home in Cork.
With HomeHak, home seekers can share the link, unique code or QR code for their HomeHak Tenant CV with their family, friends and colleagues. As when job seekers share their LinkedIn profiles, sending a HomeHak Tenant CV helps home seekers position themselves at the top of mind of their connections whenever they hear of a home vacancy in Cork.
This brings a different and more proactive approach. The person in need of accommodation can proactively search for a home. HomeHak allows people to do something instead of waiting for the next property ad to appear, like everyone else. Their connections (such as coworkers, friends and social media followers) can support them in their home search in a very practical way by simply sharing their Tenant CV.
Everybody can share HomeHak Tenant CVs on any social platform, such as Facebook groups or LinkedIn. This shows the enormous potential for exponential visibility. Considering that 70% of people found their current job through networking, why not expect at least a similar result when searching for a home?
Cork can be a great place to live and work, but only if everyone has access to a safe and comfortable home. Waiting for the government to change the current situation is not the only way to go. We can all play a part in using our connections to support home seekers in Cork. Otherwise, we would be risking losing the spirit of this city.
Would you like to rent a spare room in your home but don’t know where to start? The usual process is to advertise your home on a property website. With the shortage of accommodation, you could be overwhelmed with applications. Another challenge is you don’t know much about the applicants, so how do you know who to trust? Maybe you don’t feel comfortable inviting strangers to view your home.
HomeHak’s Tenant Selector allows homeowners to filter, sort, select and contact organised home seekers who could be happy in their home. Make an informed selection about who your property would suit best. If you do decide to advertise your spare room, ask for applicants to submit their HomeHak Tenant CVs so that you can filter, sort and select applicants in a consistent format in one place.
Once you have selected someone to view your home, there are many factors to consider and discuss with your potential new resident. This article prompts you to enquire about typical topics and what you may want to agree on at the beginning of any arrangement.
Important
This post focuses on an arrangement where an owner-occupier invites a home seeker to rent a room in their home. This is not considered the same as a landlord-tenant arrangement. Landlord and tenant legislation do not cover you, so the rights and obligations under that legislation do not apply to you. For example, you are not obliged to register as a landlord with the RTB. This also means that residents living in your home live under a licensee agreement, not a tenancy agreement, and are only entitled to reasonable notice if you terminate the arrangement.
In this article, we use the terms “homeowner” instead of “landlord” and “resident”, “lodger” or “home seeker” instead of “tenant”.
Selecting your resident – some considerations and discussion points
Once you have selected the home seekers and invited them to view your home, there are topics we recommend you discuss with your potential resident before selecting who will move in.
Furthermore, you can also establish a formal agreement between yourself as a homeowner and your future resident. There is an example template linked at the end of this article.
Duration and Nature of the Stay
Discuss the intended length of the accommodation period and whether or not that period could be extended. Enquire about their plans and how long they need accommodation. You may have future commitments and need the room back after 6 or 12 months or at a certain date. It is fair to manage expectations so your resident can plan accordingly. Communicate openly about the availability of the room, as flexibility is often attractive to residents.
Damage Deposit
If you are operating a damage deposit system, be clear about the conditions relating to the deposit and provide the resident with a receipt. Make it clear that the damage deposit is not rent and will be returned at the end of the accommodation period if all goes well. If any damage does ever occur, discuss the situation immediately. This will be less awkward than introducing it as surprise news at the end of the accommodation period. Return the deposit if no damage has been caused on the resident’s departure.
Utilities
Give the resident sufficient information about the approximate cost of utility bills. Make special considerations for individual situations. If the resident will be working from home, they could maybe contribute a certain percentage of the electricity or gas bill to reflect the extra consumption.
Agree on the amount of rent, the day and frequency of payments, the method of payment, and to who it should be paid. Make it clear what is included in the “rent” and if utilities are included, for example. If there are situations when the rent can be increased or decreased in future, make these clear in advance.
Extra services
You may want to offer the resident extra services with the room, such as a secure parking space, cooked meals, laundry services, bed linen changes, etc. If you propose such and agree on additional services with your resident, make sure you factor in the cost of the services into the final agreed rent price for the room. Remember, if services are included in the rent, they must be delivered.
Common Areas
Outline which areas of the home may be considered common areas and which are off-limits to residents. . Generally, a resident would have access to the kitchen, living room, bathroom, back kitchen/utility room, and their bedroom. Still, every household varies, and if you prefer a resident to use a specific toilet, for example, that should be communicated.
