Millions of us are renters and millions of us are pet owners. But sometimes it’s not easy to be both. 

And while recently passed reforms to Victoria’s state tenancy laws will soon give all Victorian renters the right to live with a pet, not all pet-owning renters are quite so lucky. (Scroll to the bottom of the page to find out what the laws in your state have to say about this issue.)

Here’s how to find a pet-friendly apartment and win over your prospective landlord.

1. Talk to your landlord

It’s an obvious thing to do, but many renters don’t do it – especially when a property listing says “no pets allowed”.

However, previous realestate.com.au surveys revealed that tenants who broached the topic of pets with their landlords were much more likely to get a favourable outcome.

So, don’t be discouraged: Ask the question, but remember to respect the answer.

Trend: Pet-friendly rentals are in high demand

2. Offer more rent

Pet-phobic landlords and property managers are also more likely to relent on their restrictions when tenants offer to pay more rent.

So, if you have a few spare dollars and are willing to pay above the listed rent to guarantee a home for your pets, then make that clear to your property manager. It could be the difference between a yes and a no.

3. Prepare pet references

It’s not unreasonable for a landlord to seek assurances that every inhabitant of their property will treat it with due care.

And while we can’t have pets sign on the dotted line, we can provide details and context about our pets, so that a property manager feels confident about letting them move in.

Create a pet reference that includes the pet’s age, temperament and vaccinations history, and attach a recent photograph, to pull at their heartstrings.

You may also want to include character references from a previous property manager, vet or anyone who can credibly speak to your pet’s behaviour.

Good news: Landlords say yes to pets

4. Keep thorough records

Retain vaccination certificates, vet receipts and other pet paperwork, so that you can easily produce them if required.

It’s also worth regularly sharing these with your property manager, to give them peace of mind about your pet’s health and status.

Making the effort will remind them you are a caring renter and pet owner.

5. Pets-eye view

Think of your furry friend.

Would you want to live in a one-bedroom apartment with no backyard if you were a dog?

Your property search should be suitable for you and your pet. Keeping it within certain parameters will also increase the likelihood that your application will be accepted.

6. Have a trial period

If your landlord or property manager is not fully convinced, ask if they would be willing to lease the property to you on a trial basis.

They can see how your pet is doing in the property, and you can make adjustments to the lease as required.

7. Choose carefully

If you are already in a rental property and thinking about getting a pet, be aware of the space around you.

In smaller spaces, a goldfish is a better idea than a golden retriever.

8. Get agreements in writing

If you agree to pay a little more to have your pet, or are trialling it out for a short period, get these agreed terms in writing.

If there is any confusion or disputes down the track, everyone can defer to those documents.

You can also draw up a separate pet agreement outlining all terms and your responsibilities.

9. Commit to clean

Offer to remove all trace of your pet’s presence when you leave.

While you are already obligated to clean a property when you depart, providing further commitments to deep clean carpets, treat for fleas and deodorise might be enough to get your pet over the threshold.

Finally, remember that it’s not always the landlord’s decision. Strata and communal laws may prohibit or restrict animals in a property, even if the landlord gives their blessings.

Laws for renting with pets in Australia

• ACT: the State government passed new laws in February to allow renters to keep pets without their landlord’s consent. Under these new laws, landlords will have to seek permission from ACAT to refuse a request for a pet.
• NSW: there’s nothing in the state’s Residential Tenancies Act that says you can’t have a pet, but landlords can insert their own pet-preventing clauses into leasing agreements, and NSW Fair Trading recommends seeking permission from your landlord before letting your furry friends move in.
• NT: there is no specific legislation relating to pets and tenancies, and it is up to the landlord as to whether they’ll allow you to keep one. They may have a ‘no pet clause’ in the lease agreement – in which case you’ll either need to negotiate with them or appeal to NTCAT for the clause to be removed – but pet bonds are illegal. 
• QLD: the state government is expected this year to introduce reforms to its tenancy act that would allow all renters to keep a pet. However, under the current legislation, renters must seek written approval from their landlords to keep a pet in their property, with the state’s Residential Tenancies Authority estimating that only 10% of landlords allow tenants to live with pets.
• SA: renters in South Australia must seek permission from their landlords to keep a pet, with many only granting approval on the basis that renters agree to certain conditions.
• TAS: like their South Australian counterparts, Tasmanian renters can only live with a pet if the landlord has granted them permission, or if it is allowed in the lease. Landlords often require pet owners to pay for fumigation at the end of the lease, too.
• VIC: as mentioned earlier, recently passed tenancy laws in Victoria will soon make it much easier for renters to live with their pets. Landlords will still need to give their permission, but the new laws will make it very difficult for them to refuse.
• WA: renters in Western Australia can only keep pets if their landlord consents and the pet is mentioned in the lease. Landlords can also charge a pet bond of up to $260, to cover the cost of cleaning and fumigating when you move out.

