The aim of people and pets property is to promote pet friendly property. A lot of new developments do not allow pets. This is a real loss not just for people unable to keep thier exsisting pets, but also at a larger scale that is creating a world without pets. Pet friendly property is about creating space for pets that keeps them both entertained and contained. I aim to invest in housing that is pet friendly. People who own pets have been shown to be more responsible people that those who do not own pets. I would spend money on better fencing and or cat enclosures .
I aim to create a whole website to promote pet friendly property.
The following is article I found about have pets in rental properties.
Dennis Wey
Dennis Wey is Joint Managing Director of both the Beenleigh and Shailer Park Raine and Horne real estate offices and kindly agreed to an interview to answer some of the commonly asked questions by renting pet owners.
Note - PFR: stands for Pet Friendly Rentals.
PFR: Hi Dennis, thank you for talking to Pet Friendly Rentals today. Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your experience in the Real Estate industry?
Hi Ryan. Firstly, let me say that I am very interested in the rental industry and I believe we are seen as one of the most professional property management Offices in our area. Secondly, the situation regarding pets is of real concern to us. I have been involved in the real estate industry for over 30 years - 25 of those years with Raine & Horne and being a property investor myself I see both sides of the story on issues such as renting with pets.
PFR: So you’ve been in the industry a long time… What are your thoughts on why for a country where 63% of households own a pet, there are (relatively speaking) so few rentals that allow them?
That’s easy, there are pets and there are pets - there are 2 very distinct categories. To be on the safe side property owners say “no pets” when they are listing their rental properties, but in actual fact most of them don’t mind having pets live there but they are reluctant to actually promote “pets” in case they have a bad experience.
PFR: How responsible have pet owners been in your experience? Is it a case of the minority making it difficult for the majority?
We have had very little trouble with pets because we are very selective in the first place, just as we are selective with the potential tenants.
PFR: We’ve noticed that on Real Estate.com.au for example, many properties do not say anything about allowing or disallowing pets. This makes it frustrating for pet owners who often ring up to enquire about such properties. Why do you think ‘pets ok’ or ‘no pets’ are often not specified?
I personally would not promote pets for any of the properties I own and rent out, but all them actually have pets in them (except where the Body Corporate doesn’t allow them). I think people feel that they might be promoting the wrong type of pets. I believe it’s a tragedy to see a working dog for example kept in a small yard with no exercise.
PFR: What are some of the key things a Property Manager or Landlord looks for when selecting the ideal tenant?
A good past good record as well as the ability to pay rent, and if they have good references regarding pets, there are very few owners that would reject their applications.
PFR: What could pet owners do to maximise their chances of being approved for a rental?
Reference, reference, reference!
PFR: I understand that a lot of investors see pets as a liability to their investment property but what is the majority of damage to rentals actually caused by?
The only pet-related damage we have ever had reported was from locked-up working dogs. Other damage is typically caused by the people, not the pets.
PFR: Due to supply and demand, it’s likely that in some cases, investors could get a greater weekly income for their property if they allowed pets? Do you think this could influence their decision?
Absolutely – Most landlords would take a risk for a few dollars more on their return.
Do you think changes in legislation that would enable a “Pet Bond” to be introduced would help make more properties pet friendly, as a way of helping investors feel like they had more protection against any damage caused?
The current bond of 4 weeks rent is adequate, but if I was a prospective tenant and I was willing to pay more if it helped me to obtain the property that I wanted, then yes I believe investors would be very interested.
PFR: What else do you think could be done to help improve the number of rentals that allow pets?
If agents could specify the type of pets allowed or not allowed.
PFR: Any further comments?
Unit complexes are the worst offenders so developers should provide for pets in their planning of units – if they did, I believe that their units would sell for a premium. Investors would also get a higher rental return in these ‘pet friendly designed’ units. So getting the message through that designing for pets and allowing pets can achieve both a higher rental return and sale price would I believe assist.
PFR: Thanks very much for joining us today Dennis.
In this installment we will continue to look at aspects of buying a new home in Australia that will be a perfect fit for both you and your pet.
Having A Bigger House Will Help With Lots Of Pets
If you do have a lot of animals living in your home then you will probably want to find a home with as much square footage as you can comfortable afford. Having more room in your home will make it easier to give everyone in your home enough space and ensure that you are not tripping over each other.
When You Need A Yard
Larger yards can be a huge asset if you have pets. The extra room that a yard provides can be a huge benefit to you as well as your pet. Another benefit of having a yard is that your pet will have a place to relieve himself without you needing to take him or her out for a walk. This can be a big time saver for you. Having a fenced in yard is an even bigger asset because it will help keep you pet contained and safe.
When You Can’t Get A Yard
If you are not able to get a property with a yard for your pets due to the area where you are living or your budget then is will be important to find a house that is in close proximity to a park or other area where you can take your pet for a walk several times a day. Living close to a park or other grassy area will make your life as a pet owner much easier.
Using these tips and ideas will make finding a pet friendly home in Australia easier than ever.
Property Options Australia
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For pet-owners, the need to find a rented property where their four-legged, eight-legged, no-legged, winged or finned friend will be welcome adds an extra twist to the house-hunting process.
Not all landlords are amenable to the idea of taking on tenants with pets, fearing that they will damage furniture, fixtures and fittings, or leave flea infestations when they depart. It can pose a serious challenge to pet-owners looking to rent, especially in properties in popular urban areas. So how do you go about finding a home where your pet will be welcome?