Inform the resident of any time limits which may apply to the use of amenities such as the shower, the heating, the tumble dryer, etc. Most people can appreciate the rising cost of living, especially concerning utility bills. If you want to set consumption limits, make the residents aware before they move in to avoid potential disputes later.
Other Limitations
To rent a spare room in your home without incidents, you may want to discuss other limitations. For instance, consider if there will be limitations on visitors, noise, hours of entering and leaving home, use of common areas, etc.
Expectations and Preferences
Discuss any personal expectations, pet peeves or preferences you have regarding your home. It could be related to anything from noise levels to security to cleanliness and so on. Every home and every person is different. If you are accustomed to doing things a certain way, it’s important to remember that people cannot read your mind! Open communication and setting reasonable boundaries early on will help to avoid any frustrations in the future.
Smoking
Many homeowners don’t allow smoking. However, if you permit smoking, discuss the rules for smoking at your home. Outline if there are designated areas, where to dispose of cigarette butts, where to empty ashtrays, etc.
Sharing of Household items
There may be some everyday products that you are comfortable with your resident using. If you are willing to share, we recommend creating a checklist of items to agree on, for example, milk, sugar, tea and coffee, toilet paper, kitchen towels, cleaning products, dish soap or dishwashing tablets, shower gel, shampoo, laundry detergent, etc. Discuss with the resident which common products they have permission to use and how such items will be bought. If certain products should not be shared, discuss these in advance.
Schedules can be helpful where multiple people are living in the home. Everyone has different day-to-day lives. It’s considerate and useful to compare schedules with the resident. If necessary, agree on times of use for the busiest areas of the house. For example, you might schedule the use of the kitchen for cooking meals or the use of the main bathroom for taking showers or baths. The goal is to ensure that everybody’s daily routine can run smoothly. Understanding everybody’s schedule from the start can also avoid disruption if, for example, you or your resident must work awkward shift patterns.
Keys
Discuss the resident’s responsibilities regarding holding keys to your home. Specify any conditions, e.g. don’t make copies or that there is a fee to replace lost keys.
Security
For many homeowners, knowing there is a trusted resident in the home offers added security. Demonstrate to the resident how to properly lock doors and windows and set alarms or any other security equipment in the home. Specify your expectations about locking up when the home is unoccupied or before bed. If you have other people nominated as keyholders for your home, such as neighbours, family members, or a security company, make sure your resident is also in the loop.
Household Services/Contracts
Explain any services you may have contracted related to the home and how the resident should handle them in your absence, e.g. refuse collection, signing for post & packages, allowing access to builders, childminders, window cleaners, etc.
Household Responsibilities
Discuss the sharing of household responsibilities with the resident. This might involve, for example, taking turns each week to clean the common areas of the home, watering the plants/garden or taking out the bins to be collected, etc. Discuss and outline the expectations in advance, so there is no confusion later.
Embracing differences
Maybe your resident comes from a different cultural or ethnic background? If so, it is considerate to gen up in advance so that you can ask thoughtful questions about cultural differences that might affect the experience for both of you. Ask the resident what a typical day in their life looks like. Enquire about food and eating habits, work or study hours. You will possibly discover more similarities than differences and more conveniences than issues. For example, if your resident is from Spain, they may like to cook dinner later in the evening, allowing you full use of the kitchen during Irish dinner time!
Pets
Disclose plenty of information about your pets to the resident in advance. Make sure to introduce your pet to the resident before they move in It is important to avoid issues with allergies or where a resident has a fear of animals. Before agreeing to a property viewing, disclose details like the type of pet, size, temperament, etc. Be clear about any expectations concerning your pet, like ensuring doors, gates and windows be kept shut.
Would like your resident to feed your pets sometimes or keep an eye on them while you are away? Would you be happy to recognise such services with a discount on rent? This could be a great advantage if you have pets and would like to rent a spare room in your home. However, don’t forget to mention such expectations in advance.
If you agree with a resident that they can bring a pet to your home, obtain the same information about their pet.
Photo by Evieanna Santiago on Unsplash
Special Requirements
Discuss with your resident if you, any other household member or the resident, have special requirements, such as a potential need for minor medical assistance. For example, if someone has a severe nut allergy, it would be a good idea to inform all household members where they can find Epi-Pen and how to administer it – just in case. Other conditions might include diabetes, epilepsy, low blood pressure etc.
