First-Time Renters: What To Know Before You Rent

Move-In Day: HomeHaks Top Tips On Ways To Help Your New Tenants

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.

 

First-Time Renters: What To Know Before You Rent
Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash

We’ve all heard horror stories about first time renters making mistakes that cost them dearly. Whether it’s not having a good understanding of your rights as a tenant or falling prey to scam rental advertisers looking to make a quick buck, there are plenty of pitfalls waiting for you!

 

That’s where our tips come in handy. Moving out involves a lot of organisation, especially for first-time renters. We will walk you through everything from finding the right place to live, how to manage finances and what to watch out for when signing a contract.

 

Location

Location, location. Where you want to live, work, or study has a big impact on your location preferences for the rental search process.

 

When thinking about where to live, don’t just focus on the things you need in an apartment or house; think about what’s around too and how that may impact your commute time. Is there public transportation or cycle routes nearby? How far away are the supermarkets and services? What kind of gym options do locals have at their disposal? These are important questions since they can totally change how much fun living there would be day after day!

Rent Cost

You may already have an idea of how much you would like to spend on rent. There is a general rule of thumb to spend 30% of your annual income on rent. That said, it’s not entirely applicable to everyone. For example, someone who earns €100,000 may not want to spend €30,000 on their rent. Similarly, if you are on a lower salary it might not be feasible to put 30% of that towards rent.

 

Analyse your financial situation for starters, and ask yourself what you can afford. It also doesn’t hurt to compare rent prices with your friends. See what they put towards rent and use that as a guide!

 

Budgeting

When preparing to rent for the first time, it’s important to embrace the concept of budgeting ASAP. It’s unavoidable, but in the long run it’s the best thing we can do to feel financially secure! Setting up a budget is essential for any tenant. Make a list of monthly expenses/regular bills and set aside a personal allowance.

 

This may be the first time that you’re paying the bills yourself, so it’s important to know what they will cost ahead of time to save yourself any worry. Using a rent/ budget calculator is a great way to start figuring out your expenses.

 

Gas, Electricity and Bin Collection

Gas/electricity should come as no surprise since these things exist in every home. Depending on the setup, you may need to register the bin collection unless the landlord has done it for you.

 

If you have no idea what the bills are going to be like, try getting an estimate on sites like Bonkers.ie which compares different suppliers’ rates. These utilities are then shared between all housemates in the house, sometimes monthly or every other month. You can also ask your friends/family what they usually

 

Broadband

Other necessities may include broadband internet service, especially if you’re now working from home! Sometimes broadband may require installation at an additional fee depending on the supplier and/or location restrictions. When choosing how much broadband you’ll need, take into account how many people will be using it.

 

Some areas cannot support every provider, which may affect your budget plan. Talk this over with your landlord if possible – they might already know about some hidden costs or previous issues!

Reading the Contract

You may be racing to put your name on the dotted line, but it’s essential that you read through your contract carefully before signing anything. One thing to keep an eye out for is what type of tenancy agreement you are committing to. It will normally be a fixed-term tenancy or a periodic tenancy.

 

Fixed-term, as the name suggests, refers to a fixed period usually about 6-12 months minimum. A periodic tenancy does not have a fixed length of time. There is lots of information about these agreements which can be read about in detail here.

First-Time Renters: What To Know Before You Rent
Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash

RTB

In Ireland, all private residential properties must be registered with the RTB. The Residential Tenancies Board provides a dispute resolution service to protect both landlords and tenants. They provide “high-quality information and assistance to the public, tenants and landlords on their rights and responsibilities“. It’s advised that first-time renters check that their property has been registered so that your rights are protected.

 

Pet Policies

Depending on the property, it may or may not be permitted to bring pets on site. If you don’t come across any explicit pet policies, just ask the landlord what their feelings are about it!

 

Applying Without a Rental History

Don’t let a lack of a rental history hold you back. Everyone has to start out somewhere! First-time renters can still include character references as part of their application. This helps to establish how reliable you are, and how you will treat another person’s property!

