Two potential tenants, WWYD?

We're moving house in three weeks - hooray! So we're renting out our current place. We met with the agent a couple of months ago so she could get an idea of who the house would be good for, and we let her know we're happy for tenants to have pets - we have a black lab here so we'd be a bit hypocritical if we didn't let others have a pet here!

She called a while ago and said there's a nice pre-approved couple from Kangaroo Island who are interested. Only problem being they're in KI and possibly come over for a proper look at the house. So the agent took lots of photos and sent them via email. The couple really like it and are very interested, so the fella arranged to have a look on Friday (he came over to sign contracts for his new job here). All good, I left Friday arvo, took a sneak peak from afar at the cars here (lol) and waited for a call from the agent.

I didn't hear anything from her, so I called yesterday afternoon. It turns out it wasn't even the KI guy who came to look! He has had to re-schedule, so she showed through another young girl. This girl already rents a place through the same agent, but the house is now for sale. The agent seems really keen to get her in. The girl liked it, but now her housemate wants a look, so they've arranged for him to come through tomorrow afternoon. It seems like the agent is really pushing for this couple to get it, because they're known to them.

I don't know if I want them to have it though. I like the other couple, their dates match up with ours perfectly, and they kinda got in first. Plus they have a dog, I know how hard it is to find a rental that will accept pets (especially one like theirs, they have a large mastiff). They've only got three weeks to find a place, and if they don't get ours I reckon it'll be hard for them.

So, what would you do? I guess the benefits of the local pair are that they're already good tenants with this agent, and they don't have a large dog that could potentially do some damage.

I just think if we're going to go with the KI couple and they're willing to sign a lease now (now that they know there's someone else interested they're willing to rent it without seeing it) we may as well not waste everyone's time showing this other guy through.

I would go with the girl. She is known to the agency, so they would know if she was clean, and good at paying on time etc.

They both sound like good applications.

I have leased houses to many young people. They are usually great with taking care of the houses and you always have the bond to fall back on if there is some damage. It's a bonus that they already rent through the same agent and must have a great record with them. The only thing I found with housemates is that sometimes one of them ends up moving out for work, uni etc. So then you/real estate have to go through the same reference checks etc for the incoming tenant and sometimes they may not be "as good" as the previous tenant. Just a thought, might not happen but there is always a chance it could.

The other couple sound nice too. It's quite often hard to lease a place when you're living a fair way away. We have had to do it a couple of times and it's hard, no one really wants to take you on. Obviously as long as the agent has checked out their previous references etc. they seem like a good option too.

I know that when we had good tenants that had been renting through us, we would try and hold on to them and put them in a house first before another applicant as we knew their history etc. Sorry, my post is a bit this way then that way but just wanted to give my opinion on both :lol:

Good luck deciding!

I'd go with the dog family.... They got in first, plus it is hard to find a place which accepts pets...... But only if their references check out.

Id go with the KI couple, we found it so hard to find a place 3 hours from where we were and got rejected so many times, I think maybe because of our age? even though I worked full time as an RN and my fiance worked full time, we FINALLY got a place. Many times we drove to see the property and were told oh yes there are no applicants at this stage, we would put the forms in then and there and 3 weeks later would hear nothing, so would ring and it was already given to someone else! I just feel for that first couple. But it is your house!

I guess the local pair are the 'sensible' choice for the agents. But I just would feel so bad for the KI couple, it would be so much harder for them finding a place. They're pre-approved, so they've had all their references and everything checked and they must be good if they were practically a shoe-in until this other pair came along. Reckon I'll discuss a bit more with DH, but I really want to go with the KI ones!

Thanks everyone, you've all echoed my thoughts really. Enchanted, you bring up a good point with the local pair, DH mentioned that maybe because they're not a couple, they may not each be as committed to the place. Or if one gets a partner things may get complicated, like if one moves out or wants someone else to move in. Not that the other guys are more stable just because they're in a relationship, but y'know. He also somehow thinks a couple in a relationship with a dog will be better with the garden lol. Dunno about that, but I reckon we might give them a go :)

Is there any reason you cannot ring the KI people yourself and talk to them. As it's your property you do have a say who gets the place and if after talking to the couple and they still feel right then get the forms faxed for signing then faxed back.