Emergency numbers
In the event of an emergency, discuss with your resident what to do. Maybe you have an accessible list of phone numbers for local emergency services and family members or neighbours. For your resident, it might be a good idea to share contact details for a family member of theirs, a friend or their workplace in case of any unfortunate circumstance.
Notice period
Agree on a reasonable notice period for termination of the agreement in advance. People living in your home as residents are living under a licensee agreement, not a tenancy agreement, and are only entitled to reasonable notice if you choose to terminate the agreement. Should you require the resident to move out of your home, the process is more transparent if you can invoke a previously agreed-upon notice period.
For when your resident wants to leave, outline how your resident must communicate the notice (e.g. email or letter). State how long in advance they should advise you of the leaving date. Make it clear that you will return the damage deposit at the end of the final rent period if everything is satisfactory.
Sample homeowner-resident agreement
Finally, if you rent a spare room in your home, consider having all the norms in writing. To make it easier, we have created this sample agreement (click here to download). Feel free to modify this sample agreement outlining living arrangements to your liking.
Further reading
If you would like to rent a spare room in your home, we recommend you look at this article.
If you are reading this, you have probably considered or have some experience renting a room in your home. Did you know that Eurostat figures confirmed that Ireland had the third-highest share of people living in under-occupied dwellings in the European Union in 2019? That means that we have more spare rooms than most EU countries. Despite this fact and a recent increase in residential construction, the reported housing shortages in 2019 in Ireland were estimated to range between 32,000 and 50,000 units.
While some people may be understandably sceptical about opening their homes to new people, platforms like HomeHak.com are here to relieve the apprehension by offering a solution where landlords can choose a resident for their home by utilising HomeHak Tenant Selector’s detailed filtering system.
Gain access to a pool of pre-qualified tenants with HomeHak
Using the HomeHak platform, tenants can take a number of steps to make their Tenant CV desirable to homeowners, landlords and agents seeking to fill available accommodation without the overwhelming response of posting the listing on a public platform. In addition, tenants can verify their ID using Stripe, and invite ID-verified users to write references on their behalf. They can also display rental history, employment history and their available budget.
Therefore, you can easily identify candidates who fall into the price range you are expecting for the rooms you are offering. Renting a spare room in your home is now much easier and safer!
7 reasons to rent your spare room with HomeHak
Here are some of the many benefits of using HomeHak.com to find a tenant for your home:
1. Earn extra income & split the cost of living
The number one reason people around the world rent rooms in their homes is to earn extra cash! You can also save more money by sharing the cost of living with tenants. The Rent-a-Room Relief scheme provides an incentive to homeowners in Ireland who want to rent a room in the house that they occupy as the main resident. Essentially, it is available to live-in landlords. Those benefiting from the scheme can earn up to €14,000 in a single tax year, exempt from income tax, PRSI, and USI. Besides, if you decide to sell your home, the scheme will not affect your capital gains tax.
Supplementing your income by renting a room in your home could potentially allow you more freedom. You might choose to work less, take more holidays, pay off debts, grow your savings and more with the extra income.
2. Provide much-needed accommodation for frontline workers and students
Nurses and other health care providers are frequently travelling inter-county or from overseas to work in hospitals and care facilities in Ireland. Some have faced huge difficulties securing adequate housing in the vicinity of their workplaces.
Similarly, students returning to university in September have also been challenged with finding a place to call home for the academic year. Some students are seeking part weekly basis accommodation, which may be a good fit for homeowners who like the idea of renting a room but would also like to have the house to themselves or some family time at the weekend. HomeHak’s Tenant Selector can help to identify students from local universities or staff from local hospitals who may be in need of a home in your area.
3. Exchange friendship, culture, food and language
People from all over the world have created their Tenant CVs and are looking for places to live on HomeHak. Would you like to learn about new cultures, and foods or learning a new language? Hosting an international resident at your home could be an exciting opportunity! This may allow you to have an immersive experience and meaningful connection with interesting new people.
4. Benefit from the extra security, especially for those living alone
You’ve probably heard the old saying “There’s safety in numbers”. Having an extra person at home will provide you with extra security should you ever be unlucky enough to be a target or victim of a crime or have an accident in your home. You may also feel more at ease when on vacation or on a work trip, knowing that someone is at home taking care of your house. Your residents might even take care of your pets and plants while you’re not home!
