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 :)

I am still renting myself, and whilst I don't have much advice I just wanted to say good on you for allowing pets!
Personally I think DH and I are fantastic tenants and we have 2 dogs. My house is always clean and I look after it. Besides, you can usually tell which ones are the crummy tenants that are dirty and allow their pets to destroy houses.

Actually you've made me think with the comment about the second couple Sloane. Seeing as J didn't even tell us that she showed through the second couple instead of the original guy the first time, and then really pushed for them to get the place, I wonder if maybe she's put out that we still went with original ones? It meant she had to show the place more than just once, and maybe they have lost those tenants. Not that it's my problem, she still should have told us that she'd be showing through someone completely different to ask what we'd like to do. Seemed like she just thought she'd get these other two interested and hoped we'd jump at them and forget the first lot all together.

I called back, all ready to ask for the manager and let him know we weren't happy, but J answered! She reckons she tried to call, I reckon that's BS because I've had my phone on me all day, haven't been in any out of service areas, and there are no missed calls. Anyway she said KI guy signed up that day, took the agreement back home to KI for his girlfriend to sign, and they've faxed it back. They're all good to go, and when they get here they'll sign the actual lease. Apparently the agents sign on our behalf, but I'd really like to see what's in it first. We do get a copy. I'm really annoyed at myself because I should have told her we were unhappy with the lack of communication, or at least asked to speak to the manager, but I'm not good at confrontation of any kind and chickened out.

I've got his mobile number though, so I reckon when DH gets home at 3:30 I'll call him and let him know we're a bit annoyed, and ask to see the lease before it's signed. I think we should at least see what their pet conditions are that they're including.

We were in the same boat as you Tasha, I think we were great tenants but no one would look at us because we had a dog!

I would think that you would see the agreement before it's signed by the tennants. If you find an error, how can it be sorted if they have already signed. You would have to grin and bear the error and that's not how you do business.

Oh dear, J sounds like our soon to be ex property manager. Ours was absolutely terrible, in fact she told us she was showig through one lady when we were moving out. I rang her the day she was meant to bringing her through to make sure we had the right time this was happening.. But no she ahd changed the time on us, and had made it a group viewing of over 15 couples!! We werent happy at all. Im glad you went with the KI couple because they were your choice and I think thats more important than the real estates choice. gut feeling and all that stuff! :lol:

I would have a chat tot he manager/owner about your experience, it cant hurt anyhow. Tell them whats been going on and how your expectations werent being met as landlords, which is a major let down for you. And make sure you see the lease before its all final, even if its just to make yourself feel better!

Goodluck!

Thanks guys, your comments about seeing the lease first made me just do it, nervous or not lol. I called his mobile number direct because I dunno what I would've done if J answered again lol.

He seemed surprised that we hadn't heard anything in so long - that J had shown people the house on the 11th and the only way I knew anything about it was by calling today. I asked him if the agents usually sign the lease on our behalf, and he replied "Well we can, as long as you've approved the tenants." I said we'd like to see any conditions in it because there's a dog involved, and again he seemed surprised that we hadn't seen it. I've only been a tenant before, not a landlord, but my impression from that process was that the landlords would actually see the initial application form from the tenants, and then sign or at least see the lease. The way this was going, we would have wound up with people we didn't originally agree to, and we'd never have seen an agreement or lease until after it was signed! Makes me think she's just seen how young we are, heard that we've never done this before and decided to just do things her way.

He said he'd speak to J and call back. J actually just called herself, and said "I've just heard you spoke to V on his mobile seeking clarification? If you're home now I can come by with the agreement and go through all conditions and annexures with you if you like?" Uh, yeah! First time she's been proactive, sounded like he gave her a bit of a kick up the bum to get into gear lol. And now I'm nervous about her coming here! Feels like I've dobbed on someone lol.

Be strong Kaytee!!! Good on ya for going to the manager!

Good luck with the KI tenants :)

Just remember you are paying her wages and she is supposed to be acting as an agent for you. Be polite and see what happens. If she is rude, let her know the interview is over and you will not be doing business with her anymore and let her know you will be ringing her boss to tell him why. If there is any changes don't sign there are no changes on the original.
Hopefully you DH will be home when she comes.
All the best.

Thanks OP & Rivlas :)

She was here about 10 minutes before DH got home. The thing is she's actually a really lovely lady, I just feel like the communication could be a whole lot better and it still really seems as though the local people were the preferred option. She mentioned again about how they were existing tenants of the agency, and pre-approved, and how they really had to get the KI guy over to see the place before leasing it to him even though he was our preferred option. I get that, but still it would've been nice to be kept in the loop.

It turns out the agreement that was signed on the day was the actual lease agreement. I should have realised that's what it would be, but it just didn't twig. I thought it'd be like a formal application that we'd get to see to make sure we approve them, but that was done before they saw the place. Thankfully there's nothing in it that we don't agree with and the pet annexure is very good.

So now they're moving in on the 4th! Apparently after every quarterly inspection we get a copy, so I'm looking forward to seeing how our little house goes :) And she's said if we have any questions to call right away. So I think everything's good now :)

She sounds a little bit lazy tbh. She prob wanted you to pick her tenants so she didn't have to run any checks on them. Just remember whatever you do with agents.... Do it in writing. Email is best and SAVE all your conversations. Just keep your bum covered, just in case :) good luck

Hows your home going Teeki?