Renting in the right suburb

Your local community is like an extended family – some aspects you’ll love, some will be a bit ‘meh’, but either way your suburb will be part of the fabric of your life.

But unlike your family, you get to choose where you live, and it’s a choice worth taking some time over. Take a look at the seven big issues to decide your perfect rental postcode.

1. It fits your needs

It’s tempting to fall for a suburb based on its reputation: leafy green streets, trendy cafes or great shopping. However, before you commit to an area, turn your gaze inwards and think about what really matters to you – both today and in the future.

Renting a modern inner-city home now may not break the bank, but if you want to buy in the future, it could chew up your savings plans. Conversely, a house in the ‘burbs may have cheaper rent, but if you’re far away from loved ones (or your job), it may not be worth the price tag.

Chances are you’ll have to make compromises on your choice of suburb, so draw up a list of must-haves followed by nice, but necessary features to narrow down the choice.

2. Commuting won’t be a problem

Unless you plan to spend long hours in a car or on public transport, one of the main drivers of your choice of suburb should be reasonable proximity to the activities that shape your daily life – be it work, your children’s school or the hobbies you enjoy.

Lengthy commutes aren’t just time-consuming, they can also be expensive. Once you factor in regular fuel bills or fares you could find outer suburban living, for example, is more expensive than a near-city location. Do the sums for any location you’re considering .

3. It’s convenient and fits your lifestyle

Your new rental suburb should fit your daily routine. If you crave an early morning coffee, being able to stroll to good cafes is a plus. If you have a young family, nearby access to large supermarkets, parks and childcare facilities is essential. Fitness buffs will appreciate local gyms, jogging tracks or bike tracks. Whatever you love in life, having nearby access makes your suburb a nicer place to live.

4. The suburb is a good test run

If buying property is on your bucket list , you can trial a suburb by renting in it first. See if you like (and use) the local amenities, suss out the neighbours and taste-test the local coffee scene. If you’re not feeling the hood, when your lease is up you can try renting in another suburb.

5. There’s a sense of community pride

Clean streets, well-maintained homes with curb appeal, and regular community events like festivals, street fairs and markets, show a h2 sense of local pride. It means an area is cared for and nurtured, and along with helping you feel good about where you live, community pride can create new friendships and give Ramsay Street a run for its money.

6. It’s safe

The police force website features online crime maps where you can check crime rates for local government areas. If you’re not sure, chat to a few locals, like the corner store owner, for an idea of what the suburb is really like to live in and whether particular streets have a reputation for being trouble spots. Take a good look around too – can you see abandoned buildings or vandalism? Opting for a low crime suburb is essential for personal safety, security and peace of mind.

7. You’ve spent time in the area

Nothing beats getting a true feel for an area like spending time treading the footpath. If possible, visit the suburb at different hours for a snapshot of daily life. Do residential streets become a parking lot packed with commuter cars during business hours? Are local residents out and about chatting and socialising? Is overhead aircraft noise intrusive in the evenings? In short, wander around and put yourself in the shoes of a local to see if you feel at home.

Remember, no location is perfect, and your home is very much what you make of it. But if you fall in love with a suburb there’s a good chance you could enjoy happy times for a long time to come.