Picture courtesy Greg Brave, http://photopathway.com.
In fact, today's rental market is quite competitive as it is, and many tenants are facing difficulties finding the right place for the right price. But when you own a pet - the competition almost always wins. And this is because… there are two famous landlords' misconceptions you'd need to overcome:
1. If I rent out my property it will be destroyed.
2. If I rent out my property to tenants with pet, it will DEFINITELY be destroyed.
This situation is causing many people stress, and being unable to find a property where pets are welcome, tenants resort to desperate measures, such as giving up their pet or keeping it a secret - which never is a good idea.
Here are some quick tips that will save you time looking for a pet-friendly rental:
1. Make this your first question to the estate agent: "Are pets allowed on the property?" It will help avoid wasting time on enquiring about a property where your furry companion isn’t welcome.
2. Speak with the property manager, rather than with a receptionist at the estate agency. A receptionist can only look up the property listing on a computer, and it may not say anything about pets, in which case some receptionists could incorrectly assume pets were not allowed. Talking to the property manager is always a better idea, because they know the landlord and the property better, are actually interested in renting that property out and will try and assist you, including ringing the landlord to find out about their pets policy.
3. Know that the chances of finding a studio, a flat or an apartment that allows pets are worse than finding a house that is pet-friendly. Most forms of the higher-density living come with a body corporate "strictly-no-pets" policy. Houses, on the other hand, offer a much better chance of "yes-to-pets" policy, especially if they have a back yard and no wall-to-wall carpets.
4. Finding a pet-friendly rental is not the end of it - now you need to convince the landlord that you are their best choice of a tenant. Landlords and estate agents find the following especially persuasive:
- Pet cover letter, describing the nature and habits of your pet along with the training it has received. Cute photos are very helpful!
- Vaccination and registration certificates.
- Written references from previous landlords, neighbours or estate agents.
- And finally, an offer of a pet-bond that is intended to cover any damage caused by the pet might be that magic key to your new rental house.
A good agent should know their owners pet stance BEFORE advertising a rental. If they don't, they are either being lazy, or the excuse of 'checking with the owner' is just a stall technique.
To be completely honest, this article is out of touch and elitist. As if property managers are going to make time to 'assist you' and 'ring the landlord to find out about their pets policy'. All I can say is - good luck if this is your strategy.
As a current landlord, I allowed my current tenants to keep pets on the premises and the lease agreements specified that the pets were to be outside only. Am in the midst of having the lease terminated as the tenants continually bring the pets inside (breach of agreement). Worse still, the pets have done some damage to the inside of my property. In the past, other tenants brought their pets inside the property (when specified it was forbidden) and damage occurred due to the pets being inside the property. I am absolutely furious! I've had enough of tenants and am going to sell the property once the tenants are gone. If I ever bought another house and rented it out, I would never allow tenants to have pets on my property ever again. It's sad that those bad people spoil it for those good ones out there but there comes a point when enough is enough.
t\That's great saying make that your first question to ask the agent. but in Queensland the excuse we get all the time is, don't know will have to ask the owner. Or as soon as they find out you have a big dog like my Rotti, they freak out and so no straight away.