Okay so basically I've created a new Nord Warrior and I plan on building Lake-View manor once I get further through the play through, the problem is I've purchased Lake-View in two previous games and on neither one did Rayya show up as housecarl no matter how much my building progressed or time I had invested in Hearthfire. I understand its a common bug that she will not show up, but is there any way to guarantee she shows up?

I'm on PS3 so the console is out of the question.

Did you become thane of Falkreath? As just owning Lakeview does not entitle you to a housecarl.

Yeah in both cases I've been thane.

Interesting... As a fellow PS3 player I sympathise with you, so you have a bug whereby when you become thane of falkreath, Rayya does not spawn in the Jarl's longhouse? I must admit, I've never heard of that one, if she does not spawn again, my only advice would be to try uninstalling hearthfire and then re-installing it and keep your fingers crossed?

I haven't actually been able to find Rayya in the Jarls longhouse either, once I build Lake-View on this new safe I hope she decides to appear. Would be cool having some extra company around, and yeah I'll try that.

Here have some ice cream

Did you start building the house before becoming Thane? I'm not sure it matters, but I just wanted to be sure that my housecarl had a place to sleep before they came to stay with me.

As soon as you are made Thane, your Hearthfire housecarl should appear in the Jarl's longhouse, somewhere by the door. It then wouldn't hurt to briefly make them your follower, as to escort them to the house, as npcs in Skyrim tend to wander when traveling, and have bad pathfinding, in general.

If you're made Thane but don't ask at all about the house, Rayya should appear in the Longhouse.

Did Rayya introduce herself to your PC? That needs to be done before she heads to LM. At worse, just make her a follower and travel to LM.