Maybe put in something about any damage the dog does they must repair straight away. It never hurts to do some homework yourself on the tennants.

Hmm, giving them a call probably isn't a bad idea if I can get their number. I just spoke to DH and he wants to go with them too. We're not really fussed with the dog, this agency does up a kind of separate lease for pets. So it says that only that pet is allowed there, if it can go inside or only outside, and that any damage must be repaired immediately rather than waiting until they move out. So we're pretty happy with that, and from what the agent said previously, they're fantastic tenants at their current property in KI.

I'd think that if it's your property, it's your decision who you rent it to... I thought the agent only made a recommendation? I think you're lovely to be giving the KI a chance where the agency is clearly putting forward a local. I'd actually give the KI couple a chance too - especially if they have a good rental history where they currently are.

Good luck with your decision!

I'd go with your gut and go the KI couple as well.. The agent seems a bit too keen to help out the other tenant and that could be genuine or it also could be that the house they're selling has had alot of comments about prospective buyers preferring vacant possession which would most definitely prompt the agency to be much more proactive about finding them another rental asap, not that this means they're bad tenants, I'm sure they're not if the agency is willing to give them another property, just saying it could be a genuine reason for what's behind the 'good word' and urgency as the PM's could be under a bit of pressure from the Sales Team to get that property vacant so they can sell asap..

Anywhoo, regardless of all that, I'd go for the KI couple just because they were there first and sound like they deserve a fair go too :)

From the perspective of someone who applied for about fifty rentals over six months, got knocked back for every single one, then approved for pretty much the first after we got rid of our dog, go for the couple!

Teni, that's exactly the situation we were in when renting! Absolutely no one wanted our dog there.

I just had a great convo with the agent. She has told the KI couple that they're our preference, and so he's taken a bit of time off to come over and check out the place on the 11th. Apparently it's company policy not to lease a place without it being seen first, just to cover their butts. She's also told the second pair that they're not first preference, but he will still come and have a look tomorrow. Just in case the first two end up deciding they don't like the place, and because they haven't signed anything or made a financial committment yet, it just gives us a fallback.

So on the 11th there'll be forms to sign etc and if he likes it he'll pay a bond and sign up, then get his other half to sign up and post it all back. Sounds great to me! Except for cleaning for two more inspections lol :)

I would take the KI couple too.

How did the tennant hunting go in the end?

It's been good and bad really. The Kangaroo Island guy came to see the place last Friday (11/11) - I actually met him because I accidentally locked the door on my way out and had to come back to let them in lol. The agent told me again that this couple were really keen and she had all the paperwork for him to sign right there. Then I didn't hear from her. We've been busy packing and getting ready to move, so I didn't get around to calling until this morning. I really would have thought they'd have called us by now - let us know if he did actually want the place and sign anything, and to get us to sign the lease. So I'm pretty annoyed that the agent seems pretty inactive with it all.

So anyway, I called at 9 this morning and got the receptionist. She said "Oh I know J was going to call you, she's in a meeting right now so she'll call as soon as she's done." Well it's now 1pm and nothing yet. Getting quite frustrated at her lack of communication, when I know the owner/manager of this agency is fantastic.

So as far as I know, both couples were very interested, one of them should have signed up by now and be moving in next week, I just haven't been told anything about any of it!

Ring and speak to the owner and let them know what is not happening. That is not good enough. You are paying good money they should be bending over backwarfds to keep your business.

I have found some in the tennant section to be very slack

Yeah, I think speaking to the manager is the next step. The thing is, we originally met with him when we were deciding whether to sell or rent out this place. He said if we decide to rent it, we'd be dealing with K. She came out the first and second times to meet us and sign us up, but since then it's been J and I've just found her to be pretty slack. It's like she thinks we just don't need to know what's going on!

i think if she hasn't been keeping up her end of the bargain by way of communication then you have every right to go back to the manager/owner. you don't have to be rude but he should know if his staff aren't being proactive (or even reactive in this case!). i'm glad you gave the first couple a chance :) the agency probably just wanted the 2nd pair because they might have lost them as tennants otherwise.

hope it's sorted out for you soon :)