How can I ensure my partner and I get the rental we want when we move to Perth, Australia?

Q: My partner and I are moving to Perth early next year, and I keep hearing horrifying things about the rental market at the moment. Multitudes of applicants per rental, rental 'auctions', prices through the roof... Its scarey, as we've never been there but we both have good jobs to go toand are committed to the move. My question would be how do we make ourselves stand out as rental applicants? I know theres obvious things like appearance, and references. Also, we are looking for something around $300 per week, $320 max. Can we get something decent around Fremantle for that, without tearing someone apart to get it? I have been looking on reiwa.com.au, which is a great resource and looks promising. But I need a realistic viewpoint. Thanks :) Also my partner will be working in Henderson and I will be in Nedlands. What areas would you suggest we look for rental accomodation? I would like to use public transport, my partner will buy a car. I start at 7:30am he starts at 6am. Thanks! Also a realistic viewpoint on what it's like for rental hunters in Perth would be appreciated. Cheers!

A: Fremantle is a lovely are with heaps of apartments. You will be competing against students enrolling in Notre Dame University if you arrive start of the year. However property leasors will generally opt for a professional couple over students any day, so that's a positive. Offering to bring the first month's rent in advance in cash on day of signing the lease can show that you are serious about this property and that you can make the rental repayments. But if this is not possible, don't worry - it wont count against you if it doesn't happen! It doesn't hurt to contact real estate agents now and let them know you're in the market for looking - I have just started discussions with my property manager about my apartment in East Perth and getting new tenants in at the end of January! The rental auctions and prices going through the roof I believe are more common in the 3-4 bedroom homes in middle-outer suburbia, this is where the young families are struggling to find places. For an apartment with that price range you should be ok, as mentioend your main competition will be international students (local students tend to go for sharehouses, or cheaper places) and other young couples such as yourselves. In regards to transport though, if you're going to rely on public transport I wouldn' get any further away from Nedlands than Fremantle. I would look at Mosman Park if I were you guys - its a slightly odd suburb, its between the river and the sea at the base of the notorious 'western suburbs' - ie the rich suburbs. Mosman Park has heaps of apartments, then two streets away will be multimillion dollar apartments. There are many lovely parks, there is the train station giving you access to Fremantle and Perth, and lots of little shopping spots and restaurants. From here you should be able to walk to the river, and possibly also to the beach. If you can walk from your apartmetn to Stirling Hwy, the main road connecting Fremantle to Perth, then jumping on one of several busses along that route will make getting to Nedlands much faster and easier for you. For your partner, its a simple matter of taking Stirling Hwy the other direction, just bypassing Fremantly, and then jumping on either South St or Rockingham Rd to get to Henderson. The other option altogether is finding a villa/apartment in Como (South Perth area). You would need to jump on a bus, but possibly change busses in the city, and your partner would rely on the freeway but be going against peak hour traffic. This area has heaps of villas/apartments for rent, and with your early work starts you shouldn't find the commute or traffic too painful! My number one pick would be Mosman Park. I just did a quick search on http://www.realestate.com.au (another good one other than REIWA site) and there are a number of apartments available in $250-320 price range. North Fremantle is good too, again its access to Stirling Hwy makes your life easier, but there will be very little there in your budget. So to make yourself stand out, I would just contact a few real estate agents now, introduce yourself, let them know know you and your partner have both secured work already and just communicate well :) All the best!

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