Have you considered a house or an apartment, but don't know what is involved or how to choose your colleagues? You are not alone.

If you start the process with the right people and organize all your documents, building a new joint stock company is probably a successful process. Here are some things you need to remember to make sure you are ready and meet all the selection criteria.

1. Make sure you have all the files you need

Organize your documents in advance. This can include your:

• Recommendation letter
• Proof of income
• Employment letter (this applies if you just started a new job)
• Valid identification
• Your rental/work resume
• Deposit or rent ledger
• cover letter
• Completed application form

2. Make sure everyone who is sharing the house with you is ready for the file

Real estate agents, property managers and landlords will consider whether everyone is suitable, even if they apply to live in the same property.

3. Write a great cover letter

This document helps explain why you will be a good tenant. Talk about who you are, what your job is, why you moved, and what attractiveness you think of renting a house. Be honest with your rent and credit history.

4. There is evidence that you can pay the rent

You can ask to pay the rent a few months in advance. Also, it's a good idea to prove that you have a record of paying on time, and that you have a lot of deposits in the bank.

5. Prepare a letter of recommendation

A good letter of recommendation can prove to a real estate agent or property manager that you will be reliable and take good care of the property. Your referee can be a former colleague, neighbor, university lecturer or accountant. You need about three referees, and once you get their approval, list them in your application and they should give you a letter of recommendation and their preferred contact.

6. Find a guarantor

If you are renting for the first time, or if you don't have a good rental record or credit score, the financial guarantor can be a good helper. This can be a family member or friend with good credit who can help your application be more credible. Your sponsor should also submit the same application documents as you.

7. Co-rent or sublet?

Common housing lease agreements are usually shared or sublet. The first thing to decide is: Do you want to be a general tenant who subletes to other shareholders, will come and go for various reasons, or do you want to be a common tenant who signs a lease with others? Co-ownership refers to everyone living in the property as specified in the agreement, which means that all tenants are responsible for each other's actions.

For example, if one of the sharers does not pay for part of their rent, the other person must pay, otherwise the entire lease is in arrears in rent. By the same token, if a person smears the house: everyone loses their bond share.

If you want to establish a joint lease, you must go through a rental property agent, or directly through a self-managed landlord, who can apply for a lease in a local advertising vacancy. Everyone listed on the rental application form must disclose the relevant rental history and income/job details.

Or, if the person you are about to become a roommate is not the most organized group, you may be more willing to sublet to your roommate as the sole tenant of the lease. This will allow you to share your house or apartment with others on a more flexible basis. If you want to be a total tenant, sublet a home's bedroom to help pay the rent, you will need to sign a rental agreement directly with the property owner or rental company.

As the owner or “unique” tenant, you are legally responsible for the future sublease tenant. You also need written permission from the hotel owner to advertise your roommate.