Paint, pets, and respect from landlords: what renters want

Australian tenants are looking to rent places they can call "home", according to a new survey of 878 renters.

The "Renters Unite - and have your say" survey from rent.com.au showed what the 28% of Australians who rent really want is to personalise their abode.

Being allowed to hang artwork, family photos and own a pet all scored over 70% on the wish list. A good kitchen was the highest demand.

Renters want permission to paint

In what should be good news for landlords, 56% want to create or modify the garden and 35% want to be able to paint the walls.

An overwhelming 85% said they wanted more information on how to personalise a rental property to make a home at their own cost without the need to involve a landlord or agent.

"Due to increasingly stressful housing affordability levels and a changing lifestyle, where renting is preferred by many, there will be greater pressure on landlords to provide homes for singles, couples and families rather than just bricks and mortar," says rent.com.au chief executive Mark Woschnak.

Can't afford to buy

Of those surveyed, 57% are renting because they cannot afford to buy a home, 17% are saving up to buy one and 15% don't want to buy.

Almost 40% of rental households have two people, 14% have three and 20% four or more. Single-person rentals accounted for about 27%.

"Our survey highlights the desire of tenants to have some aspects of contractual rental agreements relaxed, so they can make a longer-term home," Woschnak says.

Renting with a pet

Landlords who allow pets have a clear advantage, about 80% of respondents saying they would own a pet if they could and 60% saying the ability to own a pet swayed their decision when choosing a rental property.

Renters want better property inspection access to accommodate work and family commitments, 60% rating the open house system as limiting their ability to evaluate the potential of the property as their next home.

Not surprisingly, 58% of renters feel they pay too much rent and 65% say their latest rental increase was unfair.

In some instances the rise was the result of urgent repairs not resulting from tenant damage.

Renters don't feel respected by agents or landlords. The ideal landlord or property manager would:

• Return phone calls (77%)
• Be polite and fix problems quickly (89%)
• Provide solutions, not problems (76%).

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