Identity documents
Almost every NSW agent requires at least one form of government-issued photo ID. Most require two. The standard combination is a driver's licence plus a Medicare card or secondary photo ID.
- Current Australian driver's licence (front and back)
- Australian passport (photo page)
- Medicare card (as secondary ID)
- Keypass or proof-of-age card (if no driver's licence)
Employment and income
Agents use employment documents to confirm that you can afford the rent. The standard benchmark is that rent should not exceed 30–35% of gross household income. The more clearly you can demonstrate stable, sufficient income, the stronger your application.
Salaried employees
- Most recent 2 payslips (within the last 3 months)
- Employment contract or letter confirming your role, salary, and employment type
- Last 3 months of bank statements showing regular income deposits
Self-employed, contractors, and freelancers
Self-employed applicants need to provide alternative evidence of income. Agents are accustomed to payslips — when those are absent, you need to work harder to demonstrate stability.
- Last 2 years of tax returns (ATO)
- ATO income statement from myGov (current year)
- Last 3 months of business bank statements
- Last 3 months of personal bank statements
- Accountant's letter confirming income and business viability
- Current contracts or invoices (evidence of ongoing work)
See our full guide: Self-employed rental application Australia.
Rental history
A rental reference from your most recent property manager is the single most valuable document in your application. It confirms that you paid rent on time, maintained the property, and left without incident.
- Reference letter from your most recent property manager or landlord
- Rental ledger from your current tenancy (if available from your agent)
- Overseas rental references if you have rented internationally (translated summary if not in English)
Situational documents
The following documents are required in specific circumstances. Include them if they apply to your situation.
| Situation | Document required |
|---|---|
| Pets | Pet resume — see our pet resume guide |
| Non-citizen / non-permanent resident | Visa grant notice or residency documentation |
| Centrelink income | Centrelink income statement from myGov |
| Student | Enrolment confirmation and evidence of financial support |
| Recently arrived in Australia | Overseas rental references with translated summary |
| Break lease on record | Brief written explanation for cover letter |
| Gap in employment | Brief written explanation for cover letter |
Portal-specific requirements
2Apply
2Apply is the most widely used rental application platform in NSW and is required by many Sydney property managers. Setting up your profile correctly before you start applying saves significant time and avoids common rejection triggers.
Profile setup checklist:
- Create your account at 2apply.com.au and complete every profile section — incomplete profiles are flagged by agents
- Upload your ID, payslips, and rental reference before you start applying so you can submit immediately when a property is listed
- Add at least two personal references with current contact details
- Write a short personal statement in your profile (2–3 sentences) — agents read this
Document requirements:
- Upload documents individually as PDFs — do not combine into one file unless the agent specifically asks
- Maximum 5 MB per file — compress large PDFs before uploading
- Name files clearly: e.g.
Smith_J_Payslip_March2026.pdf - Do not upload screenshots or photos of documents — use scanned PDFs
Ignite (realestate.com.au)
Ignite is the application platform used by agents advertising on realestate.com.au. Key requirements:
- Accepts PDF, JPG, and PNG
- Some agents require documents combined into a single PDF — check the listing instructions
- Complete your Ignite profile in advance so you can apply quickly when a property becomes available
Direct applications (email or in-person)
When applying directly by email, submit all documents as individual PDFs with clear filenames. Include your cover letter as the first attachment or in the body of the email. Follow the agent's instructions exactly — if they specify a format, use it.
What agents are actually looking for
Agents are primarily assessing three things: can this applicant afford the rent, do they have a stable history of paying rent and maintaining properties, and are there any obvious red flags.
A complete, well-organised application signals that you are a reliable, organised tenant. An incomplete application — missing payslips, no rental reference, blurry ID — signals the opposite, regardless of your actual financial position.
The most common reason applications are rejected is not that the applicant is unsuitable — it is that the application is incomplete or poorly presented. Every document you include should be clearly labelled, easy to read, and relevant to the application.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to provide my tax file number (TFN)?
No. Agents and property managers have no legitimate reason to request your TFN. Do not provide it as part of a rental application.
Can I submit the same application to multiple properties?
On platforms like 2Apply and Ignite, yes — your profile and documents are stored and can be submitted to multiple properties. However, your cover letter should be tailored to each property. A generic cover letter is noticeably weaker than one that references the specific property.
How recent do my payslips need to be?
Most agents require payslips from the last 3 months. Payslips older than 3 months may be questioned. If you have recently started a new role, include your employment contract alongside your most recent payslip.
What if I don't have a rental reference?
Address it directly in your cover letter. Provide strong personal references from an employer, professional contact, or community leader. See our full guide on applying with no rental history.