Preparing a rental application in Australia for a better chance
When the rental market is competitive, a strong application is a big advantage. Agents receive dozens of applications for each property and often decide quickly — the applicant who is the most complete, clear, and convincing is usually the one chosen.
Documents commonly required
Identity documents (ID)
Agents usually ask for enough identity points under the 100-point system (a 100-point ID check). Each type of document is worth a different number of points — for example, a passport and a driver’s licence are worth more, while a bank card or a letter from an organisation is worth less. The agent will tell you which documents they accept.
You will typically need:
- A valid passport
- A permanent resident (PR) card or visa
- A driver’s licence (if you have one)
Proof of income
The agent needs to confirm that you can pay the rent reliably:
- Recent payslips — usually two or three consecutive payslips
- An employment letter — stating your salary and the type of contract (full-time, part-time, casual)
- If you are self-employed: a tax return or bank statements
- If you are a student: a letter of enrolment, evidence of finances, or a letter of support from parents
Rental history
This is the most important factor that many newcomers lack. The agent wants to know what kind of tenant you have been: did you pay on time, did you keep the property clean, did you leave correctly.
Rental history is usually demonstrated with:
- A reference from a previous agent or landlord (a rental reference)
- Bank statements showing rent paid on time
- A previous lease agreement
References
In addition to a rental reference, agents often ask for further references:
- A professional reference: A manager or colleague who can vouch for your character and stability
- Provide a full name, job title, phone number, and email — the agent may contact them directly
If you don’t yet have a rental history in Australia
This is a common challenge for newcomers. Having no rental history in Australia does not mean you cannot rent — but you need to make up for it in other ways:
Use your overseas rental history: If you have rented elsewhere, ask for a reference from your former landlord or managing agent. Have it translated into English if needed (a certified translation is better).
Lean on a reference from your employer: A letter from the Australian company employing you, stating your position, salary, and the nature of your contract, can go some way to making up for a lack of rental history.
Provide extra financial evidence: Bank statements showing a stable balance and no financial problems will improve your credibility.
Offer to pay more in advance: Some newcomers offer to pay an extra few weeks of rent (beyond the bond and the first week’s rent required by law). This depends on state law — not every state allows an agent to take more than a set amount before move-in. Ask the agent about this.
Consider a share house at first: Renting a room in a share house is often easier because it requires less documentation — this can be a first step to building a rental history in Australia.
Application platforms
Most agents require you to apply through an online platform. Common ones include:
- 1Form (realestate.com.au): Integrated with realestate.com.au; it saves your information for reuse
- renti.com.au: An independent platform used by many agents
- 2Apply: Common in some states
Create an account in advance and upload all your documents to your profile — when you want to apply for a particular property, you only need a few clicks instead of scanning and attaching everything again.
What not to do
Don’t fake documents or references: Agents can and will verify — especially professional references and rental references. Being caught faking will get you rejected on the spot and could land you on a blacklist in the industry’s databases (TICA or the National Tenancy Database).
Don’t apply to too many places at once with the same reference without warning them: Your referee needs to be prepared to take a call from an agent — give them notice.
Don’t submit an incomplete application: Incomplete applications are usually rejected in the first round with no explanation.