No pets, no fair
Many reputable letting agencies have added to their contracts words to the effect that landlords will not withhold consent for a pet unless it's unreasonable. And although many landlords still won't entertain the idea of dogs inside their properties, it at least gives you the chance to ask. According to Amanda Hodgson of John D. Wood Lettings, the best approach is to be upfront and honest from the start: "If someone says, I want to take the house, this is my offer, this is my start date and by the way I have a dog, then we just tell the landlord and they can consider the whole offer. "But when someone waits until they get the contract that says 'no pets', to say that they have a dog, it looks like they've been trying to hide something. And that makes it more difficult to negotiate." |
Since
the Office of Fair Trading published a welcome set of guidelines on
fair and unfair terms in rental contracts in 2001, it's no longer quite
so common to come across upfront 'no pets' specifications in lettings
ads. Premium
pet rate
And a strict 'pets' clause in their lettings contract covers every eventuality, from damaged carpets and curtains to scratched floors, and from flea infestations to territorial spraying - with no 'save wear and tear' caveat for damage or wear caused by pets, but instead a presumption of replacing new for old when necessary. But even with all this built-in protection for the landlord, it isn't always easy for pet-owners to find a suitable place or, sometimes, any place at all. "We've currently got a tenant looking for a one-bedroom flat," Amanda explains, "but they've got an Alsatian, and since one-beds tend to be quite small, it's been hard to find them anything. "We do have one property, but you have to go through the flat to get to the garden, and that landlord's not particularly happy to take an Alsatian in case it comes in with muddy feet." |
At
John D. Wood, like many
Ground-floor
cat
"Cats are easier to rent to than dogs are, and then anything that's not a dog or a cat - snakes, spiders, reptiles - isn't really a problem, because they're all kept confined in glass cabinets and so on", he says, "and that's fine for landlords. Anything that's not hairy and isn't going to scratch the floors or the furniture is usually fine." And he points out, lest animal-lovers become offended by a landlord's refusal to allow them pets, that since many landlords are themselves leaseholders, with a freeholder specifying the terms of the lease, it isn't always their decision to make. "In the majority of circumstances, landlords are businessmen and aren't going to jeopardise a future let and more money for the sake of just being difficult." |
And
it isn't only for dogs that renting can turn out to be a dog's life.
Ground-floor flats can spark stiff competition between cat-owners, keen
to be able to allow their cats in and out with ease, and it's not
uncommon for cat-lovers to specify properties on the ground floor,
according to Sean Banister of Money barks
As Sean Banister says, "If a tenant can offer a bit of extra money to help with the costs of post-tenancy work, or say £10 more than the asking price, then the landlord's probably going to say yes." At County Homesearch, which specialises in seeking out suitable properties across the UK for clients relocating from near and far, managing director Jonathan Hawood finds finding properties with pet-friendly landlords something of a headache. "A tenant who has a pet is restricting the properties available to them significantly," he says. "There are dog-friendly landlords about. But not as many as there are non-dog-friendly landlords. "And it isn't only the narrower choice of properties open to pet-owners that worries him, on behalf of his clients, but also the quality of property they can expect to find. |
Investment
landlords, with less emotional investment in their property than
owner-occupiers, can sometimes be more amenable to pets indoors; and
some tenants have also found that money talks, higher deposits aside. Claws
clause
"People have to put up with furniture that has been weed on, clawed and plucked; doors which are scruffy and carpets which are stained. And much as I like dogs, there's also that smell of dog to contend with." With the new 'pet passports' easing the way for tenants from abroad wanting to bring their beloved pets along too, agents and specialists such as County Homesearch are seeing increasing numbers of prospective renters from the USA, France and elsewhere, who want to rent homes where their pets are as welcome as they are. And if pet passports sound like a case of bureaucracy working overtime, written references for pets are another form of wacky new paperwork that, while it may sound absurd, has a very useful purpose. References, written by a previous landlord to confirm that your pet has been no trouble in a previous tenancy and that the property was left in a good state on your departure, have been known to swing a prospective landlord in favour of a pet-owning tenant. You'd better just hope that your own glowing references aren't outshone by your paragon of a pet's written credentials. |
"The
properties are not up to the calibre of non-pet and non-children
properties," he says. - Give yourself plenty of time to look for a property, and be prepared to move fast if you find somewhere suitable that will accept your pet.
- House-training is a must and obedience-training, for dogs, is an added bonus. Make sure that fleas and ticks are under control, and let a prospective landlord know about all of it. The more they feel you are a conscientious pet-owner who takes their concerns seriously, the more likely they are to agree to let to you.
- Ask if you can introduce your dog to the landlord. Once they see how well-behaved it is, even a landlord who has said 'no' to pets just for an easy life may come to reconsider.
- Expect to pay a higher deposit - and be prepared to offer to do so, if you sense reluctance on the landlord's part.
- Offer to remove every trace of your pet's presence when you leave, and suggest that you add a clause to the contract saying so. It's probably a good idea to specify from the start what that will involve, and could include deep cleaning of the carpets, flea treatment if necessary and deodorising.
- If you want to put in a cat-flap, approach the landlord/agent in a way calculated to get a 'yes', by offering to sign a rider to your contract that you will put things back the way they were when you came. It might be as easy as simply replacing the bottom door panel, or replacing a pane of glass for window cat-flaps.
- Dogs Trust, the animal welfare charity, has launched a campaign called Lets with Pets which aims to encourage more landlords to consider renting their property to pet owners. Visit the Dogs Trust Lets with Pets to find out more about their campaign and for useful information about renting a property with pets.
Claire Rigby
