Anybody else been through the dreaded wait when applying to privately rent?

[L00k4m3x]

We’re due our third baby and ideally need to move from a 2 bed to a 3. We weren’t going to so soon, we were thinking maybe next year but we saw the perfect house become available and couldn’t resist going to view it.

We have fallen in love with it completely, I knew we would. We will be applying when we get the application form in the morning but we were also made aware that 11 other people viewed it today too!! This just makes me think we won’t stand a chance. 😩

We have been renting now for almost 6 years and have a very good reputation with our current landlord, never missed a single payment, non smokers, the landlord of the new house accepts pets and we have a 12 year old small dog who’s very housetrained and spends all his days sleeping, have a good annual income etc etc. my only worry is my partner is starting a new job in 2 weeks and has been out of work for 2 months whilst taking care of his mother (she’s undergoing chemo for cancer and it’s been a scary time) so I’m terrified this will look badly on us.

I don’t know what I want from this post, maybe somebody understands how horrible this situation is, it’s such a waiting game and I know we can’t really do much else from here on. I just need everybody to keep their fingers and toes crossed for us and maybe send some positive good luck vibes! 😂

Good luck! When dh and I (and children) were desperate for the house we wanted a few years ago, we wrote a little note/letter to the landlord, introducing ourselves and explaining why we'd be good tenants. We also offered 6 months rent in advance. If you're able to offer something like this, especially in light of your current circumstances regarding work, it can really help when there is a lot of competition!

@Somethingsnappy Argh unfortunately because of our current circumstances we aren’t able to offer anything like that! 😩 I’m just really hoping it doesn’t look badly on us. My partner has landed himself a decent job, he just needs to start it in two weeks time. We’ve afforded our rent no issues whilst he’s been out of work the last two months. I’m a very anxious person who thinks the glass is very much half empty so I struggle with situations like these! 😂 I will maybe add a little note in the email to pass on to the landlord about why we would be ideal tenants, thanks for the tip!!

Well, as your dh has his new job lined up, that side of things shouldn't worry them. Definitely add a little note. Something like that would make your application stand out. My former landlord didn't take up the offer of advance rent anyway, so I think it was the note that did it! I think we may have even put a little photo in! It was years ago, so I can't remember all the details.

@Somethingsnappy I don’t suppose you know what sort of stuff you mentioned in your letter do you? No worries at all if not.

I’ve pre written something ready for the morning when we get the application form but don’t want to miss anything 🙈 I’ve introduced us all, mentioned what parts of the house we loved when viewing it, how we’ve never missed a months payment, how we maintain high standards when it comes to cleanliness and redecorating, we love gardening etc.. Not too sure what else to put or if that’s enough, also aware I don’t want to come across too full on! 😂

That sounds good to me! Anything that makes you sound friendly and reliable! Mentioning what you liked about the house was a good idea too.

I can't remember much about what we wrote, as it was years ago, but I think we introduced ourselves, said where we were living currently, and why we wanted to move, what we both did for jobs, that we had a very good renting history, and a brilliant relationship with our current landlord, and would be able to provide excellent references. That we were really excited about the possibility of moving to the new house, and that we hoped they would consider us, and wouldn't regret it if they did.

Best of luck! I know just how you're feeling now. It's nail-biting. I'll keep my fingers tightly crossed for you x

@Somethingsnappy Thank you so much that helps a lot. I have now added in that we’re excited and about our good relationship with the landlord and providing a good reference! I haven’t had the application pack yet but did just call. I worry about looking overly eager at times and coming across as annoying but I think in situations like these I actually believe it works in your favour to show you’re serious. They confirmed our names are on the list and we will definitely get the application pack today.

Fingers crossed, I will keep you updated!

I agree. It's not like you're pestering them... You're just adding a personal touch that will make the application stand out from all the others, and will show how much you want it. Have you said why you are moving from your current house? That might help too, so they know you have a genuine reason for moving. I think I added that we were hoping for quite a long-term let too, as that would usually be a bonus for any landlord, I think.

Let me know how you get on!

Oh Bless you OP, I really hope it works out for you.
I do this on an almost weekly basis due to my job and if you do miss out on this house it is very unlikley to be anything to do with you, it just means that the LL preferred someone elses profile. Its usually a purely business decision
All the power is with the LL until you move in and then if you turn out to be a bad Tenant (I am sure you wouldn't) its very very hard to get people out so LL's are very cautious and with so many people going for each property in some areas/budgets then they can be really choosy.
Best of luck

I'm in the horrible wait now. Worse as I know I'll fail the credit check but I've got a home owner guarantor and six years of rent paid on time.