 

Find references from people willing to vouch for you such as previous employers, colleagues, even school principals! The idea is to find someone who knows you well and will speak highly of you.

 

HomeHak Services for first-time renters

Moving out for first-time renters is an exciting adventure, and soon you’ll be obsessing over how to decorate and fill it to make it your own. With a bit of self-determination and positive action you will absolutely find something you love! To do this you just need to express to the landlord that you would be the perfect tenant, i.e., someone reliable, responsible, and punctual.

 

Homehak, a tool for tenants and landlords alike, is a great way to express these traits. With Homehak’s help you can create a Tenant CV that contains all the information a landlord would ever need from you, so they don’t have to search around themselves or get short on time. This makes life easier not only for landlords but also applicants who are trying their best to impress them!

What is a Tenant CV?

tenant-cv-rental-application-new-home

Your move to a new home involves so many important activities that all count towards your success, and it’s not always so obvious how time-consuming each activity is.

 

You find yourself scouring through property ads, applying for as many as possible with the same cut and paste story, chasing for responses and hoping to hear something good.
 

There are tons of documents to get together for the rental application: references, ID verification, salary/banking documents. It can take a lot of time to get it all prepared.

 

You take time off work to go to viewings, organise housemates, prepare to pay a deposit and rent in advance, go through security checks – all before you’ve even got a solid offer!

 

Searching for a home
Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash

 

Basically, searching for your next home involves a lot more than checking property websites ten times every day and resending the same message over and over again.

 

In a competitive rental marketplace there may be thousands of views on just one ad, so you can imagine what the landlord or property manager’s inbox looks like with hundreds of enquiries.

 

The ideal situation is to stand out from the crowd, being selected for the home you want. Whether you’re an experienced renter or a first-timer, the best advice for you to take on board is to be exceptionally organised – and a really great way to help you do that is to prepare a Tenant CV in advance of your search.

What is a Tenant CV?

A Tenant CV works in the same way as your standard CV, but instead of searching for employment opportunities you’re searching for your dream home. It’s an easy-to-read document that shows off information a landlord would need to know. For example who you are, what kind of accommodation you’re looking for, as well as any amenities you might need.

The idea is to create a Tenant CV once and then share it directly with  landlords/agencies, which takes some frustration out of the process for you! 

What difference will a Tenant CV make?

Using a Tenant CV not only makes your own life easier, but it also offers some relief to the landlord. Imagine it from their perspective. Sifting through hundreds of emails from eager applicants, trying to find the right fit.  Completing a rental application with a beautifully formatted and detailed Tenant CV straight away lets the landlord see what you’re all about and that you have all the important documents organised, meaning you can both avoid having to go through a tedious back-and-forth email conversation and get straight to the point. 

Starting out

When you start building your profile, the important thing is to focus on you and what you want! The Good Home Report has found that 73% of people who are happy with their home are also happy in general. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice your happiness when it comes to the place you live, work, and relax. If you’re not satisfied with your rented home, you’re more than likely going to end up back at square one. Back on the property ad sites trying to find something you actually like. 

 

So when you’re creating a Tenant CV, be as specific as possible when describing your ideal living arrangement. Even if that sounds ambitious, including more detail will bring you one step closer to finding your dream home. Doing this helps potential landlords realise that you would be perfect for their property, that you would look after it, and ideally stay for a long time!

What kind of information will be a part of the Tenant CV?

The best Tenant CV’s for a rental application include:

    • A little bit about you – who you are and what you’re looking for!
    • Your tenancy history – landlords will look for any tenancy history so they can establish your character and trustworthiness
    • Your employment history – this lets the landlord know you’re capable of paying the rent
    • What you’re looking for – indicate your preferred house type, commute options, amenities and qualities (i.e., garden or en-suite etc.)
    • References – Real people who can give you a vote of confidence and are happy to be contacted
    • Optional verification information. – You may be asked for photo ID (passport/ driver’s license)

These are all the kind of things a landlord will ask you for at some point in the application process. Showing them that you’re already prepared will be a pleasant surprise! The biggest take-away from this list is that sharing all of this information serves a purpose. It’s a way to form a solid foundation between you and potential landlords from the outset. 

agent giving keys to tenant

I’ve made my tenant CV, what happens next?