5. Combat isolation in older adults
With an ever ageing population, there has been an increasing number of older adults who live alone in Ireland. According to the Loneliness, social isolation, and their discordance among older adults findings from The Irish Longitudinal Study on ageing older adults who lived alone had a higher risk of social isolation than those who lived with others. The study also notes: “Loneliness and social isolation are not a necessary fact of the ageing process and recent efforts to alleviate these potentially damaging phenomena should be encouraged.”
Matching the numerous individuals in need of accommodation with older adults who live alone, such as empty nesters whose children have grown up and moved out, could provide a strong and effective relief to the social isolation often experienced by the demographic.
6. Get some extra help around the house
Some residents may have special skills they can offer you. For example, they could be qualified landscape gardeners, chefs or professional care providers. Suppose they are open to carrying out some tasks you have available in the home. In that case, you could propose a once-off or ongoing reciprocal agreement. For example, a reduction in the cost of rent in exchange for specified services provided in the home.
7. Set out your own terms – Your house rules apply
Since you are the owner of the home, you can set out any rules/guidelines and precedent between yourself and the resident in the form of a written agreement prior to them moving into your home. Deposits, rent, and conditions can all be defined by you as the landlord. Spend some time considering what conditions might be important to you and your lifestyle or living situation. After that, craft an agreement around your needs. This will ensure you find a tenant who is a great fit and agrees to uphold the agreement you propose in exchange for the accommodation provided.
Of course, there are also various drawbacks to renting a room in your home. New relationships can be tricky to navigate, and you might not be accustomed to sharing your personal space with others. If you are receiving benefits you should check how the extra income could affect your entitlements.
Being a landlord may not be the perfect solution for everyone’s unique situation. However, if you have an urge to rent a room in your home, have good communication skills and are open to new experiences it could be the perfect opportunity to earn substantial extra income with a small amount of work contributed compared to if you were to earn the money at work.
Sign up to rent your spare room/son HomeHak today and select a tenant for your home.
Struggling to find a home in today’s competitive rental market? In this guide, we will show you why using a Tenant CV will give your a competitive edge over other applicants.
Finding a new home can be as important as scoring your dream job. It’s your base where you go to unwind, recharge your batteries and steel yourself to take on the world outside. Your home is your sanctuary where you should feel safe and where memories are made and shared. It is a representation of you. You deserve a big say in where you are going to live! So how can you influence where you live and avoid wasting time on tenant application forms for properties that don’t suit you?
Take control with a Tenant CV that will help you put your best self forward, get noticed and secure the dream home that will suit your lifestyle.
A good Tenant CV is a profile that expresses your attributes when searching for a new home and promotes you as a suitable tenant. A great Tenant CV goes further by including your particular requirements in a home. This takes some frustration out of the rental application process. Providing all useful and essential information for the homeowner upfront. while also outlining your own needs.
Many of us are familiar with the famous quote “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”. Here are our top 6 reasons to prepare yourself for a competitive rental market with a Tenant CV. One that that best reflects you and what you need in a home.
6 Ways A Tenant CV Can Aid Your House-Hunting
1. Define Your Needs
If you don’t want to join the59% of people that find it difficult to find a suitable home, you can start by reflecting on and defining your needs. By identifying what is most important to you, you can skip the frustration and waste of time on pointless viewings. Ask yourself questions, do you want to be close to work? Do you need a garden? Are there any amenities that are essential to you?; and then make it known on your Tenant CV. If something really is important to you then make it clear. Great homeowners value long term tenancies with good tenants and if they can accommodate you, more often than not they will.
2. Express Yourself & Stand Out
Once you have defined your criteria for a home, it’s time to show the agents and homeowners why you are the best candidate.A Tenant CV simply puts more power in your hands. It enables you to present yourself beyond the restraints of a standard tenant application. A profile of yourself with your living objectives will convey your individuality. It helps the reader understand what type of tenant you are likely to be. If you’re comfortable with it and you’re using an online Tenant CV tool, include a short video to showcase your personality.
Homeowners look for evidence they can trust the people renting their property. An impressive Tenant CV is your best opportunity to present your evidence and separate yourself from the crowd, so you get selected ahead of your competition.
For homeowners and letting agents, the top priority is to find someone who is going to look after the property and pay the rent reliably on time. According to a survey conducted by DKM Consultants in 2014 for the RTB, some primary reasons agents choose not to rent to tenants in Ireland are because they are worried about property damage, rent being paid on time, or they don’t trust the applicant. Selecting the right tenant has a lot to do with human nature and finding reasons to like somebody.
