Pets are a big part of people’s lives and should really be taken into consideration when looking for a place to rent.
while you may not have pets now, you may decide otherwise in the future.
While a tricky topic, it’s best to consult with the agency and ask if the landlord allows pets. If they don’t, is there a possibility of them making an exception?
Most landlords don’t like to allow pets for fear of potential damage the pet may cause to the property, like dogs digging up the backyard for example.
However this can be easily rectified by added a pet clean-up clause in the tenancy agreement.
If the landlord agrees to allow pets, adding a pet clean-up clause to the tenancy agreement means you agree to rectify and fix any issues your pet has caused to the property upon vacancy of the property.
If you don’t rectify any damage done to the property by your pet, the pet clean-up clause allows the landlord to deduct money from the bond to cover the costs of rectifying any damage done.
Adding the pet clean-up clause gives the landlord an added incentive to allow pets if they otherwise had concerns about pets being either inside or outside the property.
Offering a pet clean-up clause to lock down a property you really want to rent would also give you a greater chance of having the landlord accept pets.
Tip – Give the agent a ‘pet resume’. A simple one page pet resume should be completed for each individual pet and include the following criteria, or PETS;
PETS refers to:
(P) Pictures – Recent pictures of the pet
(E) Explanation – A brief description of the pet
(T) Temperament – A brief description of the pets temperament
(S) Specifics – The pets details (breed, age, size and weight etc)
Some landlords also have concerns about allowing pets if their property is carpeted, as they can trap and hold allergens caused by pets, potentially making for a more difficult occupancy for the next tenants (if they have allergies).
While carpet cleaning can help, it isn’t guaranteed to fix the issue. This is why you may find landlords with hard surfaced floors like tile and timber to be more lenient with allowing pets than those with carpet.
At the end of the day, the property must suit you and your living arrangements. So if you already have pets, or have pets planned in the future, it’s best to keep this consideration front and centre when deciding on the next place you’ll call home.
Simply discuss it with the agency about what can be achieved so everyone can win.
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This information is of a general nature only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. We are not financial, legal or tax advisers. You should seek appropriate professional advice specific to you before acting on this information.
