Hi

I applied for an apartment last Wednesday, and they said they'd make a decision by this coming Wednesday. As part of my application I had to provide contact details for my work place and my current landlord. Both of these references received a call on Friday, checking that I am who I say I am, I work where I say I do, that I pay my rent etc (the obvious stuff!).

To me this seems like a very good sign for me,along with the fact that the current tenant told their landlord that I would be their preferred choice. I'm struggling to not already have it in my head that I have the apartment, but I don't want to get too far ahead of myself.

I know it's hard to say and it will change from case to case and agency to agency, but how likely is it that they'll have checked my references (both of which gave me a good reference) while I'm the tenants first choice, only to go on to not offer it to me? It's been a frustrating search up until now, and I'd love for it just to be over. The idea of not getting this one and having to start again from square one is not one that fills me with joy, to say the least.

Thanks

I think it is difficult to evaluate your chance, without knowing if they have done similar with other applicants.

Yeah I guess that's my question - would it be common for them to check the references of multiple potential tenants? And similarly, how likely would it be that they'd go against the current tenants recommended/preferred choice, after having checked their references. I can imagine them going against the tenants wishes if there was something off in the application, but considering they checked the references I presume nothing in my application was off.

Very difficult questions to answer I know, I'm just anxious to get this all finished! (And I really liked the apartment in question)

You're obviously short listed. They won't bother with the work of making phone calls about people they know they don't want to rent to.
The opinion of the present renter is of no interest to them - after all, they will be gone and won't have to put up with you.

Honestly? Take your mind off it!
If you must ponder it constantly, simply tell yourself you're moving there. Law of attraction

I don't mean to sound pessimistic but I had this before, the agency calling my landlord at the time to ask about me. I was really happy because I thought that I would be picked, landlord said really good words about me, but I wasn't picked in the end. Though they contacted me and they offered me another apartment which I accepted. I have to admit that it worked out really well as I prefer much more the area that I'm currently living for various reasons.
But as others said, you're definitely shortlisted and that means that you already have pretty good chances of getting the apartment.

Yeah I guess you're right re. the recommendation from the current renter - I was just thinking that since it was a 'Nachmieter gesucht' ad and that I'll be taking over their contract, that their opinion matters a bit more. And I agreed to buy the furniture which they want to leave behind. Though again, I suppose the landlord wouldn't care too much about that.




No, don't worry about adding pessimism - I could do with lessening my expectations somewhat. I got to the stage today where I found myself thinking "I wonder if I'm allowed a barbecue in the terrace of my new apartment", which is not the way I want to be if I can avoid it! The disappointment if I don't get offered it will be quite big as it is, so anything to soften that blow is good.