Preparing a great Tenant CV allows you to demonstrate that you are an organised responsible person by answering key questions and providing relevant information. Not only can a resume showcase your ability to care for a property, but it can also demonstrate your ability to pay. Paying bills on time and maintaining order requires you to be on top of things. What’s more, you can also include any written references in your Tenant CV.
4. Address Potential Doubts About Your Tenant Application
Have you ever been in a situation where you feel an explanation will help people to understand you, but you don’t have the chance to get your point across? A Tenant CV is a means to explain things that might otherwise be perceived as negative in your application. Some examples are changing jobs, relocating often, or perhaps being a first-time renter. Being a first-time renter can be a positive thing, as it’s your chance to kick-start an excellent rental history. The Tenant CV is a great tool to explain peculiarities like this in your objectives to a potential homeowner.
5. Save Time
Oftentimes homeowners and agents will invite the first 20 ad respondents to a property Viewing. You need to be fast if a great property pops up on a property website.Having all your key information on hand will help to submit an application ASAP!
A Tenant CV prepared in advance greatly simplifies and accelerates this process. Usually, homeowners are happy to accept a good tenant CV, as long as the information is true and the references stack up. You can shine even further by including pre-written references and getting your identity independently verified in advance. This will reduce time on tenant background checks and increase your chances of being selected. Make the landlord or agent job easier when it comes to narrowing down applications and they will look kindly on you.
In addition to streamlining the application process, outlining your wants and needs in a home on your Tenant CV means that you can save time viewing unsuitable properties.
6. Turn Competition Into An Opportunity
It’s no secret that house and apartment hunting can be competitive, butconsidering the above, you can use competition to your advantage! You just need to take the initiative to put yourself on top. Whether you’re a 1st time, or 10th-time renter, being prepared and taking measures to stand out will help establish yourself as an impressive candidate. It’s like applying for that dream job if you’re proactive and go above and beyond; you should validate why you should be chosen.
Tenant CVs: The Key Takeaways
In this guide, we have looked at how rental resumes allow you to define your needs, express yourself, demonstrate trustworthiness, explain doubts, save time and get ahead of the competition. It’s clear that a Tenant CV is a tool that will give you a competitive edge when searching for your new home.
Like practising for a job interview, those that are prepared are more likely to succeed than those that aren’t. There’s no doubt that securing viewings or a lease can be challenging; but by having a Tenant CV on hand, you can be more prepared than others. A strong Tenant CV will impress agents and homeowners and ensure you stand out in a pile of applications.
The sooner you find a home that’s right for you, the sooner you can start living and be happy!
Looking to move to a new rental property with your cat or dog? Read our helpful guide for advice on how to find pet-friendly rentals in Ireland.
It’s difficult to find pet-friendly rentals.
Whether you are renting a house or apartment, it is important to find the home that best suits your needs. This often means having to search for a property that will allow you to have pets. Pet owners are forced to live in unsuitable properties or keep their pets without consent from their landlord, risking eviction.
Landlords and tenants should be honest with each other. The relationship is built on trust and honesty. It’s important to stay open about the situation from day one of renting.
Pets are an important part of many households. Here are HomeHak’s top guidelines and tips to make the process easier when looking to rent a home with your pet in tow!
Having a pet can give you an edge in the home renting competition.
With so many people applying to rent homes, it can be difficult to stand out from the multitude of other applications on the letting agents desk. Having a pet presents a practical opportunity to demonstrate how responsible you will be as a tenant. If you go about it in the right way, there’s a better chance you will encourage landlords and letting agencies to allow you to rent with your pet. Think about how your pet can help you can stand out from the crowd; Include a pet-CV with your application and an eye-catching photo of your furry friend
References are important for humans, and yet they are often presented as an after-thought and the end of the renting process. Imagine how impressed a landlord or agent will be when your pooch romps up with verifiable pet references from professionals like its vet, previous landlords and neighbours at its old address.
Be organised with your home-search process
If you’re looking to find a pet-friendly rental home, there are some steps that can make the process easier.
Plan ahead. Searching for a pet-friendly property can take more time than the usual house-hunting process. Give yourself plenty of time to find what you want without rushing things – this will help avoid disappointment down the line! In addition, when you have a pet in tow, you need to have your new property available before you must move out of your current home as finding temporary accommodation with a pet is frustratingly hard, and expensive.
Check the pet policies of each property you’re interested in before attending a viewing. Speak with or email the landlord or letting agent and check if pets like yours are allowed before viewing any properties. Maybe dogs are allowed if they’re below a certain size.
