How do they decide which rental application to accept?

As per my title, how do RE decide which rental application to accept?

We need to find a new place by the 28th of feb, and i applied for a place on Monday and have not heard anything. I am assuming that means we didn't get it!

I am on mat leave at the moment, so i have made it clear on the applications and did a letter on the front explaining our situation and that i return to work at the end of the month, plus i have a letter from my employer confirming my income. I am just a bit worried that they don't consider my income and think we can't afford the places i am applying for based on DF's income alone.

Also, DF has it in his head that he wants to live in a 2 bed apartment with 2 small kids as he will be staying at home for the next 6 months and he doesn't want to have to clean or do gardens. I am just going with it, after months of arguing i figure he just has to see for himself what its like... But, i am worried that owners will be put off by having so many people in their apartment?

TIA

have you thought of a unit? they can be relativly mantnance free outside?

the realestate usualy (as far as i know) look over your app, put threw the ones were they think to the owner who then has the final say. i know some agents hold onto apps untill there is a decent number then put it threw to the owners. i would give them a call to see how things are going and how long to expect a reply, it also shows that you are interested itms?

In our case we were the first employed couple to apply. The "Dr" in front of DH's name usually helps too.

Forget the mat leave bit. Just say that your income IS what it will be. You're back at work fairly soon, aren't you? And you've got the letter from your employer, I don't think it will be a big deal.

We have managed to land some fairly in-demand places over the years, we are those annoying people who snap up places as soon as they're listed. We offer all of these: start paying rent immediately; to pay 5-10% more than the asking rent; will pay 6 or 12 months upfront if it will help us secure the place. And we always call the day after we submit the application.

Speaking from the perspective of someone who would own the apartment being rented out:

If a couple with two kids want to rent a 2-bedder apartment (rather than a house) it suggests to me that they want to save money (ie: can't afford to rent a house) so that could make an owner wary.

Some people don't like having kids in their rentals - if its carpeted they may be worried about spew stains, if there are floorboards they may be concerned about scratches on the floor.

I tend to think that people who buy houses expect families to rent them and so expect the wear and tear associated, but people who rent out apartments are ideally looking for a single person with a high disposable income and no pets.

Not that I am saying any of the above is right or correct, but rather my summation of what the landlord might be telling the agent....

Roryrory- yep, that is my thinking too!

Lol audax, if only I had a DR instead of a DF! I have tried to be that annoying, but there has just been nothing on the market that made me excited enough to do any of that, I keep waiting to see what else comes up!

Thanks Sarah, I should call but I don't want to be told we didn't get it as I haven't seen anything else worth applying for in the last 10 weeks :(