Don’t forget to use the pet-friendly search filter when hunting for properties on realestate.com.au/rent

This article was originally published on
9 Aug 2019 at 9:00am
but has been regularly updated to keep the information current.

When a new baby comes home from the hospital, we quarantine the home within an inch of its life.

Gaps in stair rails, marble bench tops with square edges and that industrial dining table with the nails poking out – they’re all declared danger zones in need of buffering or replacing.

But what happens when you bring home a brand new puppy or kitten?

As most pet owners will testify, an equal amount of vigilance is required when caring for furry members of the family – and that includes the way you keep your home.

Like babies – once they’ve worked out how to crawl – puppies and kittens can get stuck in the weirdest places.

Image: Picsora

Here are nine hazard zones your pet might come across in the home – and some ways to make them safe.

1. Kitchens

Leave food lying around and your pet will find it. A tidier kitchen means a healthier pet. Toxic foods for animals include: Chocolate, avocados, grapes, raisins, garlic and coffee. If you can’t trust yourself to leave a tidy kitchen, you can always install a baby gate.

2. House plants

Indoor plants can be a great way to insert life into an otherwise stale indoor environment. But did you know houseplants – especially those in the lily family – can be extremely poisonous to cats? Keep dangerous plants out of reach to avoid a trip to the vet.

3. Bathrooms

Most bathrooms are storage vessels for cleaning products, medications and sanitary products – all of which can be fatal if swallowed by your pet. According to the Lost Dogs Home Victoria, a single paracetamlol tablet can kill an adult cat. If your dog finds a stash of those beef-flavoured doggie pain killers – they could be left with potential stomach ulcers, bleeding or kidney damage. Always store these products in out-of-reach, closed cupboards.

Did you know that a single paraecetamol tablet can kill an adult cat?

4. Bedrooms

Pet Photography: Kate Hunter

If you use mothballs to keep your clothes intact make sure you always close the doors of your wardrobe. If a curious cat (or dog) comes in contact with one, they are toxic and could result in a trip to the vet. It could be a good idea to keep your shoes behind closed doors as well – more for the sake of the shoes than your pet.

Inspiration: Awesome pet-friendly designs for your home

5. Lounge room

Nothing paints a cosier picture than a golden lab in front of an open fire, but naked flames and flying ashes can hurt animals just as easily as humans. Your pet will learn soon enough that fire is not as friendly as it looks. If you’d rather them not have to find out the hard way, invest in a simple screen.

6. E-bar

Study nook, e-bar, whatever you want to call it. This is the place where electricity travels back and forth via cords – cords that can be tempting for an unassuming pup to chew on.

Needless to say, this can give them a nasty electric shock. Tidy up your cords – it will look better too!

House safe: Pet friendly properties are a rare breed

7. The garden

As with indoor lily plants, there are a number of plants that are toxic for pets. According to the RSPCA, the following plants are poisonous for pets:

• Varieties of the Castor Bean or Castor oil plant
• Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow Brunfelsia bonodora

If you’re the proud tender of a veggie patch, you’ll probably want to keep that area in lockdown for selfish reasons. But certain fruits and vegetables are also not very good for your pet. Luckily, lots of dogs will turn their nose up at veggies once they’ve sampled the taste of meat!

If you keep a compost bin, good on you! Compost is nature’s way of restoring organic waste back into the earth, but keep it lidded and out of reach if possible. Some dogs will stop at nothing to get a taste of this wormy mulch – and funnily enough, it’s not very good for them.

8. Trees, balcony & deck

We all know cats are very good climbers – dogs less so. But there are some places the little critters can’t climb their way out of. If a domestic cat climbs up a tree with overhanging branches, they can end up in the public out of your protection – exposed to roads, cars and if you’re in a rural area, animal predators like foxes.

Try putting chicken wire around the trunks of the trees your frisky feline has taken a shine to.

Have you ever had the misfortune of trying to pry a stubborn cat out from under the house?  If you live in a raised property, like the ones in North Queensland, then make sure any latticework is in good repair so animals can’t sneak in where they’re not meant to be.

9. Pools

Keep your pets away from the water. Even if they can swim, they will likely not be able to get out unless you help them. If you’re not around, they could drown. Gated fencing for your pool area is your best option.

This article was originally published on
19 Sep 2019 at 6:10pm
but has been regularly updated to keep the information current.