That’s great! Now the fun begins. When a CV status reaches strength level of ‘good’ or higher it’s ready to be shared with landlords and agencies. Users also have the option to share it with a rental application via email, WhatsApp and more. Your information is accessible only by you until you choose for your profile to be visible within the database.

 

HomeHak allows you to store your Tenant CV information securely so you can start the application process with confidence. If the time comes for you to start looking for a new home, don’t worry. Just update your profile with any new preferences and attach it to your next application – simple!

 

Have a look at the 6 reasons to use a Tenant CV and get started today!

 

 

 

International Students Coming to Ireland – Everything you Need to Know

International Students Coming to Ireland:  Everything you Need to Know

Where do they come from?

The biggest increase has been international students from other EU states, jumping from 1,934 in 2017 to 6,383 in 2022.

 

According to the Irish Times, the total number of full-time, non-EEA international students reached nearly 18,500 in 2018. The Irish Higher Education Authority (HEA) states that the main non-EEA sending countries for Ireland are the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Canada. Asia sends the largest share of students (43% as of 2017/18), followed by North America (30%), and the EU (20%).

 

As reported by this report, applications from British students increased by 9 per cent this year. In 2021, Ireland was home to 25,000 international students. India is the second-biggest source of international students on the island. 

 

International Students Coming to Ireland:  Everything you Need to Know
Photo by Javier Trueba on Unsplash

Top tips for International Students arriving to Ireland

Rental scams

September has approached, and students are heading back to college. The rental market has never been busier. With the surge in demand for accommodation, hopeful tenants are being advised to be cautious of a variety of rental scams.  HomeHak has put together some useful information about scams related to renting.

Bank account

One of the first things you should do is open a student bank account. Each university usually has a banking partner on campus.

Budgeting for international students

To enable you to enjoy your university experience to the fullest, you need to learn to manage your money correctly. One of the biggest ways to save money in university is through your grocery shopping. As an international student in Ireland, you can enjoy a range of great discounts and savings. These will make your finances easier to manage.

Shopping and discounts

Ireland has several student discount cards. They range from freebies to money off. Below, we list the cards we recommend adding to your student wallet.

 

iConnect Card

    – You can save up to €450 on MacBook iPad ranges with a valid third-level student card.

>Student Leap Card

    – Ireland’s primary student travel card.

ISIC Card

    – ISIC has been the mainstay discount card for international students for over 50 years. They offer exclusive discounts on a vast range of products and services in over 125 countries.

Affordable Supermarkets

Grocery shopping will eat up a large part of your student budget. It pays to shop around to find the cheapest supermarket in your local area. Here, we list the supermarkets that are the cheapest.

 

SuperValu

Dunnes Stores

Tesco

Lidl

Aldi

Manage your time

As you settle into the swing of things, your time in Ireland is going to fly by. Plan Your Next Adventure with Discover Ireland.

Ireland’s Weather

Ireland is the type of place where you can experience the four seasons in one day. Ensure to pack wisely for cold, warm and wet days.

 

HomeHak International students
Photo by Erik Witsoe on Unsplash

Student Travel Card

A student travel card will get you discounts on your travel throughout Ireland. Also, giving you great savings is the Student Leap Card.

 

For more information on these tips, check out our article International Students Studying in Irish Universities Top Tips.