@Somethingsnappy It’s all been sent off now so all we can do is wait I suppose. I’m hoping the fact we sent it off within the hour looks good for us too. I decided to send the extra note as a proper cover letter. In the end I ended up adding why my partner had been out of a job and apologised for not being able to supply 3 months payslips but did send a copy of the email offering him the job he will be starting at the beginning of June. I did mention that my son had special needs (he is 5 with autism) and ideally having a third bedroom meant he would no longer have to share with his sibling and would have his own space which ideally he needs. I hope it doesn’t look like a gigantic sob story but it’s the truth, it’s a big part of why we’re wanting to move. Keep those fingers crossed for us!!! 😬

@Hoppinggreen Thank you!! That helps to know that it won’t be down to anything about us as a family, I guess it’s just like when companies hire people, there could be any old reason why someone else was more favourable.

@DuskyEvenings So sorry you’re feeling the anxiety too! How long have you been waiting to hear back now? I have my fingers crossed for you I really do!!

Absolutely devastated as we’ve been told today we weren’t successful! 😔 I feel like I knew in my heart it would be a no, I feel like crying but really trying to stay positive and hoping something else will come up soon.

I am really sorry it didnt work out for you, better luck next time.
To be honest though I don't think the note helped, I am not telling you this to be unhelpful but for your next application.
You highlighted the fact that your DH doesnt currently have a job and that you have a SN child. Of course there is nothing wrong with either of those 2 things but they will most likely be negatives for a LL

Oh no! Did you get any feedback?

Don't take this personally. It's likely several other people applied and it could be down to something as simple as being available to move in straight away/offering X amount of rent up front.
Re your note: I think it's a good idea. We did similar when we bought our house and had several competitors, and it did make a difference. However, be careful not to overshare. As the PP said, there was no need to highlight the job situation in your circumstances.

Thank you everybody. Next time I won’t bother with a note. We’ve rented two houses now and gotten them without adding a note/cover letter so I think next time I’ll leave it out. At the time I just felt desperate and actually upon looking back the landlord could probably sense that. Although, I really do hope there are people out there that aren’t put off by disabled children with special needs because how shit of a person must you be if that’s the case? Makes me sick to think that could be the way some people think.

@TallulahBetty We did email back and they said they had five applicants in total and the landlord just decided to go with someone else. Could have told myself that really but oh well.

I think sending a note is only a good idea when buying not renting.

I think in such a competitive market it can be a good play if you strike the right balance. If I were a landlord I'd been keen to hear about the qualities of keen and decent tenants. But I will admit I've only ever done it the once when buying.

It does on paper sound like a good idea but I deal with a lot of Tenancies and believe me it could do more harm than good in a lot of cases. Most LL's want infromation about their potential Tenants around how they are paying the rent/stability etc - they don't want such personal details and it may even put them off. Its a business decision
Of course there may be some LL's that like it but you have no idea if the one who owns the house you want is one of those.
Also, the Agent may not even pass on the note

Oh Im sorry OP. That sucks but a better one will be along I’m sure.

It’s tricky with a note. We wrote a note when buying our house as there were 3 other potential buyers and it went to last and final so we wrote a note too. We were told it swayed things in our favour even though we weren’t the highest. You need to explain who you are and why you’re dependable and want to live there, but need to avoid a sob story. It’s a tough balance to get right.

Yeah, fair enough. I guess you could say exactly the same when it comes to buying a house, though. We read really conflicting advice about whether to include one. But I can see why a note would be less risky in that scenario.

@GreenFairies This was exactly what happened with us. There was a higher bidder (Scottish system) by a not inconsiderable amount, and they did reference the note in their decision making. I'm not that naive, though. The other potential buyer was apparently a flake who had pulled out of a previous sale, so I suspect that made the decision for them really. 😂

Again, its different when buying

@Hoppinggreen Have seen another house become available that we like today! If anything it’s actually more suitable than the one we were unsuccessful for. Partner starts his new job in a week and a bit and this house isn’t available until the end of June (when obviously he will have been employed for a month) so hoping it won’t go against us again. I won’t write a note this time I don’t think, is there any advice you could honestly give that may help our chances? I know all landlords are different but you seem to know what you’re talking about.