Gold Coast family secure rental after ‘soul-destroying’ three months, 80 rejections

A Gold Coast mum has revealed the strategy she used to secure a rental home for her family after a “soul-destroying” three months and more than 80 rejections.

Despair has turned to delight for a Gold Coast family after a rare win in Queensland’s rental property battle.

Kerri-Lee Hicks had been searching for a “soul-destroying” three months and not even her family’s impeccable 12-year tenancy record could open doors to a new home.

With more than 80 rejected applications, Mrs Hicks had all but given up hope, and to stave off homelessness was set to take her three high-needs children to live with a relative in Adelaide while her husband Michael held down his job as a Nerang store manager.

Michael and Kerri-Lee Hicks and their children Axel, 12, Eli, 11, and Conner, 7, have finally secured a rental property. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The Courier-Mail reported the family’s plight on Saturday, and this week an elated Mrs Hicks revealed she had been approved for a property by Harcourts Pacific Pines and could be settled by this Easter long weekend.

“I cried and cried and actually had to ask to call the agent back in half an hour, I was so overwhelmed,” said Mrs Hicks, 37.

“My three kids have autism and were staring at me horrified because they’ve never seen me like that; I can usually regulate my emotions.”

Mrs Hicks’s ultimate success was due to a dogged strategy she hopes might help others come out on top of the dire rental property shortage.

* Make it personal: take time to visit agencies in person.

* Use reliable references to help make yourself a name, not a number.

* Seek agencies offering paper applications: this eliminates online application ‘spamming’ as only genuinely interested people will fill in seven pages of questions.

* Check if agencies received your application and have everything they need.

* Keep hard copies as well as electronic copies of your personal information as a backup.

* Supply a pet reference: ask your current property manager to confirm there is no property damage, your pets have a good temperament and there are no neighbourhood complaints.

* Ask your bank for a transaction statement to verify your salary (a good alternative to providing full bank statements if you’re concerned about privacy).

* Find agencies that do pre-approvals and ask to stay on their books: once your details are certified this speeds up the process and streamlines future applications.

* Be organised: document the date and status of property applications so you can keep track.

* If your application is declined, ask why. Agents can offer valuable feedback.

* Explain extenuating circumstances if appropriate: this gives agents a fuller picture of why they should consider you.

* Don’t take rejection personally: there are many people in your situation or worse off.

* Have a back-up accommodation plan: you can’t live on hopes and dreams.