Embassies 

Full details of all Diplomatic Missions in Ireland or accredited to Ireland on a non-resident basis can be found in the link below. This has been issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs. It includes information on the index of missions and representations accredited to Ireland. Diplomatic List July 2022

Irish Banks

To open an Irish bank account as an international student, you will need:

    • Valid passport/ID card

Certificate of Attendance

These are Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks and Ulster Bank. Each offers a student account with differing service fees and added extras.

Mobile phone

Ireland has a reliable phone network. The country is covered by several major network providers. There are a number of options available to you, depending on your budget and requirements. These include a fixed-term contract, sim-only plan or pay-as-you-go tariff.

 

The main operators we’d recommend in Ireland are

Healthcare

The INIS visa service offers information on the process of finding health insurance in Ireland. On average, health insurance for international students costs around €100 – €120 per annum.

Working in Ireland

Here are the conditions you need to be aware of:

EU Students

    If you’re travelling from the EU, you can work in Ireland without registering for a GNIB card.

Non-EU Students

  • Non-EU students can seek casual work of up to 20 hours a week during term-time, provided they have a card. In June, July, August and September, non-EU students can work up to 40 hours per week.
    You cannot work in Ireland if your course is under six months in length.

 

Start with the university careers portal. These list a range of term-time positions available on and off campus. Then, check job sites such as Monster, Jobs and Irish Jobs. Distribute your CV to local businesses, as not all positions are advertised online.

 

Why use a Tenant CV?

  1. It’s an easy-to-read document.
  2. HomeHak tenant CV shows off information a landlord would need to know.  Head to our article What is a Tenant CV? for more information.
  3. It promotes you as a suitable tenant.
  4. A tenant CV takes some frustration out of the rental application process.
  5. It provides all valuable and essential information for the homeowner upfront. Check out our article on 6 Reasons to Use a Tenant CV.

Landlord References

A landlord recommendation letter (rental reference) is an crucial component of your rental application. In a competitive rental market, a good reference can make a huge difference. Check out our article Importance Of a Reference for Irish University Student Accommodation.

Important links for international students

www.fas.ie

www.jobs.ie

www.argus.ie

www.Jobted.ie

Revenue office

www.revenue.ie

Safety 

www.garda.ie

Irish Newspapers 

www.independent.ie

www.ireland.com

www.irishtimes.com

www.independent.ie

www.irishexaminer.com

Travel in Ireland

www.discoverireland.com/ire

Irish Council for International Students

www.internationalstudents.ie

Link to University websites In Ireland For International Students

Trinity College Of Trinity

University College Dublin

University College Cork

Dublin City University

Technological University Dublin

University Of Limerick

Maynooth University

Galway National University Of Ireland

Athlone Institute Of Technology

Carlow Technology Institute

Dundalk Technology Institute

Limerick Institute Of Technology

Letterkenny Institute Of Technology

Waterford Institute Of Technology

Cork Institute Of Technology

Sligo Technology Institute

Institute Of Technology, Tralee

Dublin Business School

Griffith College Dublin

Useful articles for international students

Study in Ireland: A Guide for International Students

International Students

Student visas to study in Ireland

Study in Ireland

Top recommended websites for international students 

Irish Council for International Students

Irish Universities Association

Citizens Information

Education in Ireland

Embassy World

The Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service

Google Maps

 

Happy Tenants – The Importance Of Having Great Tenants

apartment roomates

The tenants you choose have a significant effect on the success of the investment property you manage or own. Read our guide to learn more about the steps you can take to maintain a happy and positive relationship with your tenants.

Introduction

Many of us have experienced the financial burden and time spent resolving bad tenancies. For those agents and homeowners who are lucky to avoid this, there are ways to minimise the risk of it occurring. There are many quality tenants out there, but it can take patience to find them. If you take extra consideration to search for and choose the right tenant now, you can save time and alleviate stress in the future.

Statistics

In May 2019, Ireland reported its lowest rental housing availability of all time. Housing Europe report that the trends are similar across the EU. As tough as this is, this means the odds are in your favour to choose the best tenants as there is no shortage. Our guide below outlines what the ideal tenant is, why they are important, and how to find them.