Be open-minded about the location or size of the property you are searching for. City centre living might be on your wish list, but it typically means smaller properties and less room for your furry friend to exercise. Pet-friendly properties in popular locations with lots of amenities will typically be more expensive. Pet-friendly homes in suburbs may provide a better value for money overall, including cheaper rent prices and fewer pet restrictions. The downside of suburbia though could be longer commute times and more time for your pet to be on its own, which isn’t ideal.
Be proactive and spread the word. Rather than just search endless property ads for the rare mention of “pets allowed” or “pets considered”, take the initiative with your home search. Post your need for a pet-friendly home on your social media pages and message boards. Let your friends look with you in their own networks. Make sure to share and post the link to your tenant CV with your pet-cv section prominently displayed so people with solutions can get in touch.
How to secure the ideal pet-friendly property when you find one
Pet-friendly properties are often limited in supply, so it’s important to have your plan for securing it primed well in advance of when one becomes available.
Collate information about your pet in advance so you are prepared.
Pet-friendly properties will often have a pet section on the application form. In these properties, you can be sure every applicant will put their best foot/paw forward and so it’s important to include as much information about your pet that you can.
Have your Pet CV ready for when pet-friendly rental properties are presented
When pets are not mentioned on the property ad, but you love the property, it’s worth checking whether the landlord will consider you and your pet. Rather than just ask the question and inviting an easy “No”, make a polite request by including an impressive Pet-CV with your enquiry. It may cause them to pause and consider inviting you for a property viewing.
Presenting a well-organised tenant cv is a must if you want to impress landlords or agents. Moreover, when you want to encourage them to allow your pet to stay, include a section for your Pet’s CV.
Pet CVs should describe what type of animal they are, where they live now and how long you’ve had them.
Provide any relevant medical history and vaccination records as well as confirmation about micro-chipping and relevant licenses.
Tell the story of your pet and communicate a little about your pet’s personality, their good behaviour, any training they have had.
Of course, you should include a picture of your pet, on its own or with you.
It all comes back to showing trustworthiness
You need the Landlord or agent to like your pet and soften any pre-conceived concerns they might have about potential issues with noise, fouling, or damage to people or property.
It’s very valuable to include verifiable references for your pet. If you have previous landlords who will vouch for the good behaviour of your pet as well as a vet, neighbours or the dog-kennel, make sure to include written references from all of them. Don’t be overwhelmed by the thought of securing such references as the process has been streamlined by HomeHak.com.
Introduce your dog or pet to any potential landlords
Introducing your pet at the first opportunity can immediately put any landlord’s mind at ease and dispel their fears. Bring them along for a property viewing so they can see how well behaved it is, but be mindful of other animals that may not want a trip in a carrier!
Offer to pay for a professional cleaning at the end of the tenancy.
You have a responsibility to look after a property that you rent. Over the course of time carpets, soft furnishings or walls can get extra grubby after muddy paws or stains from little accidents! In some cases, allergens can be an issue for future tenants who are not comfortable with pets, making the property harder to rent or sell. Check if you can fund your landlords extra cleaning services when it is time to move out. You can offer to agree or pay these costs upfront instead of waiting until the end of the tenancy.
Offer to pay a special deposit for damages caused by your pet
To assure your landlord that you’re a responsible pet owner, offer to pay an additional deposit for pets. Even the best cat or dog can get up to mischief and it’s as well to acknowledge the possibility by agreeing on a special damages deposit upfront.
Some tips for moving into your new pet-friendly rental home
Moving into a new home is exciting. Moreover, it is easy to get caught up in the euphoria. However take stock of a few important things before moving day.
Check your lease for all mention of pets. Also, ensure you are comfortable that it reflects everything you agreed in relation to your pets. Don’t be afraid to mention any omissions or mistakes. A good landlord or agent will be just as keen as you to have everything contractually in good shape before the move-in date.
Additionally, ensure the contract agrees the amount for special cleaning or pet damage deposit.
Moving day can be one of the most stressful days for humans. Having to pack and clean. Additionally, the stress for our pets that are going through a big life change. The day will arrive when you’re getting ready to move house with your dog in tow. Take steps now to make it as stress-free as possible! Consider asking friends or family if they would mind taking care of your pet while you get all packed up.
