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WHY CONSIDER TENANTS WITH PETS?

Even though for many families their pet is as much a part of their family as anyone else, landlords have historically rarely agreed, and pet friendly rentals have been difficult to secure.

According to Petcare Information and Advisory Service (PIAS) resources, more than 60% of households have a pet and less than 5% of rental property listings are pet friendly. This leaves a lot of people in limbo as to what to do regarding their chosen place of residence, as well as a lot of pets in life and death situations. More than 20,000 pets are euthanised each year after being handed into shelters by owners who don’t have the capacity to care for or house them anymore.  
 
Governments and legislators are starting to acknowledge that contemporary living has changed and that many laws are unduly harsh when it comes to peoples’ day to day needs. There is also recognition that current laws are simply oppressive to people’s freedoms and discriminate against renters, who should have similar basic habitation rights that owners do, where property residential behaviours are concerned. It’s also worth stating that pet owners tend to be better tenants! The fact that someone has decided they can take care of a pet and all the obligations and expenses that come with it, certainly says something about them and their capacity to be responsible. The need to care for the animals, feed them, manage their health, diet and exercise needs and pay for their food and medical bills is a commitment. Pet owners will generally prefer longer leases, through reluctance to unsettle their pet by moving too often. Many pet owners may even supply a CV with their pet as part of their application. It sounds strange but they know what they’re doing – after years of rejected property applications, they know that a few details around vaccinations and graduation certificates from obedience training schools can make all the difference.  
 
Becoming a ‘pet friendly’ landlord is easier than you think. There are of course issues to consider, such as what kind of pet it is, how much noise and waste it will make and what kind of mess and damage it will create. You can request pet references from prospective tenants if you like. But for the most part becoming a pet friendly landlord is simple. Speak to your property manager about additional clauses to add to your lease agreement relative to animals and their behaviours. You can also mark your property as pet friendly in your listing so that it will show up in First National Real Estate’s ‘pet friendly listings’ search. When listing your property for rent you can capitalise on your points of different by pointing out the ‘large dog friendly yard’ or the ‘sunny corner ideal for a chook shed’ in the property description. You should also finish the description by signing off with “will consider applications from tenants with pets”.


 

by Tupito Merrall 

Business Development Manager | 0412 809 220

Why Consider Tenants With Pets?
palmbeachfn.com.au October 2021
First National Palm Beach
Ph: 07 5559 9600