As the market is saturated with demand by tenants, landlords can afford to be picky. This is not to the advantage of the potential tenant, who will need to prepare a watertight application so as to have a chance in being in the final run.
Here is some helpful knowledge to take into account if you want to put in a successful application.
1. You need to earn upwards of two and a half times your month’s rent + utility bills (as a household). The more you earn the more chance you have of being successful. Most owners go for this rule, either to protect themselves against default by the tenant (court proceedings) or due to their insurance requirements. However, if you earn less, don’t worry: this is not always the case and there are other ways to provide a guarantee (see below).
2. Get your documentation right. It would be a shame to be excluded for lack of documentation that you could have provided. You should be ready to provide:
a. Copies of the IDs/Passports of the potential occupants (at least for all that are over 18yo)
b. Copies of the work contracts of the people employed in the household
c. Copies of your last three payslips – if you haven’t started working yet the contract will usually suffice
d. Copy of your social security card (helpful but not always required)
e. Copy of your police background check (optional but sometimes can make all the difference)
3. What if I don’t meet the two and a half months’ salary requirement? Well, you can fall back on a guarantor who will either sign the lease agreement with you or give the landlord an undertaking that will be annexed to the contract, stating that he is jointly liable for the payments owed to the landlord. If this is the case, the guarantor must produce the same documents as the initial applicants. Certain banks and insurance companies can also act as guarantors, for a price which varies from company to company.
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