 

man working at home with pet dog

What is the ideal tenant?

For many, an ideal tenant is one who respects the property and consistently pays the rent on time. This is an excellent start, but what about landing those top-quality tenants that give you complete peace of mind? These are the tenants that make the property a worthy and stress-free investment, and the ones we have valuable, uncomplicated and rewarding relationships with. These are the ‘Happy Tenants’. They exist and are looking to rent a home. The secret to finding these tenants is looking for candidates that really suit the property.

 

The Happy Tenant: who are they?

A Happy Tenant is the right tenant for the right property. This extends beyond the textbook description of a tenant that follows the law as set out by your governing legislation. A happy tenant is someone who has a good quality of life with the property they live in as a contributing factor. 

 

Consider this scenario

You have an applicant named John, he has a perfect rental history, excellent references and the rent cost is only 30% of his salary. He also has a large pet dog, but his references specify that as an upstanding tenant, there have not been any issues. John has applied for a property 1.5 hours commute from his work without a backyard. 

 

As an agent/homeowner, you are looking for an excellent tenant for a long-term tenancy of ideally a minimum of 4 years.

 

Is there a risk?

John certainly sounds like a top candidate with a rental history and the income to demonstrate he can pay the rent and look after the property. But is he the most suitable? There are many variables to consider when finding the right tenant. In this case, you are looking for someone in the long term. Someone who needs to travel 3 hours every day for work and owns a large dog is not the best tenant for this property without a backyard. Will this lifestyle keep him happy? There is a risk that John might not stay in the property for long when you consider the physiological and psychological needs of humans and pets.

Ideal tenant

The ideal tenant can be anyone; they can have pets, they can be a first-time renter, students, working professionals, families etc. A pet owner could be a perfect tenant, as having a pet takes responsibility and they are likely looking for a long term home It comes down to whether they want to and can make a home in the property. We will explore why this is important below.

 

Why do Happy Tenants make a difference?

“We have to be ahead of the game as far as possible in thinking about the happiness of tenants. In the end, they pay the rent and we want to find the highest rent and the most loyal tenant in the long term.” Emerging Trends in Real Estate®: Europe 2019 – pwc.com. 

 

It is true, the right tenant can make a major difference to how the tenancy carries out, and how the investment performs. Just like a satisfied worker who loves their job, a happy tenant is someone who respects their environment and will go beyond the basic requirements to maintain, preserve and improve it. This is the difference between the people that consider their rental a property, and others who consider it a home.  Here’s a closer look at some of the benefits of ideal tenants:

 

Longer-term tenancies

Re-letting a property is time-consuming and costly. Long term tenancies minimise the time and costs involved in managing vacates, and the surprises that may come with them. They also lessen advertising and re-letting costs, along with the downtime from the property being vacant. As a result, long term tenants provide sustained financial security for the homeowner. In addition, minimal turnaround reduces the risk of bad tenants, and wear and tear caused by regular move-ins/outs.

 

Property Maintenance & Upkeep 

Tenants who see their rental as a home share a common interest with agents and homeowners to maintain the property. This means reporting maintenance issues in a timely manner before they escalate into something that will cause a higher financial burden.


Stronger relationships

A good relationship results in cognitive trust, respect and practical communication. Overall, it makes the whole rental partnership easier. If you have a strong relationship with your tenant, contractual needs and etiquette will be mutually enforced and respected.

 

In summary, finding the right tenant will save you time, money and hassle. Not only will it make your life easier, but it will have an invaluable impact on the life of the tenant.

 

How do you find Happy Tenants?

You have the power to find the right tenant when leasing a property. A tenant CV will help you determine what an applicant is looking for, or you can ask questions. You need to determine whether the property you are leasing matches the needs of the potential tenant. Some questions you may want to consider:

 

  • Are there any specific amenities they require?
  • Are there any specific attributes they are looking for in a property? E.g. Do they need a backyard or secured garage? 
  • Can you accommodate for any of the things they need that you don’t currently have on offer?
  • How close is their workplace? Will they have a long commute?

