Rental Application Cover Letter

This Rental Application Cover Letter can be used by one or more tenants that are applying to rent a residential property such as a house or apartment.

In today's competitive rental market, landlords are often overwhelmed with rental applications. Tenants need to make an effort to stand out from the pack, and landlords are on the lookout for tenants that are well organised and professional. A cover letter is the first thing the landlord will see, so it is important that tenants take the time to prepare a high quality cover letter. This document will help tenants to do that.

The letter allows the tenants to present themselves in a professional and appealing manner. It gives them the chance to summarise their situation such as in relation to employment and previous rental properties, and it also lets them list the various documents that they may be providing to the landlord (such as a Rental Application Form, references, copies of payslips, and credit checks).

How to use this document

In this letter, tenants can enter their crucial information such as their personal contact details and information about their employment or other sources of income. They can summarise their rental history and list all of the documents that they are providing to the landlord.

If they have rented properties in the past, then many tenants get their previous landlords to provide a reference using our Rental Reference document. These references can then be attached to this letter.

In addition, many landlords require tenants to prepare a rental application form using our Rental Application Form for Residential Property. This application form can also be attached to the letter. Even if the landlord has not asked for it, many tenants choose to prepare a rental application form anyway, as it helps their application to stand out and impress the landlord.

Tenants may also attach copies of some recent payslips, to show the landlord that they earn enough to cover rent.

Many tenants also obtain a credit report from a reporting agency such as Equifax, and attach a copy of this credit report with the letter.

Once the letter and other attachments have been prepared, the tenant can provide them to the landlord, either by email, post or in person. If the landlord uses a property manager, then they can be delivered to the property manager on the landlord's behalf.

If the landlord or property manager has specified a particular procedure that tenants should use to apply for the property, then tenants should follow this procedure. For example, some landlords have specific forms that they want tenants to fill out, or other specific information that they want tenants to provide.

Applicable law

Each state and territory also has its own legislation regarding residential tenancies.

Further information or legal assistance, particularly in relation to residential properties is available from consumer affairs offices, tenant unions or tenant advice services in each state and territory. Community legal centres may also provide assistance.

In some cases, real estate agents may be covered by the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth). For example, if they have an annual turnover of more than $3 million then they may be covered. Or if they opt-in to the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth) then they will be covered. If the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth) applies, then there will be restrictions in relation to what sort of information can be collected and how it should be handled. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner provides further information.

How to modify the template

You fill out a form. The document is created before your eyes as you respond to the questions.

At the end, you receive it in Word and PDF formats. You can modify it and reuse it.