Document text
Rental application cover letter
A one-page letter and a rental resume to send with your application
[TODAY'S DATE]
To: [AGENT OR LANDLORD NAME]
Re: Rental application — [PROPERTY ADDRESS]
Dear [AGENT OR LANDLORD NAME],
Thank you for showing us through [PROPERTY ADDRESS]. We would love to make it our home and would like to apply to move in on [MOVE-IN DATE].
About us: [YOUR NAME] — [YOUR JOB AND EMPLOYER]. The rent of A$ [RENT] a week is about [PERCENT]% of our take-home pay, so it sits comfortably in our budget.
Rental history: [WHERE YOU RENTED, HOW LONG, RENT ON TIME, BOND RETURNED]. We look after a home as if it were our own and report repairs early.
Pets: [NO PETS / PET DETAILS].
Our application form, ID, proof of income and references are attached. We are happy to answer any questions and can sign the lease and pay the bond as soon as the application is approved.
Kind regards,
[YOUR NAME]
[PHONE] · [EMAIL]
Rental resume
About us Details
Applicant(s) [YOUR NAME]
Property [PROPERTY ADDRESS]
Move-in date [MOVE-IN DATE]
Lease term wanted [6 / 12 / 24 MONTHS]
Work [YOUR JOB AND EMPLOYER]
Take-home pay, a week A$ [AMOUNT]
Rent, a week A$ [RENT]
Rent as share of take-home pay [PERCENT]%
Pets [NO PETS / PET DETAILS]
Rental history
Address From – to Rent a week Agent / landlord
[ADDRESS] [MM/YYYY – MM/YYYY] A$ [RENT] [NAME, PHONE]
[ADDRESS] [MM/YYYY – MM/YYYY] A$ [RENT] [NAME, PHONE]
References
Name How they know you Phone / email
[NAME] [RELATIONSHIP] [PHONE / EMAIL]
[NAME] [RELATIONSHIP] [PHONE / EMAIL]
Documents to attach
☐ Photo ID (driver licence or passport) — check how many your state allows the agent to ask for
☐ Proof of income: two recent payslips, or a bank statement without the transactions
☐ Rental history: addresses, dates, agent or landlord contacts
☐ References: name, phone, email and how they know you
☐ Pet details (if any): type, desexed, microchipped, registered
Your rights when you apply (state rules)
State What the law says
NSW Holding fee no more than 1 week's rent, and only after your application is approved. No costs other than holding fee, bond, rent and lease registration. Bond no more than 4 weeks' rent. Rent bidding is banned.
VIC Agents must use the prescribed application form. No more than 2 income documents and 2 ID documents from the listed ones. They can't ask about past disputes or your bond history, and can't charge any application fee.
Other states and territories Rules differ — check your state's renting authority before you apply.
Renting rules are state and territory laws. NSW: NSW Government, «Finding and applying for a rental property». VIC: Consumer Affairs Victoria, «Applying for a property». A template, not legal advice.