Find a suitable solution

Targeting multitudes of candidates is counter-productive when you consider the amount of time it takes filtering through applications to find the best one. You could instead save time and find someone that is most suitable by reading their tenant CV. Another way for agencies to find great tenants in the area is to form relationships with local businesses; word of mouth and referrals are effective ways to find interest locally. 

 

How to figure out tenant suitability

A great indicator of tenant suitability is to find out how close the property is to someone’s workplace. Let’s revisit our applicant John: John has submitted a tenant CV, his CV specifies that he currently has a large dog, but it is going back to his ex-wife in a month. It also states that although his office is located in the city, he works remotely and is looking for somewhere further out of town to suit his lifestyle.

 

Suddenly, with a little more information John seems like a very suitable tenant. Thanks to John’s tenant CV and your extra effort to search for information, you have found someone that is an excellent fit and is likely to stay for the long term. 

 

Result

A tenant that makes the effort to put together a CV shows that they care about finding their ideal home. It shows they are responsible and accommodating as they have taken action to make your life easier by providing you with the information you need. If they provide references that are already verified by a third party, this is a useful indication of whether they are trustworthy and organised. It is difficult to truly know what type of tenant someone will be from an application form; so reading a CV can help verify a candidate’s needs and whether they are suitable.

 

Click here to start browsing tenant CVs today.

Key Takeaways: Happy Tenants

Agents and homeowners have a difficult job in managing properties, but they have the capacity to make it easier. This can be done if you find a Happy Tenant that loves coming home to your property and treats it as their own. It’s business – According to Forbes and many business leaders, becoming more customer-focused leads to a profitable organisation. If you take a professional and empathetic approach to tenant needs you can develop a loyal, successful and long-term relationship.

 

Requesting Tenant CVs is the smartest way to find great tenants – Find out why!

 

References

6 Reasons to Use A Tenant CV

landlord signing agreement

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.

 

tenant-cv-rental-application-new-home

 

6 Ways A Tenant CV Can Aid Your House-Hunting

1. Define Your Needs

If you don’t want to join the 59% 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.

 

3. Demonstrate Trustworthiness & Organisation Skills 

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, but considering 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. 

 

landlord signing agreement

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!

 

 

 

References:

Rental Scams and Fraud: Be Prepared, Spot the Signs

House keys

Online rental scams are on the rise. Because of this, it is more important than ever to be able to spot these scammers before you fall into their trap.

Scammers know that tenants often do not have time or knowledge about how to find a place to rent, so they prey on those who don’t know any better.

Accommodation Fraud – Some figures

According to Gardaí, approximately 500 cases of accommodation fraud were reported between the years of 2019 and 2021.  72% of cases affected individuals under the age of 35 and 42% affected those under 25.

 

Since 2019 in Ireland, criminals conducting rental fraud have taken approximately €900,000.  In 2020, in the UK last year, has been an increase of 71% in the number of rental fraud reports, meaning 1 in 50 ads were scams. This indicates that rental cybercrime is becoming more popular than ever.

What can we do to prevent accommodation fraud?

Rental fraud is a large threat to tenants looking for a place to live. In particular, students starting their rental journeys may be at risk as they may not be aware of the dangers that are out there.

Scammers use similar tactics over and over again, which means it is possible to spot the signs. We compiled a list of these warning signs that will help you identify rental scams before any damage is done. Forewarned is forearmed. Tenants, prepare to spot the warning signs before it costs you your data and your money.

houses-online scams-rental fraud-spot the warning signs
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Accommodation Fraud – Warning Signs

Cybercrime researchers say that rental fraudsters seem genuine because they mimic real landlords. They often use pre-scripted emails and a range of “persuasion techniques”. If you feel suspicious about something, more times than not you’re probably right!

