A former property manager who submitted more than 40 rental applications before finally securing a home has described the current housing market as "mind-boggling" and "diabolical", highlighting the extreme challenges facing tenants across New South Wales.
The Application Nightmare
The Hunter region woman, who wished to remain anonymous, recently experienced the rental crisis firsthand after being forced to move. Having previously worked as a property manager herself, she was shocked by how dramatically the system had changed.
"When I used to be a property manager, it was all on paper," she recalled. "Someone had to get an application form, fill it out, pop it in. It wasn't as hard then - we wouldn't really do open houses."
Now, she found herself navigating a confusing maze of different real estate processes while competing against dozens of other applicants for each property.
"They're all different and there needs to be some sort of guidelines to it because it's mind-boggling," she said. "I'm not a silly person, but you can't keep up with what you're doing and what you've got where, and who needs you to do what."
Chaotic Application Processes
The former property manager detailed the inconsistent approaches across different real estate agencies that make the application process increasingly difficult for prospective tenants.
"Some agents would have a link to make an inquiry or arrange an inspection. Some will send an email straight back that says apply through an app," she explained. "You do that because they want an application before they choose for you to even view the property."
Other agencies require attendance at open houses before applications can be submitted, while tenants must navigate multiple different apps and platforms to complete their submissions.
"You've got about two or three different apps where there's applications," she said. "And then the inspections are during business hours. It's just diabolical for me. I've just been in total disbelief."
Declining Standards and Desperate Tenants
The intense competition has led to declining property standards, according to the former industry professional. Despite applying as an employed couple with no children or pets, she encountered poorly maintained properties throughout her search.
"The places you look at are not cleaned properly," she observed. "You come into houses and I'm not being pedantic: you touch the windows and you can feel the grime on them. There's dirt over the window sills and fluff and cobwebs everywhere."
She expressed frustration at being "treated like a second class citizen" and noted that tenants often hesitate to report issues for fear of losing their hard-won accommodation.
"So the tenants are paying the price, and it costs money for tenants to move," she added.
Systemic Problems and Potential Solutions
Hunter Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service coordinator Nicole Grgas confirmed these application challenges affect many people across the region.
"The rise of third party apps and tenancy management software has resulted in a very difficult time for those seeking to apply for properties," Ms Grgas said.
She noted that "each agency has a variation on how they process applications and what evidence they require," forcing applicants to register on multiple platforms and navigate individual agency processes.
Currently, there is little regulation regarding the application process or the security of information being requested from prospective tenants.
However, change may be coming. National Cabinet agreed to a renter's blueprint in 2023 that includes prescribing a standard rental application form in each state or territory, with required documents limited to two in each category: identity, financial ability to pay rent, and suitability.
In NSW, a bill has been introduced to Parliament that would introduce a standard rental application form across the state, potentially simplifying the process for thousands of tenants.
Ms Grgas emphasized that for clients with limited IT experience or technology access, "the current processes can be onerous, confusing and out of reach without support."
The advocacy service supports "improved transparency and regulation of the application process" to create a fairer system for all renters.
The 2025 Listening to Renters Voices report by the Tenants Union of NSW confirmed these challenges, finding that securing rental homes remains "intensely competitive," particularly in high-demand areas like the Hunter region.