Honesty is the best policy
To have a successful landlord/tenant relationship, one must be honest about their pet. Be open and upfront with your prospective landlord or property agent. Assure them that you won’t break any trust by sneaking in a pet without permission. Show them you take responsibility for your best friend. You do not want the tenancy agreement terminated due to unauthorized pets. You may not have an opportunity to live at this location ever again!
On the other hand, do good preparation and take a proactive approach. This way you can be more assured of finding pet-friendly rental accommodation to suit the whole family. Circumstances will change and you might decide to move home in future. A good relationship with your landlord or agent will auger well for good references on your tenant cv.
For more information about the regulations around private rented accommodation with a pet in Ireland, take a look at this guide from Threshold.
Key Takeaways
When looking for pet-friendly rentals with your pet, there are a number of steps you can take:
Being open and upfront about your pet in advance when enquiring or before signing any tenancy agreement
Keeping your pets in accordance with all rules set out in agreements such as not allowing animals on furniture
House training, (i.e., providing sufficient litter trays)
Taking care not to disturb neighbours during odd working hours.
Moving out of home is one of the biggest life changes you’ll ever experience. It’s stressful, exciting and can be overwhelming at times.
If you’re about to move out of home for the first time, congratulations! You are one step closer to an exciting chapter in your life. It’s a special moment in life, but becoming a first-time renter comes with its own challenges. Some people may find it more difficult than others to adjust to such big changes. That’s why we’ve compiled 10 things to consider when getting started!
1. Get Organised!
It can be hard when you’re on your own for the first time, but by getting organised and having a routine will help keep things on track. Make sure that you establish a daily, weekly and monthly routine and stick to it. Even if it’s something small like organising your clothes every Sunday, it will make sure that things are folded and hung in the right order. Having a sense of routine makes moving out all the more enjoyable!
2. Budgeting is a Must
To make sure you can afford all the things you need to get by, you should set yourself a budget. Make sure that you have allocated money for rent, bills, food and socialising. Without a strict budget it can be easy to overspend on impulse purchases which could leave your bank account empty in no time. Using a budget calculator is an amazing way to wrap your head around expenses for the first time.
3. Learn to Cook
Learning to cook will not only save you money, but it’s healthier too. If you can’t or don’t want to cook then you should at least learn how to make a few cheap easy meals that won’t cost the earth! These days there are tons of resources to help you learn some basic cooking skills. Start off by searching up one-person recipes like these. This way you can learn how to portion meals properly. You’ll be hosting dinner parties in no time!
4. Learn How to Clean your House
It may seem silly, but if you don’t know how to do these things already then now is the time to learn. By doing this, you’ll ensure that your house stays nice and tidy on a regular basis without too much effort on your part! Cleaning can be costly if you hire professionals, so it’s much better to do it yourself if you’re on a budget. Maintaining your rented accommodation will also keep you on good terms with the landlord – they will appreciate you more for taking proper care of the house.
5. Keep Up to Date With the News
Moving out for the first time can take up all of your energy. Try to stay in contact with what is happening around you and in the world at large by reading newspapers daily or watching local TV news. This will help you be well informed about the latest issues that are ongoing around you.
Photo: Noemi Macavei Katocz
6. Join a Community Group
Community groups provide peer support and social opportunities, which will help you make friends and become more confident as you adjust to life on your own. You don’t have to join one that is specifically for people who live alone – any one of them will do! There may even be neighbourhood social media groups that you can join. These are great for keeping you in the loop of what’s going on in the area – farmers markets, bake sales, charity events etc! Check out our other blog posts that feature local guides.
7. Get Out and Meet People
Adjusting to new surroundings can sometimes feel off-putting. You don’t have to go it alone, so get out there and socialise. Try making friends with your neighbours, ask your friends if they want to do things together regularly or pop into a local club to see what’s going on. There are plenty of activities that you can take part in! It’s never too late to take up a new sport, dancing, art classes etc.
8. Be Aware of Safety
You may need to take some precautions when it comes to protecting yourself when moving to a new place. From measures like having good locks and being aware of your surroundings to being able to use a phone properly. Keep important numbers close to hand – local police, trustworthy friends and neighbours, your doctor – have these to hand for your own peace of mind. You can search for your local Garda Station here. Check out our article on scams to be aware of here.
9. Go Easy On Yourself
Moving out for the first time can be very stressful, so try not to do too much at once. All of a sudden you’re faced with huge changes – living with new people, sorting out utilities, getting everything in order, moving all your belongings. It can be a lot! So give yourself some slack.
