How to rent in LA? (real estate, renter, credit rating)

[ellie_bo_belly]

Hi everyone
Forgive me if this has been covered, I've done a search and it hasn't come up. I'm moving to LA with my husband and dog from Australia. I'm trying to understand how one goes about renting a place in LA. In Australia it's up to the prospective tenant to find the properties via a website then show up at a group inspection time. Is it the same in LA or do I contact an agent and have them help find a place for us?
Also, what kind of identification and credit history do I need to provide in order to secure a property?

Thanks for your help, many questions to come!

Ellie

[jw2]

Since you are new to the area, I would use a property manager. They are generally free for the tenant and they can answer all your questions.

Find out the community name or zip code where you want to look and google property manager <zipcode>

[quixotic59]

If I may piggyback here: In NY we have real estate agents and if one is willing to pay a fee (usually a month's rent) you go through the agent for exclusive listings that tend to be more reliable than those advertised by owners. Is there an equivalent in LA?

[wall st kid]

Group inspection?

Not sure what that is.

Anyway, you go to a website like westside rentals (fee based) or Craigslist (free) and search for a place that fits your needs. Than, you contact the renter and set up an appt to see the place, the person meets you at the address at a specified time and you go from there.

[Dunbar42]

Originally Posted by wall st kid

Group inspection?

Ya, unless they mean go look at a place. An inspection won't happen until after you've signed a lease and are ready to move in.

[ellie_bo_belly]

Group inspection in Australia means that a property is advertised to be open at a certain time (usually for a 15 minute time slot) and whoever wants to show up to look at the property can.

Thanks for the advice so far. Is anyone able to shed any light on what I would need for documentation in order to secure the property? Will I need a proven american credit rating or will various ID suffice?

[Dunbar42]

Originally Posted by ellie_bo_belly

Group inspection in Australia means that a property is advertised to be open at a certain time (usually for a 15 minute time slot) and whoever wants to show up to look at the property can.

They call that an open house here, not unheard of but generally you setup an appointment with the listing agent. If you have proof of steady income you shouldn't have any problems renting a place.

[wall st kid]

Originally Posted by ellie_bo_belly

Group inspection in Australia means that a property is advertised to be open at a certain time (usually for a 15 minute time slot) and whoever wants to show up to look at the property can.

Thanks for the advice so far. Is anyone able to shed any light on what I would need for documentation in order to secure the property? Will I need a proven american credit rating or will various ID suffice?

If you don't have an American credit rating (because you dont own an American credit card) you can still rent a place, but you might have to leave a little bit of an extra security deposit. Also, it depends on who's renting to you ....you would probably have an "Easier" time renting from a company rather than an individual owner, but you know, everyone is different.