Tenants – Finding a Home in London, Ontario.

You want a home that reflects who you are, that is in a safe and good neighbourhood and where you can be comfortable for the next few years.

Whether it is your first apartment or somewhere you want to start raising your family – finding a home that fits your needs can be a daunting task.

Why rent through Harrison Carter Group…
We preview all our listings, have connections with investors about what’s currently available and coming available and will assist you in making the right fit for you and your family. Choosing the relocation and rental agent is as important as your choice of property. Unfamiliar with the city? Meet the experts who know London and area– extremely well. We can help you find the right neighbourhood for work, school and your lifestyle.

Friendly and Experienced Agents
Renting can be a minefield of poor property choices and hidden extra costs resulting in overall frustration. However, you’ll find that in working with our team, we will do our utmost to make your search successful.

Flexible Viewing Times
Arriving from out of province or from another country? Ask about our Gold Star Relocation Package. If your work day is too busy to take time off, we can group appointments around your lunchtime. Still tricky? We are happy to arrange evening viewings as well as weekends and can also conduct live video tours.

Work with the best!
At HCG we recognise that reliable tenants are at the heart of any successful rental. Harrison Carter Group rental agents and their landlords depend on tenants who pay their rent on time and take care of the property they have rented.

Tips on Finding a Home
Make a list of your essential requirements for your rented property, and a separate list of what you would ideally like when you rent your new home. Essentials would include:

• The minimum number and size of bedrooms for your household size.
• Location – close to work, access to bus routes/main roads, schools.
• Rental budget – don’t forget to budget for utilities. If you can afford to pay a little more in your rental budget, then you will get much better value as the competition is always fiercest for properties at the lowest prices.
• The earliest and latest dates by which you must move – property for rent is on a quick “turnaround”. A landlord will normally receive two month’s notice that tenants are moving out and they will try to find new tenants as quickly as possible. As a result, most rented properties are only available for a few weeks before they are rented. If you look too late, you will have a reduced choice of properties and will have to compromise on your requirements.
• Furnishing – the majority of properties are unfurnished. The exceptions are some student accommodations or executive homes with a short term lease.
• Parking – most properties in the London and surround areas provide on site parking. Downtown and core areas usually have limited parking and paying for a dedicated spot or a parking pass is common.
• If you have young children, then you will probably want a property with a backyard and close to schools.

How Much Can You Afford?
As a guide, your annual income (before tax) must be at least 2.5 times the annual rent of the property you are applying for.

For example:

Rent $1500 / month
Rent Per year $18,000 ($1500 x 12 months)
Minimum annual salary $45,000 ($18,000 x 2.5)

We use this as a guide only. Circumstances for tenants and requirements for individual landlords vary.

What can you expect at a property viewing?

• At Harrison Carter Group we will always accompany any prospective tenant/s on viewings – it’s a security precaution that protects you and landlord, and it gives you an opportunity to ask questions about the property.
• Bring a tape measure to check if your furniture will fit and a pen and paper to make notes.
• If you are meeting at the property, plan your route in advance and allow enough time to get there. Our agents are on tight schedules and cannot afford to wait more than a few minutes. Make sure you have the agent’s office number with you and call if you are running late. It will take at least 15 minutes to look around your selected property so if you are viewing several properties with different agents then plan your time accordingly.
• Be clear with the agent on the terms proposed. For example, you may have offered to pay the full asking rent providing that the landlord will agree to your tenancy starting on the 1st June for 12 months AND will supply a washing machine. The agent will negotiate the terms proposed with the landlord and get their agreement

It normally takes 2 or 3 business days for your application to be processed. You may be asked by the agent to get in touch with your employer if they are slow in providing a reference.

If you are sharing the residence, the tenancy cannot be approved until each and every tenant has successfully applied.