10. Stay in Touch.
Keep in contact with your family and friends . Although you will be out on your own now, that doesn’t mean that your life should change drastically. Make sure that you spend time with the people who love you and who are important to you – it’s much better than spending all of your time alone! Invite your friends around to your new place and start a new tradition of cosy tea and chats.
A Tenant CV is a document you can use when applying for rentals. It shows off what you’re looking for in a home, and how great a tenant you can be! When moving out for the first time, property searching can be long-winded and overwhelming, but a Tenant CV can help reduce some frustrations. Because it has all your essential information in one place, you can use it over and over again! Not only does it make your life easier, but it also looks great to landlords searching for the perfect tenant. So if you want to simplify the search process, sign up to HomeHak today!
Have you ever spotted an ideal rental that ticks all the boxes, but you can see that thousands of others have also viewed the same property ad? Stand out from the crowd by learning how to ace a great rental application.
Even at the best of times, the process of finding your next home can be overwhelming. For starters, it can be tough just trying to organise all your own information. The renting marketplace is fierce, and the last thing anyone wants is for their application to get lost in a sea of emails amongst other applicants.
Learn how to ace your rental application and making sure your rental application stands out from the crowd is essential! It’s just a case of expressing that you’re the ideal tenant for the property.
A Tenant CV is a snapshot of who you are and what you’re interested in, similar to how your professional Job CV works. It lists information that a potential landlord will need to know, like your living preferences, employment history, renting history, landlord and employment references. These are usually requested in the later stages of the application process, but an excellent Tenant CV cuts right to the point.
Supplementing your rental application with a Tenant CV is an easy way to express your values and get noticed by landlords. It gives you a chance to tell the landlord how reliable you are, with proof to back it up. Additionally, it streamlines the application process for both of you by cutting to the chase, meaning everyone can reap benefits.
How to ace first impressions
First impressions are important, so introduce yourself in a friendly and honest way! Don’t worry about dressing it up with embellishments or fancy words – you just want to show that you’re genuine, which will stand to you throughout the entire application process and how to ace the process.
Include some basic information about yourself that you think is important for landlords to know: Where you want to live; what commute options you prefer, and your availability for viewings. Put yourself in the shoes of a property manager; what do you think they’d be hoping to read? What can you say to show them you’re an ideal tenant and they should select you over other applicants?
You’re in control of how much information you choose to be visible on your profile, so share as much as you feel is necessary. When you’re creating your Tenant CV, a goal to be mindful of is to establish trust between you and potential landlords. This helps to form a strong relationship further down the line.
You can do this by including relevant information on your Tenant CV, such as a bio, supporting documents, and sometimes a photo or video introduction can help (if you’re comfortable sharing them). From a landlord’s perspective, this helps increase the chances of selecting someone who could be happy in the property during the selection process. You’re allowing them to regard you as a person in a way that is just not possible through a regular email enquiry.
Including references
The addition of references from an independent third party essentially backs you up and increases your credibility! Ideally, your referee’s know you well and/or have an idea of what you would be like as a tenant. A former landlord is a perfect example. Alternatively, choose referees that know you from a professional standpoint. For example, an employer, professional colleague, career mentor etc. It may even be helpful to include references from previous co-tenants who can vouch for your integrity and attitude.
References not only speak to your reliability as a tenant. They also speak to your honesty, accountability, and social matters like your cleanliness and community spirit! A verified reference is one of the most valuable resources during the rental process. This is because it provides evidence of your trustworthiness.
Don’t hold back
We know that everyone is different and has a different story to tell. Some people may have changed jobs often, relocated a few times, or perhaps they’re a first-time tenant. Supplementing your rental application with a Tenant CV is a great way to explain things that can often be perceived as negative. For example, being a first-time renter can be seen as a positive thing! It’s an opportunity to begin a great tenant reputation.
It may be useful to consider having an open conversation with the landlord at an appropriate time. If necessary, give yourself a chance to explain any previous issues (i.e. rental arrears, damages etc.). Most importantly, explain the actions you are taking to improve your tenancy reputation! Honesty is the best policy, and more often than not, landlords will appreciate you being upfront with them.
Following these tips when managing your Tenant CV will undoubtedly give you an advantage in a competitive market. HomeHak gives you the tools to do just that. Have a look at the 6 reasons to use a Tenant CV.
The step-by-step how to ace guide helps you to fill out your first Tenant CV with ease! You can be confident that your information is secure as you decide how much you want to be visible. Check out how you can get started here.
