Wozzakai Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 My husband and I have been granted a permanent residency visa and we are looking to move to Cairns in March. I am wondering if it is possible to rent straight away when we first arrive and how we would go about doing this? Also what evidence do we need? Everywhere seems to say proof of a job. Do I need to have worked shifts in the job or just prove that I will have an income in the country? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aconcannon Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 My husband and I have been granted a permanent residency visa and we are looking to move to Cairns in March. I am wondering if it is possible to rent straight away when we first arrive and how we would go about doing this? Also what evidence do we need? Everywhere seems to say proof of a job. Do I need to have worked shifts in the job or just prove that I will have an income in the country? Thanks You can try & secure a rental before you get here but you probably won't have any success. We tried the same thing ourselves before we moved 18 months ago. 99% of the real estates didn't even reply to me when I enquired. The rental market is a bit different here...you don't book viewings for property, you just get told a day & a time & turn up with 20 other people & you get 15 minutes to look around. If you decide you like it you either collect an application form off the agent on the day or you apply online. It's dog eat dog, especially here in Sydney. My advice would be to book an Air B&B for a month when you first arrive & go from there. Good luck Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBI Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 It works differently to the UK but if you find a property you like I would chase the agent non stop till you get the answer you want, They tend to be laided back in getting back to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Hi @Wozzakai if you were moving to Melbourne I would have said forget trying to find a property before you get here as agents won't entertain you. However, the Cairns market is a little different and a couple will and will allow you to fax through the paperwork from overseas. What I will say is don't jump at a property based on photos alone, this is general advice not just for Cairns as agents are good at photo angles. If you need any advice on Cairns let me know. In regards to evidence, you don't need proof of a job but you do need proof you can pay. For example if you have no job and a $1000 in the bank you will struggle. If you have no savings then agents usually want proof of monthly income to be between 3 and 4 times your weekly rent. So if you want to rent a house at $300 a week you would need to be earning around $1200 a month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wozzakai Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 thanks, it does seem like it will be a challenge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wozzakai Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 It sounds amazing if Cairns works a little differently. I think we have settled on moving to a hostel whilst we have a look around Cairns to find the property we want, hopefully by then I will have proof of a job anyway but if we just need proof of being able to pay that sounds better. Do you know which particular companies will accept this? This has been really helpful thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aconcannon Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 From our own personal experience every agent is different. We had about $20,000 in the bank when we arrived & my husband had a full time job & only 1 agent were willing to accept us...but we live in Sydney which is a very different ball game to Cairns! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wozzakai Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 wow, sydney definately sounds like a huge challenge. I'm hoping Cairns is a little bit easier. How did you manage in the end? Did that one agent help you get somewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aconcannon Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Sydney has a crazy rental market but with Cairns being so small & not a major city you should be ok. The agents don't help you find anywhere...you find the property you like & then you apply. Yes we found a place ok in the end. We hand delivered the application & buttered them up so they could see we were reliable people Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wozzakai Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 Glad you got sorted. Sounds like finding the right place and pushing is the way forward thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aconcannon Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Yes definitely! If you go in & meet the agent after the viewing & hand deliver your application you become a person instead of just a name on a piece of paper! You'll be ok, I'm sure you'll get somewhere! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wozzakai Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 thanks, that does sound positive. I will keep searching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aconcannon Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Don't forget as well that unless you're spending big money the general condition of properties in Australia is probably considered a poor standard in comparison to the UK. Cairns not being such a modern city & very tropical I would most definitely be wanting to inspect a place before committing to rent it so I think waiting until you get there is definitely advantageous in other ways too Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wozzakai Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 I didn't realise that was the case, however we have looked at more expensive houses online. I think we will definitely be looking in person, but also we have a contact in Cairns who is checking out the potential houses for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aconcannon Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Despite being a new country I think in general unless you live in a new build properties are definitely pretty shabby compared to the UK. I've lived & rented in both Melbourne & Sydney & I've also property searched on the Gold Coast as well & found that to be the case. We pay $700 a week in Sydney for a pretty old fashioned apartment...again that's Sydney for you, but in the UK most people wouldn't look twice at a place like that. I guess the Aussies don't spend as much time indoors so they aren't always as house proud as the Brits in that respect Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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