How Do You Respond to a Rental Property?

You may already have a good idea of what you’re looking for, but it’s still worth writing it down – especially if you’re searching with someone else. Think about:

• Preferred location: Narrow down the areas or neighbourhoods where you’d like to live.
• Your budget: A common affordability requirement is that your gross income is at least 2.5 to 3 times the monthly rent. Calculate your maximum rent accordingly.
• Property size: What’s the minimum square footage you need?
• Number of rooms: For example, how many bedrooms do you want?
• Extra features: Such as a balcony, home office space, EPC rating, or other personal preferences.

Once you’ve defined your preferences, it’s time to set up your property search. Here’s how:

1. Use the search bar to enter your preferred location.
2. Apply filters (e.g. budget, number of bedrooms, furnished/unfurnished) to narrow down the results.
3. Click on 'notify me' at the top right or set your property alert here.

You can usually manage or delete saved searches in your profile settings.

Now that your search is set, it’s time to start responding to listings. A few key tips:

• Act fast: As soon as you receive a notification about a new property, respond quickly – good listings go fast.
• Complete your rental profile: Make sure your account/profile is up to date with all your details.
• Use ‘one-click apply’ – this saves time and increases your chances.
• Keep an eye on your inbox and phone for messages from letting agents or landlords.
• Follow up: If you haven’t heard back, consider calling or emailing the agent directly.
• Get ready for a viewing: Read more here on how to prepare for your property viewing.

Not getting any viewing invitations? Try broadening your search area, adjusting your criteria, or lowering your rent expectations slightly to increase your chances.