Some tips or ideas for: finding a Rental- From a South African in Ireland, an Ex-Housing Agent (auctioneer)
As mentioned probably 1 million times previously, the housing crisis is real. How real you may ask? To give you an idea, as an auctioneer myself - I can load a small run down 2 bedroom apartment with an energy rating of G in the city for €1500 and I will have in excess of 150 enquiries within a few hours. We`ve advertised one or two properties with no images at all and received the same amount of enquiries. A single bedroom in a house share will achieve around €550 – 700, again no shortage of enquiries. Yes, I agree the rents are astronomical. Yes, I agree the landlords want more and more for their properties bordering on greed. Yes, I agree most of these properties aren’t actually worth the rent. It is what it is unfortunately. (prices quoted for early 2020, these prices are going up in the big cities by about 5% per year on average)
The actual properties
Forget everything you had in S.A. European properties don’t even come close to what S.A had to offer in terms of absolutely everything really. Space being the biggest difference, small bedrooms, small living areas, small kitchens, small garden etc (We prefer our smaller place, easier to clean hahaha) There are exceptions of course. But mostly the houses are smaller.
Rental Amounts
Unless you are at least 20km out of the city, you will battle to find something for less than 1500 Euro. Even if you do find something, remember literally hundreds of other applicants have also seen it. Add 300 Euro to whatever you budget, you will need it! Dublin you will be looking in excess of EUR2000 and Cork is coming closer to EUR2000 a month. These are realistic figures.
Areas
Don’t.Be.Picky.
You do not have the luxury to shop around, take what you can get in whatever area you can get. Remember you can always move in 6 / 12 months time anyway. If you have huge funds for temp accom then of course you could take your time for something to pop up in a specific area.
Temp Accomodation
You will need to arrange temp accom. End of story. Make plans and budget accordingly.
How to secure a viewing
- There is no sure fire way to secure viewings unfortunately. Each agency is different in their approach. Some have open viewings for absolutely everybody and anybody – you will be one of 20+ couples viewing the property. The sad truth here is that sometime the agents have their tenant picked out (couple X) already and just use the masses to “show” the landlord that they surveyed a wide variety of client and that the “best of the lot” was couple X.
- Some have smaller viewings maybe 5-10 clients after sifting through countless emails. Qualifying each applicant and then inviting them to the property.
- I do 1 or 2 personal individual viewings spaced apart for a property. I send out contact forms that people need to fill out and send back. If they send back they move onto the next step. If they do not send back, I take it as they are not serious. So tip, if an agent requires something of you, drop what you are doing and fulfill the request.
Go.Into.The.Agencies!
See them IN PERSON!
Make an Impression!
Take all your documentation, copies of everything. Present yourself, make an entrance, stand out, have a bit of craic, send the agents a follow up thank you email afterwards etc just try go above and beyond. I can guarantee you that it will set you apart from others. Often people will come into the agency looking for rentals, and they are just, well….flat. No sense of urgency, no excitement in them, nothing. From my personal standpoint, I love working with people that are excited and happy to get things going, excited and happy to view some property, excited and happy to work together. Be enthusiastic!
Lastly, if the agents don’t get back to you, please don’t take it personally or think the agents are useless. We physically cannot reply to each and every email, voicemail, text, office call, DM
How will I know if I get the rental?
Sometimes agents will say to you that they will submit all the applications to the landlord to decide on who they want as tenants and will “revert” back to you. I could write an essay on what utter bullshit that is, but I’m trying to keep this write up short…..
You should hear back within 2 days of the viewing whether or not you are successful. Keep looking and expect nothing though, if a viewing went well don’t assume it’s yours.
A tough pill to swallow
Unfortunately you are at the mercy of the market this side. Not like in S.A. You need to manage your expectations of what you will find and what you will get, have 5 back up plans in place. It might take you 1 viewing to secure something it might take you 100, just keep on trying and don’t lose hope or enthusiasm. Things happen for a reason, even if you feel like giving up don’t, just keep on keeping on.
*DISCLAIMER
Now, I know I will have some comments from people saying that they managed to secure a rental before touching down in Ireland etc etc and that they managed to secure this and that beforehand etc etc and that it was easy for them and people shouldn’t stress etc etc blah blah blah. In the same way some people win the lotto, the other 99% don’t. I’m talking to the 99%. Of course my advice is a generalisation at best, don’t take it as the gospel going forward, read into what you will but the points will serve you well.
Another Member recommends a Family Profile
Similar to a CV, but this time a CV on the family. You may want to be cute and even include a pic of the family. Include all and anything you can use as a reference. A personal reference, a work reference, a home rental/morgage statement from SA, proof of funds, anything that make YOUR family stand out from the rest.... what maske YOUR family the family to pick over the hundreds of others they see everytime they advertise a home for rental?
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