Expat Tenants... - The horror of finding a property to rent !!!

Hello !

How desperate should someone feel facing bureaucratic or unreasonable procedures trying to find a property to rent....

Sometimes, the situation is really crazy !  In some countries, you need to pass a credit control and give references from previous landlords. Of course, if you have just landed, it's easy to understand that neither bank account or previous landlords exist.  Additionally, if you want to open a bank account, you need an address....  Nice....!

Where in some cases the problem could be solved by presenting your contract from the company you're about to work together with a letter from your employer, some real estate agents will play it hard and will ask you to pay the credit check fee in any case.

In other countries, the landlords have specific requirements, i.e. your salary to be at least 3x the rent.  Furthermore, we shouldn't forget about the guarantor.  Yes, I know that you are not 18 years old, looking for your first apartment, needing your dad's sign, but this procedure still exists and some landlords will definitely ask someone to guarantee for you.

Of course, additionally to the above, racial discrimination matters may arise and other kind of issues like no children-men-women-singles-married-pets-tall-short-red haired.... wanted.  Everyone respects that a landlord needs to protect his property.  If we also consider that not all the tenants respect the minimum rules, creating big damages to the house they rent, this situation could be somehow reasonable.

I suppose there is no other way than the obvious :  RESEARCH (yes, again...).  Be prepared and search for what are the procedures (not just the general country's rules, but the specific ones in the county you will move).  Search for local real estate agents and contact them.  Explain them the situation and find the solution IN ADVANCE, so to be prepared financially and take all the necessary actions to have all the proper documents in hand so not to lose time.

What do you think ?  Have something like that happened to you ?  

What is your experience ?