Despite Australia’s reputation for being an animal loving nation, when it comes to finding a pet-friendly rental it can be hard.

Landlords are often nervous about potential damage or the hassle of pet tenants and it’s estimated only 10 per cent of rentals allow furry housemates.

However, attitudes towards pets and renting are changing.

More than 60 per cent of Australians have a pet.

---

Our 2014 Tenants and Sharers report found landlords are open to accepting furry friends if tenants paid slightly more rent.

The data also shows four out of five landlords will say yes, as long as there are guarantees in place, such as insurance and a compulsory flea fumigation at the end of the lease.

Some tenants may try to have a pet and not inform their property manager.

However, if caught, which is likely with regular property inspections, you risk being evicted and blacklisted.

Discuss with your landlord

If you want to let with your pet we recommend asking, even if there is no pet-friendly signs. 

Just because a property isn’t marketed for furry friends doesn’t mean the landlord won’t let you bring in those family members.

If you have been a good tenant  then it is most likely they will allow a pet as replacing a renter is a lot of effort, so you have a lot more power than you may think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE6l-1r75LI

Organise to chat with the landlord or property manager to see if it’s a option.

But remember not all landlords will be able to say yes to pets. 

Their first obligation is the maintenance of the property – and some rentals are not compatible to share with animals. 

But with renters starting to have success by kicking off the conversation, we think it’s worth asking.

Read more: pets and apartments

Reforms 

Having an animal in a rental property is mostly at the landlords discretion in Australia.

However, with more than 60 per cent of households having a pet, matched with a dropping rate of homeownership, more renters are wanting pet-friendly accommodation.

This has resulted in legislation making it illegal to refuse an assistance animal and at least one state government has introduced a separate pet bond.

Encouragingly in  2018, Victoria became the first jurisdiction to overhaul rental legislation completely, making it easier for tenants to have animals.

It has been a popular reform and we expect more states will follow.

If you have a pet, be honest with your landlord about owning it.

---

Changes in the Tenancy Act pet lovers should know about

Times are changing when it comes to landlords and pets with many states becoming more flexible toward furry tenants.

Victoria 

Recently, Victoria took the unprecedented step of giving tenants the right to have a pet. 

According to the new laws tenants must get permission to have an animal.

However,  landlords wanting to reject a pet tenant must plead their case before the state tribunal.

The reforms have not yet come into force, but are part of a suite of rental changes to be progressively implemented by July 1, 2020.

New South Wales 

Pets are allowed in rentals in NSW but you must have the consent of the landlord.

It is the renter’s responsibility to ensure the property is suitable for their animal and they are liable for any damage caused.

Furthermore, if you have a pet that is excessively loud or a nuisance interfering with the peace of your neighbours, it can be deemed a breach of your lease. 

However, if a landlord carries out a rental inspection they must take care if an animal is on the lease.

If they fail to do so, for example, they leave the gate open and a pet escapes, they can be held liable.

Queensland

In Queensland it is estimated 62 per cent of households have a pet, but only one in ten rentals allow animals.

Currently, a tenant must have permission in writing for their furry tenants.

Landlords are often reluctant, highlighting damage and issues with pets attracting fleas as the main reasons.

But with an increasing scarcity of pet-friendly accommodation, attitudes are changing and rental laws, relating to pets, are currently under review.

Attitudes are changing toward fur babies in rental properties Picture: Getty

---

Western Australia

This is the only state in Australia where a pet bond is enshrined in law.

Landlords are allowed to charge up to $260 to cover the cost of fumigation at the end of the lease.

This is on top of the normal bond.

Pets must be included on the rental agreement, which will state the number and type of animals allowed and the whether they must be kept inside or outside.

South Australia

Keeping pets in rentals in SA is up to the property owner.

It is estimated two out of three households have pets in the state and it appears landlords are increasingly accepting animal tenants.

It is recommended renters submit a pet application, and a pet agreement must be signed before the animal moves in.

Pet bonds cannot be charged.

Tasmania

According to the Residency Tenants Act of 1997 (Tasmania) a tenant must not keep pets without their landlord’s permission.

There has been recent calls to review the rental rules to make it easier for renters, however, the government has ruled out changes at this time.

Know more: tips for renting with pets

If you are a pet owner you are responsible not only for the welfare of your animal but also how they behave at home.

While many rentals will have “no pet” clauses sometimes a simple discussion with the landlord or property manager can convince them to change their mind.

Tenants must get the consent in writing and will also need to carry out additional cleaning when leaving the property.

While it may be daunting landlords are increasingly accepting animals and it’s worth having the conversation.

This article was originally published on
31 Oct 2019 at 9:56am
but has been regularly updated to keep the information current.