Here are some examples of how scammers have tried to fool renters before:

 

  1. Too Good to Be True – This is the most obvious sign of a scam. Perhaps the pictures show a beautifully furnished property, more bedrooms and facilities than usual, and the rent is surprisingly low
  2. Landlord Living Abroad – The scammer claims to have a property in Ireland but they themselves are living abroad. They might send a long email explaining the set up of the property, but they won’t be able to meet you beforehand. They request a deposit and say that someone will meet you at the property afterwards.
  3. Requests Deposit Urgently – The scammer allows viewings at a property and asks individuals for a deposit to secure the arrangement. They may create a sense of urgency around this, to seal the deal as soon as possible. Soon after, the scammer disappears leaving everyone short.
  4. Fake Keys – In rare cases a renter may be given keys after settling a deposit, only to arrive and find that the keys do not work.
  5. Address Fraud – A scammer may list a property on an ad site that is already being rented/owned by someone else. Again, the scammer requests a deposit up front. Later on, the victim arrives at the destination and learns that the address does not exist. Some may find that the address does exist, but is owner occupied by someone completely different.
  6. Spelling/ Grammar – Property ads with lots of spelling and grammar mistakes may also indicate accommodation fraud. (Note that this doesn’t mean that every ad with spelling errors is fraudulent!)
  7. No Background Checks/ Unsecure Payments – A property is offered to you without any requests for your information, proof of ID, references etc. The fraudster may contact you via social media, asking for untraditional payments via PayPal, cryptocurrency etc.

How to Avoid Rental Scams

Recognising the above examples is the first step to avoiding a nasty situation with rental fraud. To save yourself any further worry, take into account the following advice. 

 

Trusted Payments – Only submit payments via trusted systems. If there is a request to pay a deposit via PayPal, iTunes gift cards, Western Union transfer or cryptocurrency, disengage immediately. These methods are usually popular with fraudsters as it can be difficult to reverse transactions.

 

Messaging Apps – Be wary of those who only communicate via WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or other social media messaging platforms. The Gardaí advise that renters should be mindful of unsolicited contacts, especially if they seem to press individuals with ‘one-time offers’ or deals. 

Social Media – Be especially cautious of rental ads on social media, such as Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree etc. Not all the rental ads on these platforms are scams, but it is where a lot of them seem to pop up. In many cases the scammer will use the same photos and details found on residential letting sites, so it looks realistic.  

 

Check all Keys – Be sure to check that all keys given to you are in working order before you commit to anything.

 

Legit Address – Make sure that the property actually exists by checking Google Maps before settling a deposit.  Try to gauge the situation in front of you by comparing similar properties for price, location etc.

Who to Contact 

If you believe that you have been a victim of a scam, call your bank or financial institution immediately. You should also notify the Gardaí of your situation.

 

When browsing online, if you come across anything that looks suspicious, go ahead and report it. Ad sites usually have methods for handling sceptical property listings so it’s relatively easy to do so.

 

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) in Ireland can be contacted to report rental fraud here.

 

If you have been scammed elsewhere in Europe, you can contact the European Consumer Center Ireland and report your situation.

 

Within the HomeHak portal, report any suspicions or poor experiences by clicking the “Questions” link at the top right of the screen.

questions homehak rental fraud online scams

HomeHak Data Protection

As a community, we can all make efforts to improve the level of trust amongst one another. Landlords and renters both want to liaise with someone reliable, who they can depend upon!

HomeHak Tenant CVs use a wide range of security measures to ensure your data is safe:

  • Uploaded documents are stamped with a ‘HomeHak’ watermark, reducing the chance of identity theft. Users can choose specific persons to share their documents with and for limited time periods. Additionally, when a tenant shares a document, they can track who has viewed it in the tenant dashboard.

 

  • Landlords and tenants using HomeHak services have the opportunity to verify their ID with Stripe. Stripe verification takes just 3 minutes and prevents the sharing of identity documents.