The nightmare rental market in Adelaide

[MonstrousChicken]

Hi all,

Hope you are all safe and well (and everyone back home is too).

My family and I relocated from the UK to Adelaide (Henley Beach) early this year (2020) and have been settling in since.

We've been trying to find a place to rent in the "competitive" housing market here in Adelaide; naturally with a kid and dogs it seems pretty discriminatory straight off the bat which makes the outrageous process of renting even more so, mass house viewings, umpteen forms to complete, referencing, payslips and seemingly no rights as a tenant don't sit too well with me but I'm told that this along with many other things is simply "how it is over here".

We're actively looking for a long-term rental ideally with the following:

• 3-4 bedrooms
• 1-2 living areas
• 2 bathrooms
• Aircon
• and preferably West of the CBD.
• Must accept a family with a child (14) and two small dogs.

Zero interest in mass viewings, long waits, long applications or other such none-sense, if your place ticks the above then we're happy to view and move around January 2021, we're a very clean, respectful family who are just interested in getting on with things, life's too short for the none-sense.

 

Thanks for reading.

MonstrousChicken

[justaguy]

I agree renting here is a nightmare. It almost feels like you are going for a job interview rather than looking for a place to rent. Even if you have all the documents ready and everything is good on your end, you will still be brushed aside and not get the property, makes me wonder what criteria are they using to select tenants.

The best option will be getting in touch with the owners directly instead of real estate agents as they are useless. Facebook Market Place and Gum Tree is the better place to look for a place to stay. All the best.

[Johnny Kash]

I would agree with justaguy and try to bypass the agents by dealing direct with owners.

Not that it helps in your situation but yes, Adelaide rental agents are average at best and in some cases outright cowboys.  We have twice had to take agents to SACAT (rental tribunal) and won both times.   I also found that the law here is weighted very much towards landlords, and I say this as a former landlord myself in the UK.  The idea of a 'rolling lease' for example has been laughed out of town every time I suggested it, even though I offered this for my tenants in the UK - flexibility for both parties.

Also look out for the old 'break of lease' scenario, we bought property mid way through our rental lease and the landlord/agent came after us for 'loss of rent' even though we gave 6 weeks notice before moving out, they refused to even start advertising until we had handed the keys back.   During Covid!   As a result the rental was empty for nearly 3 months, agent comes after us for loss of all that rent and we take them to SACAT.   Again!

Best of luck to the OP.  ps if anyone is having issues with ADL rental agents and want advice on the SACAT process feel free to PM, I strongly believe the agents in a lot of  cases take advantage of good tenants who do not have the means or knowledge to fight them.